Musical instruments return home after 120 years

In 1893, ten musicians from Korea navigated to the United States on a special mission of King Gojong (1852-1919), the 26th ruler of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). They played the music of Joseon and received the spotlight in the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition where 37 countries participated. To promote Joseon as an independent country in the world and differentiate the nation from its neighbors China and Japan, the musicians donated their musical instruments to the United States before returning home.

At the opening ceremony for the “Returned after 120 years: Joseon instruments in the U.S.” exhibition on September 30, Culture Minister Yoo Jin-ryong points at the piri double reeds on display (photo: Jeon Han).

Over a century has passed since then and these instruments, currently owned by the Peabody Essex Museum in Boston, will return to Korea for a special exhibition titled “Returned after 120 years: Joseon instruments in U.S. (unofficial translation)”

The exhibition, jointly held by the National Museum of Korea and the National Gugak Center, will show eight of the donated instruments -- dangbipa (four-stringed instrument with a circular resonator and a bent neck), piri (cylindrical double-reed bamboo oboe), geomungo (six-stringed zither), janggu (hourglass-shaped drum), daegeum (large flute), yanggeum (dulcimer), and saenghwang (free-reed mouth organ made with 17 bamboo pipes).

The janggu drum, played by Joseon-era court musicians, has dragon head cleats (photo: Jeon Han).

The instruments on display hold historical significance in Korean music. The dangbipa is known to be the oldest existing Korean musical instrument. Two piris are also special as they are the only ones with their mouthpieces intact.

The tuning buckles of the janggu drum, which was on display at the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, have retained their colors after over a century (photo: Jeon Han).

The exhibition will also show photos and records of Joseon’s participation and its pavilion at the Chicago expo, including music-themed paintings by Joseon artists like Kim Hong-do (1745-1806) and other relics related to gugak (traditional Korean music) such as scores and uigwe (royal protocols of the Joseon Dynasty).

The exhibition will be held for two months starting on October 1 and offers free admission. The museum is closed every Monday. More information about the exhibition is available at the homepage of the museum serviced in nine languages: http://www.museum.go.kr/main/index/index002.jsp

By Yoon Sojung
Korea.net Staff Writer
arete@korea.kr

From left: daegeum, saenghwang, piri (photos courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Janggu (photo courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Dangbipa (photo courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Yanggeum (photo courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Geomungo (photo courtesy of the National Gugak Center)

Novelist of 70's Korean youth culture dies

Korean Choi In-ho (1945-2013) is not new for those who love Korean films and TV dramas as well as novels. Passing away at the age of 68, the writer is known as a leader of the youth culture of the 1970s.

He initially began his literary career in 1963 when he was a second-grade high-schooler by becoming the youngest writer to win at an annual literary contest held by the Hankook Ilbo, with a short novel titled Into the Hall of the Wall, which took the Korean literary circle by surprise. Later, he wrote vigorously and produced many novels.

Choi won the Rookie of the Year Award with his novel Another Man's Room in 1972. A year later, his novel The Stars Heavenly Home sold more than 1 million copies for the first time in the history of Korean literature, which made him a best-seller writer. This novel was later made into a film and also became a box office hit. In another novel written in the same year, The March of Fools, he wrote about the dreams and loves of Korean college students in the face of social pressures, which created a big sensation among Korean youths at that time. It was also filmed under the same title and became commercially successful, symbolizing an icon of romance in the 1970s.

 

Polish translation of Masquerade (left), French version of Deep Blue Night (images courtesy of Literature Translation Institute of Korea)

Other popular books of his such as Deep Blue Night, Whale Hunting, and Wanderer in Winter all won popularity among the Korean public and were adapted as films, all of which became box office hits. His novels were also made in TV dramas which won high ratings from Korean viewers. Among his works, The Merchant of Joseon (Sangdo in Korean) and Emperor of the Sea (also known as Haeshin in Korean) were dramatized and aired by MBC and KBS in 2001 and 2004, respectively, which won popularity not only among Koreans but also viewers across the globe, including India, Europe, and the Middle East.

 

Japanese versions of Another Man's Room (left) and Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land (images courtesy of Literature Translation Institute of Korea)

His novels which were translated into English, Japanese, Polish, and French include Deep Blue Night, Another Man's Room, Tower of Ants, Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land, and Masquerade.

On September 27, the Korean government awarded Choi the Eungwan Order of Culture Merit, the second highest artistic recognition, for his contribution to Korean literature and Korean popular culture.

- See more at: http://english.president.go.kr/tours/visitor/visitor_view.php?uno=8374&board_no=E10&search_key=&search_value=&search_cate_code=&cur_page_no=1#sthash.WL2YBEfZ.dpuf

source:korea.net

October, Month of Culture: full of arts & cultural events

“Cultural enrichment” has been proclaimed as one of the four policy priority areas of Park Geun-hye’s administration. The cultural enrichment initiative aims to raise the level of happiness of individual citizens by offering them the chance to become a producer and a consumer of culture.

This month, celebrating the Month of Culture, over 1,200 cultural programs have been prepared nationwide.

During Culture Week (October 16- 20), which is centered around Culture Day, October 19, the third Saturday of October, a diverse range of participatory and interactive events are being planned at Culture Station Seoul 284, in the old Seoul Station building. It’s titled “I am an Artist. This is Cultural Village.”

Promotional poster for the Month of Culture campaign

As part of the events, clubs, associations, dance troupes, theatre groups and other assorted “cultural societies” from across the nation will join together at Culture Station Seoul 284 to jointly celebrate the month of culture. There will be theatre performances in venues as small as just one pyeong, roughly 3.3 square meters. There will be art displays and musical performances. There will even be a phone booth book-exchange, where people bring their own books to exchange for others.

A festival to promote cultural values: community interaction, sympathy, sharing and consideration

A diverse range of cultural programs has been planned. Clubs, associations and art groups from across the nation will gather on October 12 at the Bundang Jandi Madang, in Bundang, and on October 19 at Culture Station Seoul 284, in Seoul, to celebrate Culture Month with competitions, displays and performances. A culture and arts festival specifically featuring disabled artists will be organized from October 1 to 15 at Seoul Square, in front of City Hall. It will remind us all that everyone in society should have access to culture, regardless of superficial differences. In addition, events focused on the elderly, who are about to start the second chapter of their life, will be held on October 16 at Cultural Station Seoul 284. Immigrants who are likely to form multi-cultural families and other non-Korean members of our community will be featured on October 16 and 17 at Cultural Station Seoul 284. An orchestra of adolescents will perform on October 20 at Deoksugung Palace, near City Hall.

Values and charms of Korean tradition to be shared

Gugak Performance at Noon will be held at Seoul Square, in front of City Hall, from October 16 through 18, in an effort to share Korea’s traditional musical delights. With the slogan, “Spirit, Youth, Tradition,” events will showcase performances of sajachum (lion-masked dance), Gaksori Noreum (a singing beggar), samulnori (traditional percussion music) and other folk instruments such as janggu and other drums. There will be free lunch for pasersby, as well.

There are also events planned around both language and fashion. In celebration of Hangeul Day, October 9, recently re-proclaimed as a public holiday, a Hangeul Culture Party will be held from October 7 to 13 at Gwanghwamun Square. The Culture Colored with Hanbok event on October 17 at Cultural Station Seoul 284, at Seoul Station, will introduce visitors to the beauty of Korea’s traditional clothing.

More information about the Month of Culture and Culture Week events is available at the official website (www.munhwamon.org) (only in Korean), or from the organizing committee itself (02 723 5057).
source: korea.net

국내 '유네스코 세계유산' 지키는 대학생들

얼마 전 <정책공감>이 유네스코 세계문화유산으로 등록되어 있는 우리나라의 자랑스러운 유산들을 소개해 드린 적이 있었는데요.

 

 

유네스코 세계유산 지키기에 나선 대학생들이 있다고 합니다.

문화재청은 국가브랜드위원회, 유네스코한국위원회와 함께 지난 7월 4일 창덕궁 부용지 영화당에서 ‘청년 유네스코 세계유산 지킴이단’(이하 지킴이단)의 발대식을 가졌는데요.

 

문화재청은 개청 50주년을 맞이해, 전국의 대학생들에게 종묘, 공주·부여역사유적지구, 고창고인돌, 안동·하회마을 등  각 지역의 세계유산을 대상으로 다양한 활동을 펼치고, 이를 통해 우리 문화유산을 배우고 즐길 수 있는 특별한 기회를 제공하기 위해 올해 '청년 유네스코 세계유산 지킴이단'을 처음 발족하게 되었답니다.

 

<청년 유네스코 세계유산 지킴이단들, 앞으로 우리의 훌륭한 세계유산을 널리

알리고 지켜 주세요! 사진 출처: 문화재청>

 

청년 유네스코 세계유산 지킴이들은 발대식을 통해 정식으로 위촉된 후, 서울·경기, 충청권, 영남권, 호남권 등 권역별로 3~4일 일정으로「문화재사랑 캠프」에   참가하게 되는데요. 세계유산 현장에서 펼쳐지는 캠프에서는 다양한 문화재보호활동, 현장 답사, 관련 소양교육 등이 이루어질 예정입니다.
지킴이들의 활동, 궁금하시죠? 
지킴이단이 어떤 활동을 하는지, ‘청소년 교육문화’라는 주제를 가지고 ‘문화재사랑 캠프’에 참여하고 있는 서울권 ‘종묘팀’을 통해 같이 한 번 들여다 볼까요?
 
"하면 할 수록, 더욱 열심히 해야겠다는 생각이 들어요."

종묘팀의 단원들은 6일 이른 아침, 종묘에서 만나 진설(궁에서 제사를 지낼 때, 음식을 법식에 따라 상위에 차려 놓는 것)하는 법부터 배웠습니다. 이어 임금, 영의정, 좌의정의 옷을 입고 제를 올리는 체험을 했는데요. 제사를 지내기 위해 단원들은 제기도 함께 운반했습니다.

 

제기를 운반하며 그 무게가 천차만별임을 의아하게 여긴 단원들이 이유를 묻자 지도를 맡은 김영남 강사는 “왕마다 제기를 따로 쓰는데 무게가 곧 왕의 권력을 나타낸다”고 설명해 주었습니다. 제가 끝난 후에는 선대왕을 기리는 마음으로 제기를 닦고 정리하는 봉사활동도 빼놓을 수 없겠죠.

 

<태릉에서 왕릉을 둘러보는 ‘종묘팀’ 단원들. 종묘팀 단원들은 시대별 능의 변화 모습과 능을 만드는 과정을 담은 시뮬레이션 영상 관람 후 능을 둘러봤습니다.>

          

이날 종묘에서 좌의정 옷을 입고 제를 지내서, 팀 내에서 ‘좌의정’이라는 별칭을 얻은 김현정(22·한림대)씨는 “처음 시작할 때는 이 프로그램이 형식적일 것 같다는 생각을 했는데 2박3일 동안 여러 가지 답사와 체험을 하면서 프로그램 내용이 좋아서 놀랐다”고 감탄하기도 했어요.

 

이어 김씨는 “이번 캠프 동안 우리의 세계유산인데 우리나라 사람보다는 외국인들이 더 많은 관심을 가지고 있는 것 같아 아쉬웠다”며 “우리 유산을 제대로 알리는 데 많은
노력이 필요하다는 생각이 들었다”는 소감을 밝혔습니다.

단원 맹유진(22·한림대)씨는 “이번 캠프에 오기 전에는 종묘 앞을 그냥 아무 생각없이 지나다니기만 하고 안에 들어가 볼 생각은 안했다”며 “이런 기회가 생겨 전문가들의 자세한 설명을 들을 수 있어 유익했다”고 했는데요.

그는 또 “영의정, 좌의정, 왕의 복장을 하고 진설하는 방법도 배우고, 제기 닦기 등 일반인들은 할 수 없는 체험을 직접 해 볼 수 있어서 더욱 뜻깊었던 것 같다”며, “하면 할수록 자신들이 맡은 임무인 ‘세계유산 지킴이’를 더욱 열심히 해야겠다는 생각이 들었다”고 덧붙였습니다.

 

인도에서 온 유학생도 “종묘제례악 인상적”

단원들 가운데에는 외국인도 보였는데요. 누구보다 집중해 설명을 듣고 있는 인도인 선저이 꾸마르(24·강원대)씨였습니다. 국립 국제교육원 학생으로 한국에서 한국학을 전공하고 있는 그는 “한국에 관심이 많아 한국의 문화유산을 느끼고 배우려고 ‘세계 유네스코 문화유산 지킴이’에 지원하게 됐다”고 지원 동기를 밝혔습니다.

  

<태릉 답사 전 단원들이 진지한 표정으로 강사로부터 태릉의 역사적 가치에 대해

설명을 듣고 있습니다>

 

꾸마르씨는 “특히 제를 올릴 때 음악(종묘제례악)이 정말 인상적이었다”고 했는데요.  "한국의 문화유산이 힌두교과 비슷한 점이 많은 것 같다"면서 “이러한 점을 내세워 한국이 한류와 같이 한국의 세계문화유산을 세계적으로 교류하기 위해 좀 더 힘썼으면 좋겠다”는 바람도 잊지 않았습니다.

 

그는 또 앞으로 페이스북, 블로그, 유튜브 등을 통해 한국의 세계유산을 많이 알릴 계획이라고 했는데요. 외국인이 한국의 문화유산을 어떻게 바라보는지 확인할 수 있는 기회가 될 것 같아 기대가 되었습니다.

 

종묘에서 진설체험을 마친 단원들은 곧이어 서울시 노원구 공릉동에 있는 태릉을 탐방했는데요. 태릉에 도착한 단원들은 피곤한 기색 없이 전문가의 설명을 들으며 시대별 능의 변화 모습과, 능을 만드는 과정을 담은 시뮬레이션 영상을 관람했습니다.

 

부지런히 능에 대해 공부하는 동안 사진 촬영도 빼먹지 않았는데요. 태릉은 울창한 나무와 푸른 잔디밭으로 둘러싸여 있어 산책을 즐기는 사람들도 더러 있었거든요. 단원들은 전문가의 설명을 들으면서 능으로 올라갔습니다.

종묘팀의 팀장 신명환(22·한림대)씨는 “저희는 ‘종묘’ 팀이지만, 저희 팀의 목적은 문화재와 역사에 대한 교육, 체험 프로그램을 개발해 내는 것이에요. 저희는 체험 교구나, 학습 만화 등으로 일반인들의 관심을 많이 끌 수 있도록 프로그램을 만들 예정”이라고 말했는데요.

그는 “종묘에는 우리나라 사람들보다는 일본인, 중국인들이 많았다”면서 “왜 이렇게 좋은 문화가 관심을 못 받을까, 우리가 어떤 방향으로 홍보를 해야 할까, 고민을 하게 됐다”며 아쉬워했습니다.

 

이어 “문화유적지 체험의 경우 관람시간 등이 제한적이어서 일반인들이 체험할 기회가 줄어드는 것 같다”며 “이런 체험을 영화관에 가는 것과 같이 편하게 즐길 수 있도록 ‘교육 문화’로 만들고 싶다”는 바램도 잊지 않았습니다.

  

연말까지 자율활동… 우수활동팀 시상도

 

김영남 강사는 “종묘에서의 체험으로 지킴이들이 앞으로 ‘유네스코 세계유산 지킴이’로서의 활동에 대한 많은 생각을 했을 것”이라며 “앞으로 지킴이들의 활발한 활동을 기대한다”고 밝혔습니다.

 

단원들은 태릉 탐방을 끝으로 2박3일의 ‘문화재사랑 캠프’ 일정을 마무리 지었는데요. 캠프가 끝난 후에는 2~5명씩 팀별로 사전에 작성한 활동계획서에 따라 대상 문화재별 특성에 맞는 홍보, 환경 개선, 연구 활동 등의 활동을 연말까지 자율적으로 시행하게 됩니다.

우수 활동팀에 대해서는 브랜드위원장상, 문화재청장상 등이 수여되는데요, 청년 유네스코 세계유산 지킴이의 향후 활동 내용, 행사 일정 등에 관한 정보는 공식 블로그를 통해 확인할 수 있습니다.

우리문화를 사랑하는 청년들의 유네스코 세계문화유산 지킴 활동, 앞으로 기대됩니다!
http://www.wikitree.co.kr/main/news_view.php?id=39486
 

KOREA RISING

Korea has long been known as a "shrimp among the whales", boxed as it is among China, Japan, Russia and the United States in northeast Asia. While the divided Korean Peninsula's geopolitics continues to be shaped by the great powers, South Korea is rapidly emerging as a middle power to reckon with in Asia and beyond. South Korea has long been an economic powerhouse. What we are seeing today is Seoul's conscious search for a political and diplomatic role in Asia and beyond. Sustained high growth rates since the 1960s had transformed South Korea from a backward country at the end of World War II into the world's 12th largest economy (PPP terms) and 15th largest (nominal GDP) by 2012.

As the world's seventh largest exporter and eighth largest importer, South Korea is one of the world's important trading nations. Its companies have steadily moved to the export of sophisticated products, including nuclear reactors. Samsung, for example, is giving Apple a run for its money in the global markets for smartphones and tablets.

South Korea has free trade agreements with many countries, including the US, Europe, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India. It actively participates in the building of an Asian economic community within a framework led by the ASEAN.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye is now building on her predecessor Lee Myung-bak's efforts to convert Seoul's growing economic power into political influence. Despite being hobbled by an unending conflict with North Korea, Seoul has begun to look beyond the Peninsula to establish a solid global strategic footprint. While holding on to its longstanding alliance with the US, Seoul has deepened ties with China and Russia, the major benefactors of North Korea. It has strategic partnership agreements with a number of countries, including Australia and Vietnam.

source:Indian Express

Stay, dine at old noble family houses

The house of Myeongsook Gong in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, is where visitors can experience traditional Korean meals passed down from generation to generation in the noble family. The memory of food remains strongly in one’s mind. In the animation film “Ratatouille,” a dish of ratatouille brought back memories to a food critic of his mother and her cooking of the same dish. In real life, some will travel to Hong Kong to experience authentic dim sum and to the city state Singapore for chili crab. Korea too has the well-known dishes of “bulgogi” and “bibimbap” that surprisingly taste good to the Western palate. Now, food makers want to broaden people’s experience of Korean food to know that there are stories — of families and country — in it. A meal that the Myeongsook Gong family would usually serve for birthdays, in particular for the son-in-law’s first birthday following marriage into the family. With that aim in mind, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism have joined hands to bring the regional speciality food of “jongga” or the main household of a noble family and of a community. Because of the seniority of the main household, it usually continues the tradition of rites and wedding food that have been passed on for centuries. People who value this tradition have come forth with a blueprint to build programs that will allow tourists to stay at old Korean-style houses and experience “jongga.” For example, the “gotaek” in Geochang, South Gyeongsang Province of the Chogye Jeong clan boasts of a special menu for guests while the Andong Kwon clan in Bongwha, North Gyeongsang Province passes on the tradition of “donggot” rice cake that is used in traditional rites. The exterior of Yedamchon in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province, which offers a traditional local food experience. The two ministries signed a memorandum of understanding to that end in June. Local governments such as Andong in North Gyeongsang Province, have been operating B&B schemes that have helped not only the visitors experience the traditional way of life but also revive the local economy in the region. Currently, there are about 11 old traditional houses — usually those that are three to five centuries old — nationwide. But the government’s vision is to increase the number of repeat visitors who might travel to Korea for the food and the memories it produces. The “Stay at Old Noble Family Houses” (tentative title)will start with two houses in the second half of 2013. The new initiative would be offering the full spread that noble families enjoyed in the past. The two sites that will open are the Seoji Choga Tteul in Gangneung, Gangwon Province and the Yedamchon in Sancheong, South Gyeongsang Province. A table full of local and organic produce available at Yedamchon. Seoji Choga Tteul offers food — its recipe and history — passed down from Myeongsook Gong of the Changnyeong Cho clan. Visitors staying in the old house of Myeongsook Gong can taste “jilsang” or a table of dishes that were prepared for those working out on the fields in the past. The birthday menu of Myeongsook Gong family is special as it features specialties such as pine mushroom rice and soup; “posikhae” that mixes bits of beef jerky with radish, red pepper and malt; “songjukdugyeonju” drink; mixed vegetables; “utgitteok” ora festive mix of rice cakes; tofu “jjim” or steamed tofu; “songineurimi” or pine mushroom on a stick along with salted cabbage, beef and green onion: parboiled tossed octopus; sweet rice with dates; seasoned beef; and steamed pollack. The place was featured in the “hallyu” star Bae Yong-joon’s photo-essay book on Korea. Yedamchon in Sancheong was not a manor but a newly-built hanok or traditional Korean edifice that features food made with natural organic products such as apples, pear and persimmon. Persimmon-flavored vinegar or plum juice and condensed onion extract are also used. The representative choices on offer at Yedamchon are herb, “bibimbap” or mixed rice, steamed and pressed pork, tossed apple and persimmons, home-made tofu and pickled wild mountain vegetables. The MOU plans to add five more houses by next year. The food tourism initiative also aims to make jongga into a commercial product that will be placed on the Michelin Red Guide. Source:Korea times Courtesy of Rural Development Administration

Park government ups cultural spending

For the past few years, there have been growing calls for more government spending toward the arts and culture. Korea spends around 1.14 percent of its total budget on culture, and industry insiders are demanding a 2 percent range to catch up with OECD member states on cultural investments. Amid challenging budget decisions, Korea has slowly increased its cultural spending in the last few years. The ministry announced Tuesday that the 2014 state budget on culture is 5.3 trillion won, a 5.7 percent increase from the previous year. “Culture recorded the largest increase in next year’s budget, after welfare and employment,” First Vice Culture Minister Cho Hyun-jae said in a press conference. “We will see a continuous raise in the culture budget over the next few years. According to our roadmap, we can expect an average of 11.7 percent increase annually from 2015 through 2017.” The underlining message of the latest culture ministry report on 2014 budgetary plans is that the Park Geun-hye administration is moving closer toward fulfilling the President’s targeted budgetary increments for culture. As a presidential candidate, Park had pledged that she will aim to achieve the “2 percent state budget on culture.” She demonstrated an unusual focus on culture during her inaugural address, in which she defined “cultural prosperity” as one of the key agendas of her presidency. She used the word culture 19 times during the address, more than any other of her predecessors during the same occasion. “There is no disagreement within this administration about the need for culture to ultimately take up 2 percent of the state budget during the President’s term, as she had given her word to the public on this before taking office,” Cho said. “The 2014 culture budget is the first step toward achieving this pledge.” In elaborating on the budget composition, the vice minister introduced plans to subsidize more projects for bringing cultural experiences to underserved communities. Next year will be a crucial year for several major sporting events. The ministry will devote 134.6 billion won for preparations for the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang and has acquired sufficient funds for the 2014 Incheon Asian Games and 2015 Gwangju Universiade. Around 23,000 new jobs will be created in the field of culture and sports. But there were no substantial plans to close the cultural gap between Seoul and other parts of the country. Park has shown up at various cultural functions, most recently at a large-scale book festival in Paju, where she stressed that her administration will focus on bringing more innovation, creativity and wealth to the cultural sector. She established the Presidential Committee on Cultural Enrichment in July to come up with new ideas for supporting a sector that is fundamentally important to quality of life and identity as a nation. The committee, however, hasn’t really done anything significant so far except hosting a series of seminars in various parts of the country. Source:Koreatimes