The new Tongyeong Concert Hall, located in the port city in South Gyeongsang Province, will open to the public Friday, seven years after the idea for a home for the music festival honoring composer Isang Yun was first conceived in 2006.

Inaugurated in 2002, the Tongyeong International Music Festival has now grown into an internationally acclaimed contemporary music festival.

The five-story, 14,618 square-meter facility costing 52 billion won ($48 million) is the fourth-largest concert facility in the country dedicated to classical music. It includes a 1,300-seat main hall for music performances, a 300-seat multifunction hall and a rehearsal room. According to the Tongyeong City Hall, the building was designed in the shape of two soaring seagulls, animals that represent the city.

Commemorating the long-awaited opening, pianist Sofya Gulyak, the winner of the 2008 Isang Yun International Music Competition, and the TIMF Ensemble, the resident artist of the concert hall, will perform there Friday afternoon.

The music hall will also host the World Federation of International Music Competition’s 58th general assembly in April next year. According to South Gyeongsang provincial officials, the meeting will attract delegates from 130 organizations related to international music competitions from 38 countries, discussing the future of music competitions around the world.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)