National Busan Gugak Center to Hold Eulsan Year Lunar New Year Performance 'Musataepyeong'

Welcoming the Eulsa Year Lunar New Year with Gugak
A Stage Wishing for Peace and Tranquility

The National Busan Gugak Center will hold the Eulsa Year Lunar New Year performance "Musataepyeong" at 3 p.m. on January 29.

Poster for the National Busan Gugak Center's New Year Performance 'Musataepyeong'.

The title "Musataepyeong" is a four-character idiom meaning "peace and tranquility without any troubles," expressing the hope that everyone will have a peaceful and hopeful time in the new year.

This performance is designed to allow the audience to feel the beauty of traditional culture and naturally embrace the message of hope and peace for the new year through a colorful stage combining traditional music, traditional dance, and traditional performance arts.

The performance consists of three acts, each filled with works that embody the meaning of the Lunar New Year.

The first act begins with the stage of prayer and blessing to open the door to the new year, "Mungut and Binari." This stage announces the start of the Lunar New Year to the audience by praying for blessings through traditional sounds and rhythms. Following this is "Jultagi," registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, symbolizing balance and courage, offering laughter and hope to the audience through a lively performance.

In the second act, a newly arranged medley of representative local folk songs, "Minyo Yeongok" (Seongju Puri, Namwon Sanseong, Jindo Arirang), is performed. This medley sings the wishes for the year and vividly conveys the charm of traditional music. The following "Fan Dance" elegantly expresses wishes for peace and hope in the new year with its splendid dance moves, captivating the audience's attention.

Seolgongyeon 'Buchaechum'. Provided by National Busan Gugak Center

The third act concludes with "Yeonggo (嶺鼓) Nori," which conveys the new year's wishes through the sound of drums. The unique rhythm and intense energy of the Yeongnam Bukchum combine to decorate the finale of the performance, leaving a deep impression on the audience.

On the day of the performance, various traditional folk play experience programs will be held in the outdoor yard of the National Busan Gugak Center starting two hours before the main performance.

Programs such as rice cake pounding, kite flying, and jegichagi are prepared for the whole family to enjoy together, allowing the audience to directly experience the warm atmosphere of the Lunar New Year while waiting for the performance. This experience event is designed to reflect on the traditional meaning of the holiday and provide a space where everyone from children to adults can enjoy. It will be a special opportunity for young audiences to learn and experience traditional culture.

Admission fees are 20,000 KRW for S seats and 10,000 KRW for A seats, and admission is allowed for those aged 48 months and older. Advance reservations can be made online or by phone through YES24 and Naver, and all information related to the performance can be found on the National Busan Gugak Center website.

In particular, a 50% discount on admission fees is offered to audience members wearing hanbok and those born in the Year of the Snake, the symbol of 2025. Additionally, all attendees will receive a special gift commemorating the new year, including a calendar and rice cakes, prepared to convey the warm spirit of the holiday.

Lee Jeong-yeop, director of the National Busan Gugak Center, said, "'Musataepyeong' will be an opportunity to reflect on the precious meaning of the Lunar New Year through gugak, delivering joy and warm emotions to the audience," adding, "We hope this performance will be a meaningful time to open the new year with hope and allow everyone to start the year with a peaceful heart."

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