From June 5 to 14, various traditional Korean music performances, exhibitions, academic events, and hands-on activities will take place nationwide.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced on June 4 that it will hold the second National Traditional Music Day ceremony on June 5 at the National Gugak Center, themed "Resonating Traditional Music in Daily Life."
National Traditional Music Day is observed on June 5, designated as a legal commemorative day under the Traditional Music Promotion Act. Additionally, a variety of programs will be held across the country during Traditional Music Week from June 5 to 14.
The ceremony will be attended by over 400 guests from the traditional music and cultural arts sectors, as well as pre-registered audience members, and will be broadcast live on traditional music channels. During the event, the "Korea Yeominrak Award" will be presented to individuals who have contributed to the promotion of traditional music. This year, the awards will recognize the city of Yeongdong in North Chungcheong Province and Kim Chang-hwan, the artistic director of the Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province Traditional Music Orchestra, for their efforts in promoting traditional music despite challenging circumstances.
The ceremony will also feature celebratory performances. The National Dance Company will present "Gomuhak," a performance wishing for the prosperity of traditional music, while the traditional music group "4-in Nori" will showcase a modern reinterpretation of folk music in their performance "Nori." The Gyeonggi Sinawi Orchestra, along with vocalist Park Ae-ri and the Incheon City Education Office Traditional Music Choir, will perform "Our Desired Country." In the outdoor lawn area of the Gugak Center, performances will include the "Daechwita" by the Wanju Children's Traditional Music Band, a 65-member spinning top dance, the "Jindo Drum Dance" by the National Youth Dance Company, and the "Pangut" by the National Youth Performance Group.
Additionally, a large-scale traditional performance parade will take place on June 5 around lunchtime, starting from the Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace and continuing to Gwanghwamun Square. Before the parade, performances by the National Gugak Center's folk music troupe and tightrope walkers from Namchang-dong will begin at 10 a.m. The parade will feature traditional performers from across the country, including the military band of the Ministry of National Defense, agricultural music and mask dance preservation groups from regions such as Gangneung, Jinju, and Pyeongtaek, as well as over 20 university and middle and high school traditional music groups. Following the parade, the Gwanghwamun Square performance area will host the Gwangju Chilseok Gosaum Nori Preservation Society, which will present the traditional wrestling game, a national intangible cultural heritage that prayed for agricultural prosperity.
To celebrate Traditional Music Week, a variety of traditional music performances and hands-on activities are also planned. At the Seoul Donghwamun Gugak Hall, the "Donghwamun Gugak Week" will explore the origins and aesthetics of sound. At Namsan Palgakjeong, traditional performances and dances will be available for foreign tourists to participate in. The outdoor stage at Seoul Forest will host the "Korea Traditional Performance Festival," showcasing top talents from young performers and masters, while the National Gugak Center will present a new work titled "The King's Altar, The People's Stage," allowing audiences to experience both "Jongmyo Jeryeak" and "Sajik Jeryeak" simultaneously.
Moreover, over 50 performances, educational events, and commemorative activities will be held in cities across the country, including Incheon, Sejong, Gwangju, and Busan. Detailed information about the National Traditional Music Day and Traditional Music Week events can be found on the website of the Traditional Performing Arts Promotion Foundation. However, schedules and order may change depending on on-site conditions.
Minister Choi Hwi-young stated, "Through this National Traditional Music Day, we will reaffirm the value of 'Yeominrak,' which means 'the whole nation enjoys our music together,' and we will spare no policy support to ensure that traditional music becomes more integrated into the daily lives of our citizens."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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