Experience a vibrant showcase of traditional Korean performing arts—including pansori storytelling, samulnori drumming, royal court dance, and acrobatic plate spinning—at Seoul's historic National Jeongdong Theater.
- 4.9/5 audience rating from the 2025 Taiwan tour
- Performed by the National Jeongdong Theater Arts Troupe
- Located in Jeongdong, birthplace of Korea's modern performing arts
- Just 10 minutes from City Hall Station
- English subtitles provided
- 80 minutes, no intermission
Perfect for culture lovers and first-time visitors to Seoul!
What is GWANGDAE?
"The doors are open, the doors are open! Come on in, everyone!"
In traditional Korea, gwangdae were traveling performers who brought music, dance, acrobatics, and storytelling to villages across the country. They were the keepers of yeonhui—Korea's vibrant folk performance tradition.
GWANGDAE is the signature production of the National Jeongdong Theater Arts Troupe, celebrating this centuries-old tradition through pansori (epic storytelling), samulnori (percussion ensemble), royal court dance, and beona (plate spinning acrobatics).
This creative performance showcases a modern interpretation of traditional performing arts, bringing the artistry of the gwangdae to contemporary audiences and inviting us to step into their vibrant world.
The Spirits of the Theater
Is the theater inherently a place brimming with divine energy?
For a century, the gwangdae performers of the past have safeguarded this theater, their spirits woven into its very walls.
In GWANGDAE, these spirits come alive. Through the cracks between reality and the spirit world, the gwangdae performers who protected this theater for generations emerge once more.
Joining forces with today's performers, they are accompanied by the Obangshin—the guardian spirits of the five directions—to create a spectacular celebration on stage, bridging past and present in a vibrant tribute to Korea's performing arts heritage.
Where History Meets the Stage
"Experience traditional Korean arts and modern history brought to life on stage!"
The performance is set in Jeongdong, a historic district in Seoul known as the birthplace of Korea's modern performing arts. At its heart stood the legendary Hyeopyulsa theater, where Korea's first modern theater productions took place in the early 1900s.
More than just a performance, GWANGDAE honors the historical legacy of this place—where traditional Korean arts first met the modern stage over a century ago.
Through this production, audiences experience both the historical significance of the era and the artistic brilliance of Korea's traditional performing arts.
The Story Unfolds
"The lively stage of the gwangdae is about to begin."
The National Jeongdong Theater Arts Troupe and its artistic director, Sunbaek, are preparing for "2026 Sochundaeyuhui"—a modern recreation of the historic 1902 Hyeopyulsa theater production.
Suddenly, an unexplained power outage plunges the theater into darkness, sending people fleeing in panic.
Frustrated by the sudden halt in rehearsal, Sunbaek watches as the atmosphere of the theater begins to shift in a mysterious way.
The space transforms. Through the rifts in collapsed time and space, a century of history opens before them—and the gwangdae performers of the past emerge onto the stage.
Amidst this unbelievable spectacle, a mysterious child appears before the bewildered Sunbaek...