School of Korean Traditional Arts Hosts Special Event at KCC in Osaka

On Saturday, January 18, at the Korean Cultural Center in Osaka (Executive Director Kim Hyesoo), the School of Korean Traditional Arts (Dean Sung Kisook) presented a series of concerts and lectures, the Korean Traditional Music and Dance Festival, featuring the school’s professors.

The School of Korean Traditional Arts was founded in 1998 to cultivate professionals fit for the new era who can transcend theories and practices of instrumental music, singing, and dance of traditional arts.

The Korean Traditional Music and Dance Festival is an invitational event marking both the 60^th anniversary of South Korea and Japan ties and the relocation of KCC in Osaka. The program consisted of in-depth lectures and performances of royal court dance and creative gugak to broaden the audience’s understanding of Korean traditional arts.

In part 1 of the program, Prof. Jeon Jiyoung lectured on “Understanding Korean Traditional Music,” and Dean Sung Kisook on “Munmyo-Ilmu, An Emblem of Ritual and Music” to help the local audience gain insight into traditional Korean music and dance. Part 2 followed, featuring a gem of traditional performances comprising royal court dance and creative gugak. The lineup included “Chimhayngmu” (gayageum performer: Prof. Kim Hyungsub, janggu performer: Prof. You Kyunghwa), “Musanhyang” (dance performer: Prof. Park Eunyoung), and “Gayageum Sanjo: Wol-heun (Vestige of the Moon)” (composer: Prof. Lee Guisook, janggu performer: Prof. You Kyunghwa, gayageum performer: Prof. Kim Hyungsub).

Dean Sung Kisook of the School of Korean Traditional Arts stated, “I hope the special lectures and performances by our prominent artists presented the audience in Osaka with a memorable experience.”