Song Ga-in "I Will Speak Up While Popular, Please Protect Gugak"

Song Ga-in Supports Concerns Over 'Reduction of Gugak Education'... "Please Show Interest in Gugak"
Despite Ministry of Education's Clarification That Gugak Education Will Not Be Removed or Reduced... Strong Backlash from Gugak Community

Singer Song Ga-in is giving a greeting at the National Gugak Artists' Cultural Festival for the Future of Gugak Education held on the afternoon of the 15th at Cheonggye Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] Singer Song Ga-in appealed to protect Gugak education amid concerns from the Gugak community that Gugak might be reduced in the revised elementary, middle, and high school curricula. Song Ga-in, a trot singer who graduated from the Department of Gugak at Gwangju Arts High School and the Department of Traditional Arts at Chung-Ang University, debuted in 2012 with the single album 'Sanbarama Gangbarama'.

On the 15th, Song Ga-in took the stage at the 'All Gugak Artists Cultural Festival for the Future of Gugak Education' held at Cheonggye Square in Jung-gu, Seoul, saying, "Before becoming a trot singer, I studied our Gugak and Pansori for over 15 years. I could not not come to this place, and I could not keep silent," adding, "I thought I should speak up while I still have some influence and popularity, so I came here."

Song Ga-in continued, "I almost cried listening to Professor Jeong Eun-kyung, president of the Korean Gugak Education Research Association, and I still feel like crying now," adding, "I cannot understand or accept that such a situation is being created."

She added, "I believe that growing up watching and listening to traditional music from childhood helps us understand what our culture is, know our roots, and build a foundation," and said, "If our ancestors heard about this situation, they would be truly shocked and would rise up in surprise."

Song Ga-in appealed, "What our students need to see and grow up with is our culture and tradition, so if they do not learn our tradition at school, where else would they learn it?" and "Even ordinary people who do not know Gugak should take interest and participate so that our Gugak can develop further and spread worldwide."

Earlier, on the 13th, Song Ga-in also voiced criticism regarding the reduction of Gugak education. At a press conference held at her agency PocketDol Studio’s building in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, she explained, "I feel I must raise my voice because if I don’t, no one will. If I had only done trot like others, I wouldn’t have been able to express this sorrowful voice or come this far."

Meanwhile, the Gugak community’s claims of 'neglect of Gugak education' began last month when the Ministry of Education released the '2022 Revised Music Curriculum Draft.' The Gugak community expressed concerns that Gugak-related content was missing from the 'achievement standards,' which serve as guidelines for textbook writing and school lessons, fearing that Gugak education might be reduced in schools.

In response, on the 22nd, the Ministry of Education explained, "We are discussing and collecting diverse opinions to maintain the current Gugak-related elements in the curriculum and add new terms to ensure a balanced curriculum," and stated, "Gugak content will not be deleted or reduced in the 2022 revised music curriculum and music textbooks."

Despite this explanation, as strong opposition from the Gugak community continued, the Ministry of Education reportedly decided to retain Gugak expressions in the 'achievement standards.' A Ministry of Education official told Hankyoreh and others on the 16th, "After comprehensively reflecting the opinions of the Gugak community, the research team incorporated Gugak expressions into the final results of the first round of research on the 10th to ensure they are not omitted from the achievement standards."