Russian invasion: Ukrainian musicians in Seoul orchestra swap instruments for weapons and head home

Contrabass player Ziuzkin Dmytro, violist Lev Keler, and trumpet player Matviyenko Konstyantyn of the Seoul Pops Orchestra have headed back to join the fight

‘This is what patriotism is all about,’ says the orchestra’s conductor, after one of them sent a picture of himself, rifle in hand, to former colleagues

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Contrabass player Ziuzkin Dmytro, 47, in front of a camouflaged military vehicle in Ukraine. He recently returned home from Seoul, where he was working as a member of the Seoul Pops Orchestra. Photo: Handout

Published: 1:03pm, 3 Mar 2022Updated: 1:12pm, 3 Mar 2022

Three Ukrainian musicians working for an orchestra in South Korea have returned to their homeland to fight the Russian invasion, it has emerged.

Contrabass player Ziuzkin Dmytro, 47, sent a picture of himself back in Ukraine, rifle in hand and dressed in military uniform, to his former colleagues on Tuesday, said Ha Sung-ho, conductor of the Seoul Pops Orchestra.

His fellow musicians, violist Lev Keler, 51, and trumpet player Matviyenko Konstyantyn, 52, are also understood to have returned home to take up arms.

“They have been working with us for many years as key members of my orchestra. It made my heart ache when I learned they had gone home to fight for their country even if they are not young”, Ha told This Week in Asia.

“I was also deeply moved as these career musicians left their instruments to take up arms and risk their lives for their fatherland. This is what patriotism is all about”, he said.

Contrabass player Ziuzkin Dmytro had been a member of the Seoul Pops Orchestra. Photo: Handout

He added that the orchestra had been unable to pay its members for the past two years due to the coronavirus pandemic and this had left many of its musicians in dire financial situations.