Meet the 'Exhibition Returns' from Arirang to Seo Taiji!

'Songbooks, Singing the Era' Exhibition... Songpa Book Museum 5th Anniversary Celebration, 'Revisited Exhibition' Held
Reconstruction of the Popular 2019 'Songbooks, Singing the Era'
100 Years of Korean Popular Songs Through Songbooks and Albums... Until December 31 This Year
Exhibition Experience with Senses Including Popular Singer Selection and Video Viewing

An exhibition showcasing the era of Korean popular music, which has recently gained great love worldwide from trot to K-pop, has been set up at the Songpa Book Museum.

Songpa-gu (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced on the 9th that it will continue the "Revisited Exhibition: Singing the Era with Songbooks" until December 31 this year, marking the 5th anniversary of the opening of the Songpa Book Museum.

This exhibition is a reconfiguration of the special exhibition first introduced in 2019, located in the lobby on the first floor of the Book Museum. It is a rare exhibition themed on "songbooks" that attracted great interest at the time but could not meet many visitors due to the spread of COVID-19.

The returning exhibition features over 40 items including songbooks, rare records, and audio equipment. Organized into six sections according to the era from before liberation to the present, visitors can understand the 100-year history of Korean popular music at a glance.

Section 1 (Before Liberation) introduces collections such as 'Joseon Songs Collection' and 'Joseon Popular Songs Collection,' which contain songs filled with the sorrow and grief of a lost country like Arirang, as well as a Victor gramophone over 100 years old.

Section 2 (Post-Liberation to Korean War period) showcases records such as "Danjang's Mia Ridge" and "Moonlight of Silla," reflecting the joy of liberation and the pain of war.

Section 3 (Post-War to 1960s) reveals the popularity of pop music and dance-style songs influenced by the United States after the Korean War, and the opening of the domestic LP era with "KBS Records."

Section 4 (1970s) displays the rise of folk songs and rock music against the backdrop of youth culture, where visitors can listen to music from different eras and take commemorative photos in the music caf? corner.

Section 5 (1980s) represents a period where diverse music genres coexisted from trot to heavy metal, showing changes in Korean popular music with items like "Deulgukhwa 1st Album," "Jo Yong-pil 8th Album," and Walkman.

Section 6 (1990s to Present) offers songbooks containing interviews and photo spreads of popular singers, as well as nostalgic materials related to K-pop, which has led the current Korean Wave, including "Seo Taiji and Boys 1st Album."

In addition, visitors can enjoy a more diverse exhibition experience through interactive activities such as exploring the reasons behind banned songs designated in the 1970s, "My Favorite Singer" experience, watching a 100-year history video of Korean popular music, and activity sheets.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, "The Songpa Book Museum, Korea's first public book museum, has become a popular spot attracting an average of 1,000 visitors daily in just five years since its opening," and added, "Through the returning exhibition 'Singing the Era with Songbooks,' we hope that everyone from children to adults can have a special experience feeling the value of Korean popular music with all their senses."

All exhibitions at the Songpa Book Museum are free and open to everyone from Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.