I would like to introduce Museum of Gugak located inside of National Gugak Center.
As there is a growing interest in Gugak from foreigners, I recently had several chances to give information about gugak center to visitors.
It is easy to take green bus 5413 in front of exit 3 of Seocho Station, subway line number 2. Then get off at Seoul Arts Center Station. National Gugak Center is located on the right side of Seoul Arts Center.
Opened in 1995, the Museum of Gugak has served as an active Gugak educational center with its permanent exhibitions and special exhibitions with in-depth topics. In 2011, the remodeling project was executed in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the National Gugak Center, revamping it into 6 exhibit halls with 7 different themed halls, and the center was reopened in August 2012.
The 6 permanent exhibit halls with 7 themes house various Gugak instruments and over 250 Gugak-related audio and video archives, as well as 3D Visual Image screens 3D animations.
You can see musical instruments used in the royal court and dance through model in the main hall. There are seven permanent exhibition hall on the second floor.
The first stop is Archaeological Records Hall.
You can see the evolutionary process of musical instruments, from ancient instruments used as a tool for communication to musical instruments with different pitches.
The exhibit includes excavated artifacts and musical instruments from archeological sites as well as mural paintings from paintings from royal tombs dating from the Goguryeo kingdom. The process of manufacturing a gayageum is displayed in ‘Gayageum Workshop’.
In the music of common hall, you will see the diverse kinds of music for common people includes labor music, ritual music, and entertainment music.
Music of the Literati, the elegant music of the seonbi, the literati who led philosophy and cultural developments of the Joseon dynasty, is introduced. A pungnyubang-sites where aspects if literati culture such as music, poetry and literature were nurtured-has been recreated here for visitors to experience the artistic environment of the pungnyubang.
The musical accomplishments of Sejong the Great are outlined here. Among his achievements is the appointment of musicologist Park, Yeon to rearrange and develop indigenous Korean Neo-Confucian court music and ritual music that were distinct from Chinese influence.
In this room, the story of the institution and musicians of the Jangakwon, the Joseon-era administration in charge of court ritual and banquet music and dance, is displayed. The musical instruments of the last court musicians are exhibited.
This is Modern and Contemporary Music Hall. It focuses on the history of the National Gugak Center, including details of the lives of contemporary and historic gugak masters, sound recordings, and new compositions as well.
Lastly, 3D Visual Image. The 3D visual image features an animated tale for children detailing the legend of the heavenly bamboo flute of the Silla kingdom written in Samgukyusa, History of the Three Kingdoms Period.
Gugaki is a commentator in this museum. Commentary/museum guide in English, Japanese and Chinese are available with a reservation via phone and bleow is time table.
Korean: Apply on the spot (at the reception desk)
English/Chinese/Japanese: Reservation is required via phone.
If you would like to have more detail, please visit www.gugak.go.kr .
-Information
* Location: Exit 3 of Seocho Station(Line Number 2), 15minutes on foot
* Hours: 9:00~18:00
* Closed on Mondays and January 1st
* Free Admission
