- From traditional meditation to performances by masters, connecting daily life and mind within tradition

The National Gugak Center will hold a variety of commemorative events on June 5th for the 1st National Gugak Day. In the morning, a healing program combining traditional music and meditation will be held at Namwon Gwanghanruwon, and in the evening, a commemorative performance featuring gugak masters will take place at Yewon Hall.

'National Gugak Day' is an official commemorative day being observed for the first time this year, in accordance with the 'Gugak Promotion Act (enforced on July 26, 2024)' established last year. The National Gugak Center aims to reemphasize the traditional values of gugak and remind people of the practical significance of gugak in daily life through this event.

The morning will begin at 7 a.m. with the gugak meditation program at Gwanghanruwon. This program uniquely combines sensory-centered meditation with gugak performances, including sound bass yoga, voice healing, and singing bowl experiences. It is designed to provide a time for citizens who are tired from daily life to find inner peace through the resonance of gugak.

The program is open to 30 adults per session on a first-come, first-served basis, and applications can be made through the National Gugak Center's website until 6 p.m. on the 23rd. The gugak meditation will be held once again on June 12th.

In the evening at 7 p.m., a commemorative performance featuring gugak masters and members will be held at Yewon Hall.

The performance will start with a performance by master Oh Min-jae and the Yeonhee Section, followed by a performance by master Kim Moo-gil and the Gugak Section, a three-dimensional performance of Shimcheongga by Wang Ki-seok and Wang Si-yeon, an entertainment dance and fan dance by Jin Yurim and the Dance Section. This will be followed by a three-dimensional performance of Chunhyangga by Kim Young-ja and Kim Do-hyun, and Seo Jin-hee, and the finale will feature a solo performance by master Park Eun-ha and a Pungmul by young members of the Yeonhee Section.

This performance encapsulates the expertise of the masters who have cultivated and nurtured tradition, as well as the passion of the members who will lead the future of gugak, showcasing the succession and development of gugak on one stage.

Kim Jung-hyun, the director of the National Gugak Center, expressed his hope that "the first National Gugak Day this year will be an opportunity to share the resonance of gugak with the people and take steps together towards the tradition heading towards the future."

It is worth noting that both the gugak meditation and the commemorative performance are free of charge, and more information can be found on the National Gugak Center's website (namwon.gugak.go.kr) or by calling 063-620-2319.