A massive street parade featuring more than 1,300 traditional performers will launch this year's Korean Traditional Music Week as the Arirang Festival takes over central Seoul from June 5 to 7.
Held to commemorate the second Korean Traditional Music Day, the festival will transform the Gwanghwamun Plaza area into a celebration of Korea's musical heritage. As one of the flagship events of Korean Traditional Music Week, the festival combines large-scale traditional performances with interactive cultural experiences designed for the public.
The festival opens on the morning of June 5 with a grand gilnori procession beginning at Daehanmun Gate of Deoksugung Palace and continuing to Gwanghwamun Plaza. Traditionally performed before major celebrations, gilnori is a form of street performance in which musicians and performers parade through public spaces to announce the start of a festival and build excitement among spectators.
Beginning at 10 a.m., the procession will feature performances by the National Gugak Center Folk Music Orchestra, acclaimed tightrope artist Nam Chang-dong, the Ministry of National Defense Traditional Military Band, regional nongak and mask dance preservation societies, and more than 20 university folk music groups marching along Sejong-daero. Upon arriving at Gwanghwamun Plaza, the Gwangju Chilseok Gossaum Nori Preservation Society will present a demonstration of the nationally recognized Intangible Cultural Heritage performance.
At the heart of the festival is Arirang, Korea's most iconic folk song tradition. Passed down orally for generations and reshaped by local communities across the country, Arirang exists in numerous regional forms. Audiences will have the opportunity to experience performances by preservation societies representing the three most celebrated versions: Miryang Arirang, Jindo Arirang and Jeongseon Arirang.
The festival also explores how Arirang continues to evolve in contemporary Korea. Performances by the Traditional Performing Arts Group of Blind Musicians and the Dongbaek Children's Folk Song Choir highlight the song's ongoing transmission across generations and communities. On June 6 and 7, younger artists including Sorikkot Gageokdan and gugak bands Chodong and IRO will present crossover performances that reinterpret traditional sounds through a modern lens.
The closing day on June 7 will feature Master Singers and Masters of Traditional Music, bringing together renowned gugak artists including Lee Chun-hee, Yoo Ji-sook and Jo Ju-seon for a special showcase celebrating Korea's vocal traditions.
Beyond the performances, visitors can participate in a wide range of hands-on cultural programs throughout the festival grounds. Activities include a sangmo spinning challenge connected to social media campaigns, opportunities to play the rarely seen court ritual instruments eo and chuk, and spaces where visitors can try on traditional performance accessories such as bokdu, jeollip and gache.
Additional experiences include traditional beverages, fragrance workshops inspired by gugak culture, and a pop-up zone linked to the National Gugak Museum's special exhibition "Arirang: Your Song." Visitors can create their own version of Arirang or participate in educational activities such as building miniature traditional musical instruments using snacks and confectionery materials.
Drivers should note that two lanes of Sejong-daero near Gwanghwamun will be temporarily closed on June 5 from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. due to the street parade.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
Copyright ⓒ 뉴스컬처 무단 전재 및 재배포 금지
본 콘텐츠는 뉴스픽 파트너스에서 공유된 콘텐츠입니다.
