8 Youth Gugak Teams Supported by Jeongdong Theater to Hold Relay Performances at Jeongdong Maru This August

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Jeongdong Theater announced on the 3rd that eight teams selected for the youth gugak incubating project 'Cheongchun Manbal' will present relay performances at Jeongdongmaru in Jeongdong Theater this August.

The first round selected teams of this contest, targeting young gugak musicians aged 18 to 30 (no age limit for university and graduate students majoring in gugak), are The Sero, Remaiders, Sabujakdang, Sori Ensemble∞Gong, Sinabro, Music Creation Group SEMO, CelloGayageum, and Haengrakgaek.

These eight teams will each hold a solo performance of 50 minutes at Jeongdongmaru from August 18 to 28. Jeongdong Theater provides practical benefits that will serve as a foundation for future activities, including performance space and technical support, performance photography and video shooting, ticket sales, and promotional marketing. Especially this year, to support artists who have faced difficulties due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a creative support fund of 1 million KRW will be provided to all selected teams.

Cheongchun Manbal is a youth gugak incubating project supporting the 'first stage' of young gugak artists, now in its fourth year. Hancom Group and the nonprofit organization Woori Munhwa Jikimi (Woomunji) have participated as sponsors of this project in 2017, 2018, and again this year.

The relay performances in August can be viewed for 10,000 KRW per seat, and tickets will be available for reservation from July 11 on the Jeongdong Theater website and Interpark.

Through the August relay performances, two outstanding artist teams and one artist of the year will be selected, and the three selected teams will receive creative support funds sponsored by Hancom Group and Woomunji. Additionally, these three teams will participate in the 'Royal Culture Festival' held at Deoksugung from October 10 to 18, and the artist of the year (one team) will also be given an opportunity to participate in a planned performance at Jeongdong Theater next year.

Through Cheongchun Manbal, Jeongdong Theater has discovered a total of 45 emerging gugak teams up to last year, providing creative support funds and various performance stages such as 'Jeongdong Theater Noon Art Yard,' 'Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Gangneung Art Center Performance (2018),' and 'Gwanghwamun Arirang Festival (2017-2019).'