Seocho-gu, Instrument Making Experience 'Gugakgi Tamgu Saenghwal' Registration Open Until the 20th

One-Day Class with Danso and Haegum Makers
Free Application Available for Elementary Students in Seoul

Opportunities to observe and directly make traditional Korean musical instruments, such as drilling holes in a Danso and assembling the bow of a Haegum, have been provided at the Seoripul Instrument Street.

Seocho-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jeon Seong-su) announced on the 12th that it will diversify its experiential music programs by launching a special class called ‘Exploring Traditional Korean Instruments’ for the first time this year. This expands the scope from the popular ‘Exploring Classical Instruments’ program, which started in 2021 and has attracted over 600 participants so far, to include traditional Korean instruments.

‘Exploring Traditional Korean Instruments’ is conducted in collaboration with the National Gugak Center and the Haegum Research Institute Mugung, both located within Seoripul Instrument Street. The program aims to utilize the cultural resources concentrated in Seocho-gu and help children become more familiar with traditional Korean music, which is often difficult to access, through hands-on instrument experiences.

The class is a one-day session lasting 120 minutes. It consists of watching a traditional Korean music performance, learning about the types and sounds of traditional instruments, and a hands-on activity where participants make either a Danso or a Haegum.

Participants can choose between the Danso and Haegum classes. In the Danso class, they use mathematical principles to mark finger holes on wood and drill the holes themselves to create a Danso. In the Haegum class, students learn about the structure of the Haegum and its bow and assemble them by themselves. According to the class coordinator, both classes include time to play the instruments they made, bringing participants closer to traditional Korean instruments.

The Danso class takes place at the Seoripul Art Studio (the first basement passage of the Seoul Arts Center) and the National Gugak Center’s Gugak Museum, while the Haegum class will be conducted at the Seoripul Art Studio with the Haegum Research Institute Mugung’s maker visiting in person.

‘Exploring Traditional Korean Instruments’ is a special class held every Saturday morning from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for five sessions throughout June. Online pre-registration is open from the 1st to the 20th of this month. The program is free and open to all 3rd to 6th-grade elementary school students in Seoul. Detailed information is available on the district’s website and the Seoripul Instrument Street website.

Meanwhile, the district expanded the ‘Exploring Classical Instruments’ program, which was recognized by parents and students as a good cultural and artistic program that introduces classical music in a new way. Originally limited to Seocho-gu residents, it was opened to all Seoul citizens, and the number of classes and participants was increased to 20 sessions and 400 people, respectively.

District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said, “I hope that young people in Seocho-gu, which hosts the nation’s only music culture district, will nurture their artistic potential and creativity through various musical activities.”

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