Lively Korean Traditional Music and Food Meet at National Busan Gugak Center’s ‘Seollal Sound & Food’
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
On Jan. 17 at 3 PM, the National Busan Gugak (traditional Korean music) Center will present “Seollal Food 音食 (Sound & Food),” a performance celebrating the 2026 Lunar New Year (Seollal). The program blends K-food and gugak to highlight Gyeongsang-do oral food stories and traditional melodies under the theme “song becomes taste, taste becomes song.” Directed and hosted by food researcher and writer Ha Mihyun, the show stages vocal folk songs and narrative pansori pieces, including the festive “Tteoktaryeong” (rice-cake song), the pungent “Banghataryeong” excerpt from the pansori Simcheongga, the convivial “Gwongjuga” (a drinking song from the 12-gasa repertoire), and the East Coast “Byeolsin-gut (Seongju-gut)” ritual performance featuring seafood offerings. Performers include the Busan Gugak Orchestra and regional intangible heritage groups, with UNESCO-listed and nationally designated pieces. The event features interactive elements: audience members can showcase their own Seollal dishes, view a food display, and enjoy traditional games and workshops—tuho (arrow-throwing), instrument hands-on, face painting, and dalgona (sugar candy) making. All attendees receive a “haengbok tteok” (happiness rice cake) as a New Year gift. Tickets are available via the National Busan Gugak Center website or phone; discounts and details are listed online.
