I'm a Journalist in Korea 16: Free My Soul, Free My Song – The Story of Fingerstyle Guitarist Kim Ji Hee

Free My Soul, Free My Song – The Story of Fingerstyle Guitarist Kim Ji Hee 

 Review by Kim MiSo aka Rahel Limor 

    I first met Ms. Kim Ji Hee in the summer of 2018. I was a traveler touring in Seoul. I had just enjoyed a concert featuring some very talented Korean finger-style guitarists and was lingering around as the audience dispersed when a woman approached me. She and her daughter had been sitting behind me during the performance. The woman introduced herself and then turned to her daughter. “This is my daughter, Kim Ji Hee. She is a finger-style guitarist too”, she said. The young girl gave a shy smile. We talked a bit asking the usual questions one asks when just meeting. I, too, am a guitarist from America traveling and touring here in South Korea. We exchanged business cards and snapped a few pictures together. Perhaps one day we might meet again. Honestly I never expected we would. In fact, I never expected to stay in Korea longer than a month or two but as things go I’ve now been living in South Korea for two and a half years! 

   Kim Ji Hee is a lovely, talented young woman. Following our initial meeting we managed to remain in contact by text messaging. From the start I could sense there was something very special, very unique about Ji Hee. I’ve worked for years with children, young adults and as a therapeutic musician. I could tell right away that Ji Hee is different than her peers. Here in Korea she is diagnosed with “cognitive or intellectual disabilities”. To some that might mean she’s not “normal” like everyone else. True. She is different. She has trouble socializing with her peers and perhaps with people in general. She has difficulties learning the required school subjects like math or science. The world that “normal” people live in might not make much sense to her. Therapists, educators and professionals of all kinds do their best to teach or train people like Ji Hee to “fit in”, to be like everyone else. They feel the need to make something that’s wrong right again. 

   In fact there is absolutely nothing wrong with Kim Ji Hee. However there is something very special about her. People like Ji Hee are unique. They have talents and skills that many so-called “normal” people don’t have. How many “normal” people can write with their feet, draw beautiful works of art with a brush held in their mouths, win Olympic medals from a wheelchair or play and perform finger-style guitar in front of audiences that fill large halls? I’m a very good guitarist myself but I cannot play beautiful melodies like Ji Hee can. I cannot even stay focused long enough to devote the time and effort needed to learn even one single finger-style piece. Ji Hee can! In my view she is far more “normal”, talented and skilled than most of her peers and even her colleagues. 

   When we first met I was informed that a documentary film was being produced about Ji Hee. It’s now two years later. The film, “나의 노래는 멀리멀리 노래는 멀리멀리 멀리멀리 Free My Soul, Free My Song” debuted in September (2020) at the 12th International DMZ Film Festival. It was released online due to the Corona virus restrictions. 

   So many thoughts and questions about life and living swirled around in my mind as I watched the film. As a young child Ji Hee struggled with school work trying to overcome the challenges of grasping numbers and concepts. She had difficulties expressing herself verbally. It was her father who suggested she try playing the guitar. Ji Hee had seen a performance by a young guitarist on the television which sparked her interest and desire to learn. So her parents arranged for a private teacher. “Can she play in spite of her disability?” they wondered. The teacher had no experience with children with different abilities but she said she would give it a try. Ji Hee progressed well but eventually it was time for a new teacher who might be able to guide Ji Hee in a less traditional manner. They turned to Mr. Kim Eun-sung, an accomplished finger-style guitarist himself. He took the time to get to know her heart and soul, her passion for the guitar and love of music. He guided her gently and patiently while encouraging her to learn at her own pace. As she advanced Ji Hee began to perform concerts and compete in competitions. During this time she also met with a therapist who helped her and her support team to gain a better understanding of what would work best. Together they all were able to help Ji Hee learn, grow and blossom as a guitarist and as a beautiful young woman finding her own way in our challenging world. 

   Ji Hee’s love of the guitar never waned. At this stage she was blessed with a team of experts helping her along. She was gaining confidence and now more than anything she wanted to compose her own song but there was still much to learn. She needed to experience a wide variety of experiences, to interact with many people and to feel and identify sentiments and emotions such as joy, sadness, disappointment, success, failure and satisfaction. She also needed to learn to maneuver her way independently through cities, towns and concert halls. 

   Composing is quite a complicated process. It requires knowing music theory, concepts and expressing emotion through the element of music. Ji Hee was focused and determined. She had been working diligently and steadily to overcome each obstacle that presented itself. She had experienced failure and had achieved success. 

   With the help and compassionate guidance from her teacher, Mr. Kim Eun-Sung, Ji Hee embarked on a journey that would have her explore and discover her own inner-workings right to the very core. The film documents the process as we watch a shy young girl’s hidden heart reveal itself to give birth to a beautiful and courageous young woman. Determined to achieve her goal Ji Hee and her teacher collaborated on composing the melody and final guitar arrangement. In order to learn to openly express emotion she traveled to the seaside. There she could shout her emotions freely into the sea. Some people would be able to do this without a second thought but for others it is the challenge of a lifetime. Ji Hee accepted the challenge. 

   In the fall of 2019 Ji Hee released her first digital single, a tribute to her mother called “엄마 사랑 노래 노래 Love Song for My Mom”. This song is Ji Hee’s first step as a true musician, one who expresses her inner world through song. 

   “Free My Soul, Free My Song” is a heartwarming documentary that I believe every person can relate to in their own way. It is the story of the heart of a pure soul following its path and finding its place in our challenging world. 

   There is a belief that the souls of children are born to special parents. Ji Hee is one of those souls. Her devoted mother, Lee Soon-do continues to support and encourage her in doing what Ji Hee loves – playing finger-style guitar. 

   The documentary movie and shorter video presentations in the links below are currently being used for on-line education in elementary, middle and high schools across South Korea to help educate and promote a greater understanding of people with different abilities. 

LINKS: 

1) Official Website: http://www.jihee.co.kr 

2) Love Song for My Mom: https://youtu.be/egGuyGErlfQ 

3) Videos: https://youtu.be/xR-KiGvlEPI and https://youtu.be/ei0UAneEdsc 

4) DMZ Festivals: www.dmzdocs.co