Song of Koryoin Colors Gwangju with the Spring Breeze

Preparing for a Local Festival Performance:
Koryoin Arirang Song and Dance Troupe Brings Memories of Forced Relocation and Songs of Community to the Stage

On the breeze of spring, the songs of Koryoin are carried. Voices that have endured the passage of time return to the stage, sharing stories that have not been forgotten.

The 'Koryoin Village Arirang Song and Dance Troupe,' composed of elder Koryoin compatriots settled in Gwangju, is in the final stages of rehearsal ahead of an invitation performance at a local spring festival.

The Arirang Dance Troupe, composed of elderly Koryoin residents settled in Gwangju, is focusing on final rehearsals ahead of their invitation performances at various spring festivals across the region. Provided by Gwangju Koryoin Village

According to Koryoin Village on the 30th, the Arirang Song and Dance Troupe is preparing performances at various cultural events around Gwangju, delivering the history and identity of Koryoin through song. Their performances are designed to be more than just a stage, serving as a cultural platform to share the lives and memories of the diaspora community with the local society.

The main songs to be performed include ▲‘Koryo Arirang’ ▲‘Sireul Hwalhwal Puryora’ ▲the Russian song ‘A Million Roses’, among others. All of these songs encapsulate the identity and life trajectory of the Koryoin community, and are expected to resonate across generations.

In particular, ‘Koryo Arirang’ was written by Kim Byunghak, director of the Koryoin Culture Center, and composed by Han Yakov, a Koryoin composer from Kazakhstan. The song contains the hardships and sorrow of Koryoin who were forcibly relocated during the Japanese colonial period and under Stalin’s regime, and is known to be beloved by 550,000 diaspora Koryoin today.

‘Sireul Hwalhwal Puryora’ sings of the pioneering spirit and hope of Koryoin who, after being forcibly relocated to Central Asia in 1937, cultivated barren land and built new lives. This song is regarded as a representative historical and cultural heritage that demonstrates the solidarity and will to survive of the community even in despair.

Shin Joyah, head of Koryoin Village, said, “The stage of the Arirang Song and Dance Troupe is not just a performance, but a precious time to share the culture and history of Koryoin,” adding, “Through song, we hope to share the warmth, inspiration, and comfort of spring with local residents.”

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