'From Good Music to Jazz and Hip-hop'... National Theater's 'Yeourak (樂) Festival' Opens July 3

A Total of 12 Performances Presented Over 23 Days

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The National Theater will hold the '2020 Yeowoo樂 (Rak) Festival' from July 3 to 25 at the National Theater’s Haneul Theater, Daloreum Theater, and Byeoloreum Theater.

'Yeowoo Rak (Here is Our Music)' is a music festival featuring musicians noted for bold attempts based on Korean music and artists from various fields. It began in 2010 and is now in its 11th year. According to the National Theater, a total of about 63,000 spectators have visited 'Yeowoo Rak' so far, with an average seat occupancy rate of 93 percent.

The 2020 'Yeowoo Rak' emphasizes the 'here' in 'Here is Our Music' and will present a total of 12 performances over 23 days. These 12 performances cover a wide range of genres, from gut (shamanistic ritual) music to pansori, hip-hop, jazz, and even photography.

The opening work 'Samhab (三合)', performed from July 3 to 5 at the National Theater’s Daloreum Theater, features music director Lee Aram, composer and performer Jung Jae-il, and singer Kim Junsu together. The grand finale of 'Yeowoo Rak', 'Great Cross', is led by artistic director Yoo Kyung-hwa and includes hip-hop musician Tiger JK and advertising/music video director Jo Poong-yeon. 'Great Cross' will be held without an audience and streamed online from July 24 to 25 at the Haneul Theater.

New collaborative stages arranged at 'Yeowoo Rak' include performances by the band Kang Kwon-soon & Song Hong-seop Ensemble with Shin Noy, singer-songwriter Lee Rang with the Jeongga Ensemble Souljigi, and a stage featuring four internationally recognized performers: Park Woo-jae (Geomungo), Park Ji-ha (Piri, Saenghwang, Yanggeum), Park Soon-a (Gayageum), and Park Kyung-so (Gayageum). Additionally, the currently most active bands and artists such as Dayalchi, Akdan Gwangchil, and singer-songwriter Lim Kim will showcase the pinnacle of 'our music' in 2020. The festival also adds weight with traditional-rooted performances by shaman Lee Hae-kyung, photographer Kang Young-ho, Donghaean Byeolsingut Preservation Society, and master drummers Park Geun-young and Jo Yong-an. The 'Yeowoo Rak Band Project', directly selected and organized by artistic director Yoo Kyung-hwa and music director Lee Aram, features 12 young musicians in their 20s and 30s performing in three teams, offering a glimpse into the future of Korean music.

This year’s 'Yeowoo Rak' artistic director Yoo Kyung-hwa is a representative Korean cheolhyeongeum (iron string zither) and percussion player. During her tenure as artistic director and head of the Seoul Youth Gugak Orchestra, she presented groundbreaking stages and works, earning praise from audiences and critics alike for offering a positive alternative for the future of gugak orchestras. Based on traditional music instruments such as cheolhyeongeum, percussion, and geomungo, she has expanded her musical scope to include world music, contemporary compositions, and gut music. Artistic director Yoo said, "While organizing the 2020 'Yeowoo Rak', I tried to include both new plans reflecting my musical color and the strengths of 'Yeowoo Rak' that have continued for 11 years." The music director is daegeum (bamboo flute) player Lee Aram, who also served in 2018.

During the 'Yeowoo Rak' period, the 'Yeowoo Rak Academy' will be held, consisting of the 'Yeowoo Rak Workshop' for gugak majors and 'Yeowoo Talk', where performers Park Woo-jae, Park Ji-ha, Park Soon-a, and Park Kyung-so from 'Pobaksasil' share sincere stories about music. The '2020 Yeowoo Rak Festival' will implement 'distanced seating' as part of 'social distancing in daily life' to prevent the spread of COVID-19.