Han-Na Chang Recalls Being Ordered Off a Plane With Her 1757 Cello

Cellist and conductor Han-Na Chang is set to share the story of the time she had to get off a plane because of her centuries-old cello. She had even bought the instrument its own seat.

Chang will appear on MBC's talk show "Radio Star," airing on Nov. 11 at 10:30 p.m. KST. According to MBC, the episode is a special titled "Jang-han, Na," a play on her name. Kim Hyun-chul, Go Woo-rim and Ha Ri-mu join her as guests.

Chang travels the world with a cello made in 1757. To keep it from getting damaged, she buys a separate seat for the instrument every time she flies.

That didn't help on one trip to Berlin for a performance. Chang had secured the cello's seat and even buckled its seatbelt. Later, the captain told her the instrument could not fly, citing safety reasons. She ended up getting off the plane with her cello and taking the next flight.

Leaving the country brought its own surprise. At one airport, staff noticed she had two plane tickets but only one passport. They asked to see the cello's passport too. Chang will recall how the unexpected request stopped her from departing.

She will also talk about her new profession. In April, Chang took office as president of the Seoul Arts Center, one of the country's main performing arts venues.

Chang has performed on world stages as a cellist since she was 11. When the offer came, she already had two to three years of concerts booked. She said she accepted anyway because she saw meaning in a new challenge.

Her daily life has changed since then, Chang said she now waits for the weekend to end. The reason behind it, "Because I want to get to work sooner," she said. She explained that she has so much she wants to do, and needs to do, at the Seoul Arts Center that heading to the office is fun.

She has also been working to make the center feel more welcoming. Chang said the venue held a "silent disco" in its outdoor plaza, where people danced to music through headphones. It also hosted a blind-date event for single men and women at its calligraphy museum.

"People are what complete a space," Chang said, adding that anyone should be able to enjoy the arts.

For an artist who spent decades carrying a 1757 cello through airports, the new role puts her on the other side of the stage. Now her job is getting more people through the door.