Gugak (국악) means “national music” — the traditional music of Korea. It ranges from royal court ceremonies to village festival drumming, and fusion bands mixing traditional instruments with modern music are popular today.
Styles to know
- Pansori (판소리) — a singer and a drummer tell a long story through song, speech and gesture. It is on UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
- Samulnori (사물놀이) — four percussion instruments (two gongs and two drums) building to thrilling rhythms. It grew out of farmers’ festival music.
- Court music (정악, jeongak) — slow, elegant music once played for royal ceremonies.
- Gayageum (가야금) — a long zither with silk strings, often heard in modern fusion music too.
Where to listen
The National Gugak Center in southern Seoul presents regular performances. Palaces and folk villages also host traditional performances in spring and autumn.