| National Gugak Center's "Yeonhui Pan" (National Gugak Center) |
As world leaders gather in Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, the ancient capital of the Silla Kingdom is set to become the stage for a grand celebration of traditional Korean arts.
“Seorabeol Pungnyu,” a special cultural project held in conjunction with the summit, brings the spirit of a 1,000 years to life.
From Wednesday to Oct. 29, visitors can enjoy free nightly performances at outdoor venues across the city’s historic sites, including the famed Cheomseongdae, one of Asia’s oldest surviving astronomical observatories.
Against this backdrop of stone and starlight, some of Korea’s leading traditional arts organizations — including the National Gugak Center and Gyeonggi Sinawi Orchestra — will present open-air performances.
Each evening will highlight a different facet of Korean artistry.
The eight-day series of performances opens Wednesday with a full orchestral performance by the Gyeonggi Sinawi Orchestra. The following night, the North Gyeongsang Province branch of the Korean Traditional Music Association will showcase a percussion performance, fan dance, folk performance and pansori, a traditional form of narrative singing.
On Friday, the National Gugak Center presents a festival of regional performing arts drawn from across the country, followed on Saturday by Gugak FM, which will stage a vibrant show featuring tightrope walking, choral singing, pansori and fusion performance.
The celebration continues Sunday, when the Contemporary Dance Promotion of Korea brings a night of modern interpretations of Korean dance.
On Oct. 27, the Seoul International Cultural Foundation will reenact the Yeongyeongdang Jinjakrye, a royal banquet hosted at the Seoul palace Changdeokgung in 1828 by Crown Prince Hyomyeong to mark Queen Sunwon’s 40th birthday.
A special program will highlight the intangible heritage of the five northern provinces, featuring traditional dances rooted in the cultural legacy from what is today's North Korea, on Oct. 28.
The festival concludes on Oct. 29 with a concert of Korean music by the Jeonbuk State Gugak Center, bringing the weeklong celebration to a resounding close.
All performances take place at Cheomseongdae, starting at 7 p.m., and admission is free.
Meanwhile, the Yukbuchon, Korea’s first international convention center, established in 1979, will also host performances.
From Friday to Oct. 29, local arts groups will take to the outdoor stage at 4:30 p.m., followed by additional evening performances in the main hall at 7 p.m. Spectators can expect a variety of programs — from traditional music and dance to theatrical folk performances — all free of charge.
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