KOREAN NET

Miryang Baekjung (100 Seeds) Nori is a festival held in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do Province. (Korea Heritage Service)

By Koh Hyunjeong

The month of August will see a feast of events nationwide highlighting intangible cultural heritage.

The Korea Heritage Service (KHS) on July 31 said that jointly with the Korea Heritage Agency (KHA), it will host events for the public featuring such heritage and the works of cultural masters.

First, the National Gugak Center in Seoul's Seocho-gu District on Aug. 8 will present traditional instruments made by three people designated agkijang (traditional instrument makers). Folk Theater Pungryu on Aug. 17 in the city's Gangnam-gu District will hold performances of the gayageum (traditional zither) accompanied by a vocalist on Aug. 17 and pansori (lyrical opera) on Aug. 29.

Gagok, or vocals sung to sijo (poetry) with orchestral accompaniment, will be performed on Aug. 8 in Changwon, Gyeongsangnam-do Province. Goseong Ogwangdae (Mask Dance Drama of Goseong) scheduled from Aug. 15-17 in Goseong-gun County, Gyeongsangnam-do Province, will mark the 60th anniversary of the drama's designation as National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Miryang Baekjung (100 Seeds) Nori (Festival), a traditional event of rural servants, will be held on Aug. 17 at the outdoor Miryang River Dunchi Performance Hall in Miryang, Gyeongsangnam-do Province.

Gwangju on Aug. 18 hosts a pansori performance. And on Jeju Island, Jeju Chilmeoridang Yeongdeunggut, a shamanistic exhibition and performance at Chilmeoridang Shrine, is slated for Aug. 13 and demonstrations of making tanggeonjang (horsehair caps) from Aug. 24-26.

Yongin, Gyeonggi-do Province, will host two events featuring Intangible Cultural Heritage including one on Aug. 13 with the makers of dancheong (traditional decorative coloring).

More information on the events is available on the official KHS website (www.khs.go.kr).

People can also call the KHA numbers for public (+82-2-3011-2153) or special events (82-2-3011-2156).

hjkoh@korea.kr