Memorial concert for Hyundai founder Chung Ju-yung to air on CNN International

A memorial concert marking the 25th anniversary of Hyundai founder Chung Ju-yung's death is set to reach audiences worldwide through CNN International.

Hyundai Motor Group announced Wednesday that the "Asan Chung Ju-yung 25th Memorial Concert: Resonance Continues," held in February, will be featured on CNN International's "Showtime" program. The episode is scheduled to air Saturday.

"Showtime" is a CNN TV series that explores the making of major performances and events around the world. The episode will cover not only the main concert, held Feb. 25 at Seoul Arts Center Concert Hall, but also pre-show rehearsals, preparation behind the scenes, and the work of backstage staff and craftspeople.

The concert was organized to reflect on Chung's life, philosophy and the value of "innovation for people" through music, under the theme "Resonance Continues." Pianists Kim Sun-wook, Sunwoo Yekwon, Cho Seong-jin and Lim Yunchan shared the stage in a collaborative performance.

The program expanded progressively — opening with a duo on a single piano, moving to two pianos, and culminating in a four-piano ensemble. The format was designed to convey the meaning of challenge and collaboration as four musicians with distinct artistic identities built a unified performance together.

The program opened with Kim and Cho performing Schubert's "Fantasie in F minor for Four Hands, D. 940." Sunwoo and Lim then performed Rachmaninoff's "Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos, Op. 17." The final set featured all four pianists performing Wagner's "Tannhäuser Overture" and Liszt's "Hexameron," both arranged for four pianos.

CNN devoted considerable attention to rehearsal footage alongside the performance. The episode will show how the four pianists — each a distinctive soloist in their own right — listened to one another's interpretations and worked together to shape a single unified stage.

Behind-the-scenes content also figures prominently in the broadcast. CNN visited the Steinway factory in Astoria, Queens, New York, to document how a grand piano is built — a process that takes a year and involves assembling more than 12,000 parts. The segment highlights the craftsmanship and technology that underpin the music heard on stage.

The broadcast also covers the preparation of the four pianos that appeared on the Seoul Arts Center stage. Particularly notable is footage of Lee Jong-yeol, South Korea's first master piano tuner, working to bring all four instruments into balanced, harmonious sound.

Hyundai Motor Group said it hopes the broadcast will show global audiences not only the significance of the memorial concert but also how art, technology and human effort come together on a single stage.

"We are deeply moved to be able to share with the world not only the performances of top-tier artists, but also the intense preparation that went into making that stage possible," a Hyundai Motor Group official said. "The relentless pursuit of perfection behind the spectacle resonates with the spirit of our founder, and we expect the film to leave a lasting impression on viewers."