Street Musicking in Korea: Some reflections on a recent tour. by Kevin Patrick Fitzgerald, originally published on Medium, September 2026, reissued by Mnoty Press October 2026.

Recently I had the pleasure of making my first visit to Korea. It was lovely. I stayed in Incheon, near Chinatown, and while I was there I played my flute. I played in the park up on the hill, where people walked by, and I played in a little pagoda complex off one of the sidestreets.

The park on the hill was lovely. I was unsure how people would respond because I look like a foreigner, and I don't know if there is much of a street musician culture in Korea. I did not see any other performers, but I was only there a few days.

Most people smiled and gave me space as they walked by. I interpreted this as a gesture of respect. There were a bunch of people walking their small dogs, and a bunch with small children. The small children would stop to stare at me, and their parents would keep them moving with a gentle prod.

There were a few teenagers who were visibly excited to see me, and would laugh as they went by.

I didn't get any unwelcoming glances, which I was half suspecting. Not that I usually get such looks, but I usually get one or two people who scowl at me. I didn't get any in Incheon.

This, of course, doesn't mean that people weren't scowling on the inside. There's clearly a different approach to showing emotions in public from the ways to which I am accustomed.

The best set was not up on the hill with my rosewood flute, however. For me, the best set was in the pagoda area of to the side of a street. The street was fairly busy with pedestrians. No cars and trucks, which makes for good flute music sharing.

I pulled my dvoyanka from my backpack and started to play. I was sitting on a little bench, and they had a couple of little trails with little bridges, and a couple of little pagodas and some bushes. It was a really humble little urban park tucked between a couple of buildings.

From where I sat, one could hear me from the street if they were paying attention, but it would not be right there in front of them, and if they chose to get a better listen, they could easily take a stroll or even a seat.

No one took a seat, but several people made the effort to take the stroll to experience the orderly space with the somewhat disorderly music. The best part was that a few people let their children run around and play while they watched from the street with big smiles.

This helped me feel not only welcome, also trusted. And this is a really great feeling. Where I was living for sixteen years before moving to Asia, there is a distrust of street musicians or anyone who looks like they don't fit in. It's partly about drugs, partly about a violence-obsessed news regime.

This felt better. More connected and more sincere, less paranoid and less hostile. It was a truly special feeling. I look forward to returning… and oh, the kimchee… oh, man….

Thanks Korea, I'll see you again soon.

Peace.

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