SEOUL, May 31 (Korea Bizwire) — In celebration of the inaugural Gugak Day, South Korea is launching a weeklong national showcase of traditional Korean music and performance art beginning June 5, 2025.
The day was established by law to promote awareness and revitalization of gugak, or Korean traditional music, marking the date in 1447 when King Sejong’s composition Yeominrak was first recorded.
The National Gugak Center will lead the festivities with a celebratory performance and parade at Gwanghwamun Plaza titled “Yeominrak Grand Festival,” where citizens and traditional music troupes will join in a vibrant procession.
Concurrently, the center’s main theater, Yeakdang, will host a large-scale traditional performance titled Yeonhui_Pan: A World Connected by Joy.
The celebration will continue through June 15 as part of an official “Gugak Week,” during which all performances will be free to the public in keeping with King Sejong’s philosophy of making music accessible to all.
Highlights of the week include:
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Open-air performances from June 6 to 8 at Gwanghwamun Plaza featuring Jindo Ssitgimgut rituals, youth-created gugak pieces, and modern gugak bands.
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A royal court reenactment, Hoeryeyeon, on June 7–8 at Gyeongbokgung Palace’s Geunjeongjeon Hall, involving over 300 performers in a grand-scale reconstruction of a historic court banquet.
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Master performances from June 10–12 at the center’s Pungnyu Sarangbang featuring 100 renowned gugak virtuosos, alongside gugak orchestral concerts by leading municipal ensembles in the adjacent Umyundang hall.
Seoul Namsan Gugakdang and Donhwamun Gugakdang will also participate with their own “Gugak Week” programs from June 6–8. These include:
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A commemorative performance by the East Coast Byeolsingut Preservation Society celebrating its 40th anniversary.
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A solo dance retrospective by master artist Kim Eun-hee on June 8.
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A mini-concert by young gugak ensemble Yageum Yageum, exploring contemporary interpretations of traditional sounds.
Beyond concerts, immersive and participatory programs are scheduled:
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A Gugak Experience Festival at Gwanghwamun Plaza (June 5–8) will offer hands-on booths for families and visitors.
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Gugak Healing and Meditation Programs will take place June 5–14 across Seoul, Namwon, Jindo, and Busan.
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Educational and youth-focused events, such as Children’s Gugak Song Festival, Future of Tradition youth talent shows, and an Improvised Gugak Masterclass, will run through mid-June.
Thought leadership forums are also on the calendar. On June 4, the National Gugak Center will host a policy seminar on long-term strategies to promote gugak.
From June 10–13, the Korea Traditional Performing Arts Foundation will convene leading cultural producers and directors for invited lectures exploring the future of gugak as a cultural industry.
By combining spectacle with scholarship, South Korea’s first official Gugak Day aims not only to honor its musical heritage but also to expand its relevance for future generations.
Image credit:The National Gugak Center, Seoul Namsan Gugakdang, Yonhap/photonews@koreabizwire.com
