This paper focuses on the compositional tendency of Cheng Mook Kim, who is one of the outstanding composers in Korea. He has been writing a lot of works in various genres. His early works are influenced by twelve-tone technique of Schoenberg and by proportional structure of Bartok. Earlier, they are based often on pentatonic scale and harmony. Later he used frequently the traditional Korean style in choice of instrument and titles. He has tried to combine the Western musical techniques and Korean emotions in the Eastern manner. This paper approached his works with music poetics, which become significant again in twentieth-century music. The interpretation of composer himself expands the perception of the `difficult` contemporary music.

• 지형주 | Hyung-Joo Chi