Free Exhibition in São Paulo Explores Traditional Roots of K-pop

The Korean Cultural Center in Brazil is opening a free exhibition titled "K-pop Encontra a Música Tradicional Coreana" this Tuesday, October 8. The exhibit aims to demonstrate how ancient South Korean cultural elements have influenced the country's modern music, animation, and cinema. The exhibition uses gugak, the general term for traditional Korean music, as its foundation. This includes folk songs, ritual music, and performances once created for the monarchy before its abolition in 1910.

The exhibition is divided into three main sections. The first section, called gut, focuses on shamanic rituals and connects these traditions to the plot of the Netflix animated film "Guerreiras do K-pop." Visitors can see shamanic items such as bells, fans, and hats, and watch dance performances. The second section, called gat, explores the concept of pungryu, which is the habit of appreciating art and nature. This area features traditional instruments including the gayageum, a 12 string horizontal instrument; the haegeum, a vertical two string instrument; and the janggu, hourglass shaped drums.

The third section, called kkun, is dedicated to the artists who preserve and transmit ancient art forms across generations. This section features pansori storytellers and pungmul dance groups, while also referencing contemporary stars like BTS and Stray Kids to attract modern fans. Additionally, the exhibit includes a dangsan tree installation where visitors can hang written wishes, recreating an ancient spiritual practice. The exhibition runs until November 8 at the Korean Cultural Center in Brazil on Avenida Paulista.