Commemorating 'Gugak Day,' the Seoul Donhwamun Gugakdang is set to host a special two-day event, the 2026 Donhwamun Gugak Week, featuring the 공연 'Sai… Sori… Sum…' from June 5th to 6th. This unique production delves into the profound 의미 of 'listening,' a concept often overlooked in modern life. It operates on the philosophical premise that all 생명 embodies 생성, sustenance, and eventual 소멸, implying that no sound endures indefinitely.
Exploring Sound's Creation, Demise, and the Intervening Silence
'Sai… Sori… Sum…' is uniquely structured to allow the 관객 to directly experience the process of sound's birth and disappearance, and the '여백' that exists between these moments. Performers respond to each other's subtle breath changes, creating a natural flow of sound, while audience members are invited to transcend mere appreciation and fully immerse themselves in the present moment.
This performance prompts us to reconsider the 본질 of 'listening,' often forgotten in our busy daily lives. By observing the beginning and end of sounds, it is expected to offer a meditative experience where the true value of sound is discovered in silence, allowing individuals to confront their 내면.
Artistic Director Won Il and 'Sound Ritual': Pushing the Boundaries of Traditional Music
The performance is directed by 예술감독 Won Il, renowned for his continuous experimentation in expanding 전통음악 into contemporary contexts. Having previously served as director for the Gyeonggi Sinawi Orchestra and the Hwaeom Music Festival, he is celebrated for developing a unique musical system that harmonizes both autonomy and collective order by merging the improvisation and collective breathing inherent in Sinawi with modern musical language. His signature 'Reverberation' series with the Gyeonggi Sinawi Orchestra, in particular, has been praised for pioneering new frontiers in audience-participatory concerts.
The stage will feature 'Sound Ritual Ensemble : Cy_樂', led by Artistic Director Won Il (sound making, percussion, vocals), alongside Kim Bora (vocals), Hwang Jin-ah (geomungo), and Han Ji-su (saenghwang). Adding further depth to the performance will be Buddhist monk Myeongjin, who specializes in singing bowl sound 명상 based on 불교 practice and Seon meditation.
A New Gugak Experience Blending Improvisation and Meditation
The Seoul Donhwamun Gugakdang stated that the 2026 Gugak Week was conceived to broaden the expressive 확장 of Gugak by incorporating improvisation and a meditative approach into traditional music. The 의도 is to offer audiences a novel sensory experience, moving beyond mere listening to explore and reflect upon themselves within moments of silence.
Tickets for 'Sai… Sori… Sum…' are priced at 50,000 KRW for 전석, with a 30% early-bird discount available. Detailed information and 예매 can be found on the Seoul Namsan Donhwamun Gugakdang website. For other inquiries, please contact the Seoul Donhwamun Gugakdang directly.
Beyond simply attending a performance, the 2026 Donhwamun Gugak Week's 'Sai… Sori… Sum…' will offer an 기회 to reflect on the essence of 'listening,' often forgotten in modern society, and to tune into one's inner voice. Through this unique endeavor, the Seoul Donhwamun Gugakdang aims to explore new 가능성 for Gugak and provide audiences with a profound cultural experience.
