Folk star, fans challenge Guinness world record

Seventies folk singer Han Dae-soo, 59, and 2,020 Seoulites will perform one of his hit songs, "To the Land of Happiness", on 2,021 acoustic guitars at Seoul Square in front of Seoul City Hall at 9 a.m. on Aug. 22.

The special performance is planned to raise awareness of ever-increasing consumption of greenhouse gas, and is part of the celebrations organized for the fourth annual "Energy Day".

"It is a volunteer civil performance to make it sure that the country will reduce the total amount of annual greenhouse emission by 20 percent by 2020", Han said in an interview. If the event takes place as planned, it will break the Guinness world record for the largest number of people performing together at the same time and place on musical instruments. The current record in this category was set by 1,876 Germans in May.

Often dubbed "the Bob Dylan of Korea" for his conversational singing style and the strong humanitarian messages in his songs, Han made his sensational concert stage debut in 1969 in a concert at the Namsan Drama Center. His nuclear physicist father went missing when he was young, which influenced him to go to America where he studied veterinary science at New Hampshire University.

Coming Back to Korea in 1969, he released his debut album, "Long Long Way to Go", which is still deemed by many to be a masterpiece. In 2005 he published his memoir, "Old Boy Han Dae-soo".

During the upcoming performance, Han will play a dual role as a guitarist and conductor, and other popular singers/groups including Ahn Chi-whan and Wooden Bicycle (Namu Jajeongeo) will also join the event. Other events to celebrate Energy Day include "Unplugged Concert", an electricity-free concert joined by popular singers and musicians.

Anyone who wants to give a hand to Han in the record attempt can register through the official website: Open the link

By Lee Yong-sung