For five days this June, Seoul Forest will become a living stage for Korea's traditional performing arts. The 2026 Korea Traditional Performing Arts Festival – Jumping Ground, Playing Ground, Living Ground will take place from June 8 to 12 at the Seoul Forest Outdoor Stage, bringing together mask dances, nongak, lion dances, tightrope walking, pansori and contemporary interpretations of traditional performance.
Traditional Korean performing arts, collectively known as yeonhui, have long connected communities through village festivals, seasonal celebrations and communal rituals. Combining music, movement, storytelling, satire and spectacle, the art form remains one of the most vibrant expressions of Korean cultural heritage. This year's festival highlights that living tradition through performances by artists spanning multiple generations, from youth performers to veteran masters.
The opening day on June 8 will feature the National Youth Traditional Performing Arts Troupe, whose dynamic performance sets the tone for the festival. The Miryang Baekjungnori Preservation Society and the Dongnae Hakchum Preservation Society will follow, presenting regional traditions that reflect the diversity of Korea's folk performing arts.
Miryang Baekjungnori combines agricultural labor customs, communal play and ritual practices into a single performance tradition, while Dongnae Hakchum captures the elegance of cranes through refined dance movements rooted in regional heritage. Later in the evening, Churi Band will offer a contemporary interpretation of traditional rhythms by blending them with modern band sounds.
June 9 focuses on the next generation of performers. Youth troupes from the Yongin Traditional Performing Arts Center and the Cheonan Bangchukgol Nongak Preservation Society will showcase the rhythms, techniques and movements they are carrying into the future. Their performances highlight how traditional arts continue to evolve through active transmission rather than remaining museum pieces. Cheongbae Yeonhui Troupe will add a modern perspective with a production that moves freely between traditional structure and contemporary expression.
On June 10, the Korea Nongak Federation will bring together the distinctive sounds and techniques of nongak traditions from across the country. Because each region has developed its own rhythms, formations and performance styles, the stage will offer audiences a rare opportunity to experience the diversity of Korean folk music traditions in one place. Young pansori artists Nam Sang-dong and Song Ja-yeon will perform adapted pansori works, while Yein Group Ajae, featuring acclaimed tightrope performer Nam Chang-dong, will deliver a performance that combines technical mastery with humor and audience interaction.
June 11 will spotlight the Bongsan Mask Dance Preservation Society. Known for its sharp satire, exaggerated movements and lively humor, Bongsan Talchum remains one of Korea's most iconic mask dance traditions. The performance demonstrates how traditional theater has long served as a vehicle for social commentary as well as entertainment. Yeonhui Group The Gwangdae will further engage audiences through a performance that blends storytelling, comic dialogue and physical expression.
The festival concludes on June 12 with performances by the Honam Women's Nongak Preservation Society and creative performance team SunB. While the former presents the distinctive rhythms and artistry of Honam-style nongak, the latter combines traditional performance with street music influences, illustrating how Korean performing arts continue to absorb new ideas while remaining rooted in tradition.
Festival visitors will also encounter three mascot lions named Bongsan, Bukcheong and Gangnyeong. In Korean folk tradition, lions have long symbolized protection, prosperity and communal well-being. Appearing in regional performance traditions such as Bongsan Talchum, Bukcheong Lion Play and Gangnyeong Talchum, they remain enduring symbols linking ritual and performance.
Beyond the stage, visitors can participate in hands-on cultural activities. From Monday through Thursday, programs under the theme "Let's Try Tradition!" will include pogurak ball games, traditional Korean archery, hanji mask-making and traditional folk activities. On Friday, the festival will shift to a summer-themed program featuring eco-friendly bubble play and bamboo water-gun activities designed for families and children.
The festival will be offered free of charge, with open seating available throughout the venue. Special seating areas will also be provided for elderly visitors and audience members with disabilities, ensuring wider accessibility. By combining performances with interactive experiences, the festival aims to make Korea's traditional performing arts approachable for audiences of all ages.
Reported by News Culture M.J._mj94070777@nc.press
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