Songpa-gu Traditional Madang Theater 'Seoul Nori Madang' 40-Year Facility Major Renovation

Seoul's Only Traditional Madang Theater 'Seoul Nori Madang'... 40 Years Since Establishment, Major Facility Overhaul
Nation's First Outdoor Venue to Install 'Hyeonsu Sound Absorber'... Resolving Chronic Issues Like Noise and Reverberation
Hanok Roof Tile Replacement, Painting, and More... Regular Weekend Performances Starting April 6 with Songpa Sandae Nori

Seogangseok, Mayor of Songpa District, conducted an on-site inspection on the 2nd.

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) has transformed ‘Seoul Nori Madang,’ the only traditional open-air theater in Seoul operated by the district, into a performance venue enhanced with the latest technology.

‘Seoul Nori Madang,’ established on December 25, 1984, is located at the western end of Seokchon Lake, a representative tourist attraction in Songpa-gu. It is the only traditional performance facility in Seoul where various folk arts designated as Important Intangible Cultural Properties are showcased. The venue features an open-air stage designed to reflect the elegance and excitement of ancestors, a dome ceiling, and 1,671 seats for the audience.

After 40 years since its establishment, Seoul Nori Madang faced ongoing issues such as deteriorating facilities, sound quality degradation due to the dome ceiling, and noise problems arising from its urban location.

In response, the district undertook extensive renovations over one year and four months, transforming Seoul Nori Madang into a world-class open-air theater.

Notably, the district introduced a ‘suspended sound absorber’ at Seoul Nori Madang, revolutionizing the quality and environment of performances. Suspended sound absorbers have primarily been used in indoor theaters until now, and Seoul Nori Madang is the first outdoor venue in the country to install them.

The suspended sound absorber, made of special sound-absorbing structures, is known to have far superior reverberation absorption effects compared to traditional fabric sound-absorbing membranes, as well as significantly improved sound clarity. Beyond its functional benefits that greatly enhance performance quality, it also allows easy design modifications such as the use of Obangsaek colors (yellow, blue, white, red, black) and curves, making it ideal for traditional cultural facilities that showcase Korea’s unique traditional beauty, satisfying both the eyes and ears of the audience.

The district also installed LED screens on both sides inside the theater to enhance audience understanding and add visual appeal. These screens will be used to display subtitles and various videos during performances such as operas, providing detailed information about traditional performances and live broadcasts to domestic and international tourists.

Additionally, the district refurbished the exterior by replacing and painting the roof tiles of the hanok-style building, installing new seats in the audience area, and widening the main gate to allow emergency vehicles such as fire trucks to access the venue, thoroughly reorganizing Seoul Nori Madang.

On the morning of the 2nd, Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, personally visited Seoul Nori Madang to inspect the improved facilities and prepared thoroughly to welcome visitors ahead of the regular performances starting this weekend.

Mayor Seo said, “‘Seoul Nori Madang,’ operated directly by Songpa-gu, is the only venue in Seoul where the precious cultural heritage of traditional open-air theater is performed. We invite you to visit Seoul Nori Madang, which has been transformed into a world-class cultural and artistic facility, and experience the charm of traditional culture set against a beautiful backdrop where the past and present harmonize.”

‘Seoul Nori Madang’ will hold regular performances every Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. from April 6, starting with the Songpa Sandae Nori performance, continuing through October this year. In particular, Songpa Sandae Nori is the only mask dance in Seoul, designated as National Intangible Cultural Property No. 49 and inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list on November 30, 2022, and it is preserved and passed down in Songpa-gu.

All performances are free of charge, and there will be a break during the summer months of July and August. For inquiries about the performances, please contact the Culture and Arts Division of Songpa-gu Office.