A groundbreaking exposition dedicated to gugak, Korea's traditional music, officially opened Friday in Yeongdong County, marking the first event of its kind designed to showcase the deep cultural roots that laid the foundation for K-pop's worldwide phenomenon. The inaugural 2025 Yeongdong World Traditional Music & Arts Expo will run through October 11 in Yeongdong County, located 185 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

The month-long festival aims to expand the audience base for traditional Korean music, facilitate meaningful exchanges between industry professionals and musicians from around the world, and stimulate the regional economy through cultural tourism initiatives. Operating under the inspiring slogan "The Fragrance of Gugak, Permeating the World," the expo launched with a spectacular opening ceremony at Yeongdong Citizens' Stadium at 7 p.m., drawing approximately 10,000 attendees including local government officials, gugak performers, and community residents.

The opening celebration featured an impressive lineup of cultural performances and demonstrations. Following the formal ceremony, attendees enjoyed a vibrant street parade showcasing traditional artists from countries around the globe, an aerial demonstration by South Korea's elite Black Eagles aerobatic team, and captivating performances by the prestigious National Gugak Center and the renowned Nangye Gugak Orchestra. The evening's highlights included a massive percussion performance featuring about 200 Yeongdong residents and a collective rendition of the beloved Yeongdong Arirang, performed jointly by professional artists and audience members.

The main exposition venue houses three comprehensive exhibition halls that chronicle the rich history of gugak and explore its tremendous global potential in the modern music landscape. Visitors can experience diverse folk music traditions from 30 different countries, providing a unique opportunity to understand how traditional music forms the backbone of contemporary popular music. The expo features a special Intangible Heritage Experience Zone where 13 master craftsmen, including traditional instrument makers and expert bowyers, demonstrate their time-honored techniques and share their expertise with visitors.

Interactive experiences form a cornerstone of the expo, allowing guests to try their hand at playing traditional Korean instruments such as the gayageum (Korean zither), geomungo (six-stringed Korean zither), and haegeum (two-stringed Korean fiddle) under the guidance of experienced instructors. Additionally, hands-on experiences with traditional costumes, musical instruments, and crafts from all participating countries provide visitors with an immersive cultural journey that bridges past and present.

Throughout the exposition period, audiences will witness a diverse spectrum of gugak performances, ranging from the solemn and majestic royal ritual music "Jongmyo Jereak" to the emotionally expressive folk storytelling art of "pansori." To engage contemporary audiences who may be unfamiliar with traditional genres, organizers have thoughtfully arranged for classic pieces to be reinterpreted and presented with modern musical elements and contemporary trends, creating a bridge between ancient traditions and current cultural expressions.

Yeongdong County holds special significance as the birthplace of Park Yeon, a distinguished scholar, government official, and musician from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Revered as one of Korea's greatest musical masters, Park Yeon is credited with establishing the fundamental foundations and standards of gugak that continue to influence Korean traditional music today. In celebration of his enduring legacy, Yeongdong is home to a comprehensive gugak museum, a thriving traditional music instrument production village, and an interactive gugak experience village that allows visitors to immerse themselves in this ancient art form.

Since 1991, the county has proudly hosted the annual Nangye Gugak Festival in honor of Park Yeon, using his respected pen name to commemorate his contributions to Korean culture. This long-standing tradition has established Yeongdong as a premier destination for traditional music enthusiasts and cultural tourists from across Korea and beyond.

Organizers anticipate welcoming approximately one million visitors from Korea and international destinations throughout the expo's duration. Jeong Yeong-cheol, mayor of Yeongdong County, emphasized the event's broader cultural mission, stating, "This event will serve as an opportunity to present the modern value of gugak and its industrial potential while preserving its tradition. We will showcase the charm of gugak to the world and highlight the strength of our culture through this event." The exposition represents a significant step forward in promoting Korean traditional music as both a cultural treasure and a vital foundation for understanding the country's contemporary musical achievements.