Subway Transfer Music Reborn as EDM, National Gugak Center's 'Pungnyeon'

Release of Remix for Lifestyle Music Series 'Pungnyeon Pungyeon'

The National Gugak Center has released a mini album titled 'Pungnyeon (Beatbox Remix)'.

Music Cover_5000x5000px_Pungnyeon_Beatbox Remix. [Photo by National Gugak Center]

On the 7th at noon, the National Gugak Center released 'Pungnyeon (Beatbox Remix)', a song version of the subway transfer music 'Pungnyeon', through various music streaming platforms.

The production was based on the original composition by composer Park Kyung-hoon, with lyrics written by singer-songwriter Choi Go-eun, and arrangement by George D. Blue, a record producer active in a major K-pop label, creating a new musical piece.

'Pungnyeon (Beatbox Remix)' is a 'street music' that adds a cheerful imagination singing about abundance and hope in everyday urban life to the previous subway transfer music 'Pungnyeon', making it naturally comfortable to listen to even on the street.

It combines traditional Namdo sori and Seodo sori vocal styles with beatbox vocals and sounds of traditional Korean instruments (25-string gayageum, sogeum). The National Gugak Center reinterpreted traditional pieces it preserves by crossing pop and EDM genres to suit contemporary sensibilities.

Pungnyeon Promotional Banner.
Photo by National Gugak Center

The beatbox was performed by Latino, a famous TikToker. Namdo sori was performed by Gugak idol Kim Junsu, and Seodo sori by Jang Hyo-seon, the lead vocalist of the National Gugak Center’s Folk Orchestra.

Notably, this song humorously interprets the 'Pungnyeon' of modern society through sound effects as the 'Cash Register Sound'. The intense plucking technique of the 25-string gayageum that concludes the piece is also impressive, reminiscent of the pluck synth, an indispensable instrument in EDM performances.

The album cover was painted by graffiti artist Shin Hye-mi. The artist completed the image of 'Pungnyeon (Beatbox Remix)' against a Seoul cityscape contrasting pink and blue, symbolizing friendship and hope.

Since 2004, the National Gugak Center has consistently introduced the 'Living Music Series' albums annually. The newly released 'Pungnyeon (Beatbox Remix)' from the Living Music Series can be enjoyed on the National Gugak Center Gugak Archive as well as major music platforms worldwide.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.