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Solace in Music: Yushin Oh
It was an unforeseen future for Yushin to have to spend his high school years in the Philippines. Living his entire life in South Korea, Yushin did not seek nor did he aspire to live his life outside his home country. But when Yushin’s father was asked to work and live in Cebu as a diplomat to assist the local police force and protect all South Korean residents on the island, Yushin was taken aback by the idea of living in a country he knew little about nor did he have any allegiance to.
“At first, I did not like to go because I had this preconceived notion that the Philippines was not safe and was undeveloped compared to Korea.”
The grief of having to leave home affected Yushin’s studies and personal relationships. While in school in Cebu, Yushin had trouble forming friendships and building close ties with peers. This took a toll on his studies and crushed Yushin’s motivation to do well in school.
Coming from a more culturally conservative background, Yushin became nauseated by the norm. He stood out like a nail in a sea of people who were banging on the same rhythm. While most placed in the same situation would probably succumb to the emotions, wallow in defeat, or even change personalities to be accepted, Yushin chose to stay true to himself even if it meant being different and ostracized.
But Yushin was not entirely alone. His faith and love for classical music guided him through this challenging phase in his life.
“I had difficulties in the Philippines so that’s why I fell in love with classical singing. I hated school basically so I needed somewhere to escape and singing was my escape route. Listening to classical music enabled me to forget everything. And I pray a lot and read the Bible to cope with my difficulties. Whenever I pray I just feel very calm.
Before I pray, my mind is very confused, very sad … but when I pray all of my sorrows and bad memories just disappear. I pray every lunchtime. There’s a library in my school and I just prayed there every day and that really helped me.”
Classical singing brought him a sense of home in an environment where he felt alien. Eventually, Yushin grabbed every opportunity that would help him hone his singing skills better. Yushin’s father introduced him to a local teacher who helped him build his fundamentals in classical singing.
Through listening to more classical music, engaging with experts who nourished his talents, and performing for big crowds when the opportunity came, Yushin realized that classical singing was becoming more than just a hobby and an escape route but something he could pursue further in university and build a career with it after. Little did he know that he would eventually land in one of Asia’s most prestigious music programs.
“My teacher recommended that I apply to the National University of Singapore (NUS). I was attracted to the program because if you get into the music college at NUS, you get a full scholarship and a lot of financial support. And for me, as a musician who does not come from a rich family, there are a lot of fees involved in learning music. And I thought going to NUS was a very good choice. And so I went to Singapore in February of 2020 for the auditions. I thought I would not get in but God had plans and I’m just very lucky that I got in and here I am now!”
Now based in Singapore, Yushin is surrounded by experts and students from all over the world. It was easier for Yushin to get acquainted and become friends with his peers in college since the majority of them also came from elsewhere and so they heavily depended on one another.
“Thanks to the Philippines, even though I had difficult times there, I was able to realize my passion for classical singing and now I am studying in Singapore. I am very grateful for that!”
Despite the conditions Yushin found himself in, he remained resilient and this is evident from his refusal to let his circumstances prevent him from trusting God’s will in his life.
When Yushin made peace in his heart that God ordained for him to stay in the Philippines, blessings started to flow as he grabbed opportunities presented in a somewhat terrible circumstance. He may not have had an abundance of friends nor the glamour of how expats live in the country, but Yushin brought home something even better. He found mentors who cared for him, his truest of friends, his calling in life, and most importantly, a closer relationship with His Lord and Saviour whom he considers his muse and to whom he dedicates all his musical endeavors to.