SEOUL — After suffering a major stroke that left South Korean pianist Lee Hun paralyzed on his right side in 2012, his initial concern was whether he would ever walk again.

Playing the piano was the last thing on his mind.

It wasn't until a mentor informed him of the vast repertoire of piano pieces composed for the left hand alone that he returned to music.

Through relentless practice, he made a remarkable comeback, becoming South Korea's only known professional left-hand-only pianist.

Now, he is gearing up for a new challenge: his first joint performance with an orchestra at an international music festival next month.

"I'm so, so nervous I could die," Lee, 54, shared with a smile during a recent interview with The Associated Press at his home in Seoul. "It's just one concerto, but working with an orchestra brings its own challenges."

Thrown into Despair

In August 2012, while pursuing his doctorate at the music school at the University of Cincinnati, Lee collapsed at home.

He survived extensive surgery, but the stroke impacted about 60 percent of his brain's left hemisphere.

He lost the ability to move his right arm and leg and experienced temporary aphasia.

Lee was eventually transported back to South Korea in a wheelchair, and his father, Lee Hae-chang, a South Korean baseball legend, noted that his son couldn’t recognize him upon arrival.

"After the stroke, I couldn't even imagine playing the piano. I only thought about whether I could stand on my feet again," Lee Hun said.

Reigniting the Passion

Lee's condition also took a toll on his family, who provided daily care. His mother, Poong Ok-hee, recalled having frequent arguments with her son due to his mood swings and resistance to her help.

Things began to change after a dinner with his former piano teacher, Chun Yung-hae, in 2013. Chun encouraged him to play again, sharing that there were over 1,000 pieces available for the left hand alone.

This rekindled Lee's passion for music, and he began practicing that very night.

In 2016, Lee made his formal debut as a one-handed pianist at Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, where he had undergone treatment and rehabilitation. He performed Camille Saint-Saens' 6 Etudes for the Left Hand Alone, followed by a duet of Amazing Grace with Chun, who played with her right hand. At least one audience member was moved to tears.

"He is a pianist, so he must play the piano. He was completely hopeless and in despair, so I tried to give him some hope. But I never expected him to play so well," Chun, former dean of the College of Music at Seoul's Kyung Hee University, remarked.

Performing a Masterpiece with Orchestra

Since then, Lee has consistently held recitals, appeared on television, and authored a memoir. He now walks unaided and communicates relatively well in Korean.

Local media have dubbed him "Korea's Paul Wittgenstein," after the renowned Austrian pianist known for advancing one-handed piano music. Wittgenstein lost his right arm in World War I and commissioned works for the left hand from prominent composers like Ravel, Strauss, Prokofiev, and Britten.

On May 2, Lee will perform at the annual Icheon Young-Artist International Music Festival in South Korea, collaborating with a festival orchestra to play Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, a piece also commissioned by Wittgenstein.

Lee describes the concerto as highly challenging, but it is something he has longed to play.

Chung Eun-hyon, head of Lee's agency, Tool Music, expressed emotional fulfillment in helping Lee realize his dream of performing the concerto.

Aiming for a Two-Handed Comeback

Before becoming a one-handed pianist, Lee was focused on perfecting his skills to impress audiences. Now, he reflects on how to convey emotions and interpretations of music to his listeners.

"He plays music that truly touches people's hearts, and it's not about finger dexterity," said Lee Eungkwang, head of a cultural foundation associated with the Icheon festival. "I'm really curious about what it was like when he played with both hands."

Lee Hun expressed a desire to make a two-handed comeback someday, noting that he succeeded in pressing a piano key with his right hand during a concert in November 2024.

However, according to his doctor at St. Mary's Hospital, Koo Jaseong, the chances of Lee regaining full use of his right hand and performing with both hands are slim.

"I still want to applaud his efforts. Though rare, there have been reports of miraculous recoveries as well," Koo said.