The Past and Present in the 'Gwangjang', Painted with Light and Sound

'Gwanggwang, Gwonggwong' Interview with Artistic Director Seong Siyoung
Renowned Piri Player of Seoul Metropolitan Gugak Orchestra
Expressing Past and Present, Light and Sound on Stage
United with Same-Age Friends Ilwoo Lee and Minwang Hwang

"I wanted to depict the past and present contained in the space called a plaza through light and sound. The 광 in Gwanghwamun, the loud roar of noise... Please look forward to a performance filled with all experimental challenges that the audience can interpret."

Seoul Metropolitan Traditional Music Orchestra's Seong Si-young performing "Gwanggwang, Gwenggweng" from August 15 as part of Sync Naxt 23 held at Sejong Center S Theater. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

On the 15th, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts' ‘Sync Next’ production 'GwangGwang, GoengGoeng' artistic director and Seoul Metropolitan Gugak Orchestra's piri player Seong Si-young described the performance as an experimental challenge through light and sound. Joining him on stage is the five-member gugak band Jambinai's Lee Il-woo and Important Intangible Cultural Property Namhaean Byeolsingut master Hwang Min-wang, both born in 1982 and classmates at Korea National University of Arts.

Seong Si-young said, "When I was first offered the performance, these two came to mind first. Although we have collaborated on various stages before, this is the first time the three of us are presenting a solo performance together, so we want to prepare a truly new show that you will regret missing."

When he was proposed to create a performance themed around a plaza, he first thought of Gwanghwamun Square as a space where the symbol of peace coexists with bustling noise. Seong Si-young said, "Having worked at this place (Sejong Center for the Performing Arts) for about 14 years as a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Gugak Orchestra, I have witnessed the frantic bustle, ongoing festivals, and the gathering of people at protests yearning for peace and expressing pain and wounds. I want to convey the meaning of that plaza, each person's story and voice, and the sense of open space that embraces them through music and visual messages." The performance also features Kim Ji-hyun (saenghwang) and Yoon Ji-hyun (gayageum) from the Seoul Metropolitan Gugak Orchestra, and media artist Yoon Je-ho.

Seong Si-young, who had been the top piri player since his gugak high school days, has challenged various musical attempts as a member of the traditional instrument-centered music group ‘Namu’ and as the vocalist of the hard rock band ‘49morphines.’ The 'GwangGwang, GoengGoeng' performance is expected to be another turning point for him.

Poster for the performance 'Gwanggwang, Gwonggwong'.
[Photo by Sejong Center for the Performing Arts]

"The performance features a total of eight instruments including piri, synthesizer, electric guitar, gayageum, yanggeum, and percussion. We will twist traditional playing techniques and blend traditional instruments with electronic sounds to present a new genre to the audience," he introduced, adding with a smile, "Since we are trying various new approaches different from precise techniques and traditional playing styles, it seems we will offer a musically expanded new experience. We will probably continue composing and experimenting until we go on stage."

Although 'GwangGwang, GoengGoeng' is based on new challenges and experiments, Seong Si-young still believes that tradition and learning are fundamental. He emphasized, "At the core of creation and experimentation must be traditional music, and that foundation needs to be solid. Therefore, I always study and learn more about tradition to find new ideas and starting points for challenges here."

While the performance feels like a joyful reunion of old classmates, he also feels the pressure of having to fully convey and prove their capabilities and experimental spirit to the audience. Nevertheless, he said, "If you don't watch it, you'll regret it. It will be a performance that makes you say, 'Oh? Is it already over?'" He plans to present 5 to 6 original compositions during the 70-minute show.

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