School of Korean Traditional Arts Presents “Eastern Melodies, Way to Silk Road” at Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Shanghai

On Tuesday, January 20, the School of Korean Traditional Arts presented a lecture concert titled “Eastern Melodies, Way to Silk Road” at the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Shanghai.

The event followed the South Korean president’s visit to Shanghai earlier this year and aimed to reinforce friendship and promote artistic and cultural exchange between South Korea and China.

Founded in 1998, the School of Korean Traditional Arts is dedicated to the academic study and performance of traditional arts—centered on playing, singing, and dancing—while fostering the next generation of professional artists. Recognizing Korean traditional art as a complex, integrated form that combines these disciplines, the School established departments in Korean Traditional Music; Korean Traditional Music Composition; Korean Traditional Dramatic Performing Arts; Korean Traditional Dance; and Korean Traditional Arts Theory, building educational synergy through a comprehensive curriculum.

“Eastern Melodies, Way to Silk Road” was organized as an exchange program with KCC Shanghai. The event featured an in-depth lecture, a demonstration of Korean royal court dance, and performances of traditional music, all designed to broaden and deepen the audience’s understanding of Korean traditional arts. In the lecture segment, Dean Sung Kisook spoke on “Understanding Korean Royal Court Dance”, while Professor Jeon Jiyoung delivered a talk titled “Some Concerns on Arts Education”, accompanied by a performance performed by student Kim Minju to illustrate the lecture. The performance program included “Saeng-So Duo” by Vice Dean Jin Yoonkyung and student Cha Rubin, as well as a “Sanjo Ensemble” featuring Jin Yoonkyung, Professor Yoo Youngju, Professor Kim Hyungsub, and students Min Kyeongju, Yang Seongtae, and Cha Rubin, providing audiences with insight into Korean traditional music and royal dance.

Reflecting on the event, Dean Sung Kisook remarked, “This exchange program was a meaningful opportunity to introduce Korean traditional performing arts to Chinese audiences and allow them to experience them firsthand. At the same time, it laid the foundation for sustainable collaboration within the Korea-China Youth Cultural Exchange Project to be held in June. The School of Korean Traditional Arts will continue to serve as a bridge for sharing and spreading the value, artistic identity, and pride of traditional arts rooted in East Asian culture. I would like to express my gratitude to KCC Shanghai for supporting the realization of this program.”