Explore and taste Korea's unique traditional musicThe Korean Cultural Centre in Egypt inaugurated the Gugak Academy in the Higher Institute of Arabic Music affiliated with the Egypt's Academy of Arts on Monday. The Gugak Academy offers an introductory course that acquaints its participants with basic skills on performing with traditional Korean music instruments and their unique rhythms. The Gugak classes, which will be held in cooperation with Korea's National Gugak Centre will run till 15 September. Around 40 participants ranging from professionals, music majors, and K-culture fans will take part in the class, which will be supervised by Im Young Nam — disciple of the Seoul Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 25 Pansori Drumming Technique and performer at the National Gugak Centre. Participants will learn how to perform on the kkwaenggwari, a small hand-held gong that is usually made of brass; buk, a shallow, double-headed barrel drum with a wooden body and heads made of deer hide, horsehide, or cowhide; janggu, a double-headed hourglass-shaped drum; and jing, a large gong usually made of brass. Gugak refers to Korean traditional music that has been passed down for thousands of years. Korean traditional music has a unique and well-developed musical personality that has absorbed the characteristics and musical preferences of the Korean people. Recently, young musicians of Gugak began to perform fusion gukak, which combines elements of traditional Korean music with modern genres. Oh Sungho — Director of the Korean Cultural Centre — said that hosting Gugak Academy this year in the prestigious Institute of Arabic Music has a great significance in the process of cultural exchange between South Korea and Egypt. He added that South Korea and Egypt enjoy rich histories in terms of traditional music, expressing his hope that this event will result in promoting the mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries. Furthermore, Oh said that in light of the decline in COVID-19 infections, the centre is enthusiastically seeking to resume its in-person events while applying precautionary measures, hoping that its activities will be able to return to being at full capacity.
