Kuk Sooho Unveils New Works Inspired by Goryeo's "Boheoja"

'Muak 2 - Boheojamu' to Premiere at Kous in Gangnam, June 24-27
Park Beomhun, Former President of Chung-Ang University and 50-Year Friend, Joins the Performance

Kuk Sooho, a master of traditional Korean dance, will unveil six new works to mark the 60th anniversary of his dance career.

The National Heritage Promotion Agency announced on the 4th that it will present the performance "Muak 2 - Boheojamu" at the Korea House of Culture (Kous) in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, from the 24th to the 27th. This stage will showcase for the first time new pieces inspired by "Boheoja (Bohyeoja)," a court music piece from the Goryeo Dynasty, as Kuk Sooho develops his previous work "Muak 1," which was released in 2021.

Born in 1948, Kuk Sooho began dancing at the age of sixteen in 1964, starting with Nongak (farmer's music and dance). He mastered various traditional dances such as Seungmu, Geommu, and Nammu, and in 1973, he gained recognition as Korea's first professional male dancer when he joined the National Dance Company. As a choreographer, he was also acknowledged for his originality, serving as the chief choreographer for the opening ceremonies of the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. His work, which integrates theater, film, folklore, anthropology, and philosophy, is considered a rare achievement even in the field of traditional arts.

The performance is structured in three acts, encompassing the past, present, and future. On the 24th, under the theme "Intangible Heritage Dance," pieces such as Ipchum, Jeolla Samhyeon Seungmu, and Hojok Gu-eum Salpuri will be staged. On the 25th, representative creative dances including "Janghanga," Hojok Sanjo Dance, and Hak-tan Shin Dance will be performed. The six new works of "Boheojamu" will premiere on the final day, the 27th. Kuk Sooho said, "I wanted to express philosophical thought through dance, connecting reality and ideals, as well as the material and the spiritual."

The grand finale, the new work "Gyeol," will feature Park Beomhun, former president of Chung-Ang University and a friend of 50 years. Park, the founding director of the National Gugak Orchestra, will personally accompany the performance on the piri (Korean flute) for the first time in a while. The event will be hosted by culture critic Yoon Jungkang, and top dancers such as Kim Pyeongho, former artistic director of the Daejeon City Dance Company, and Hwang Jaeseop, former artistic director of the Cheonan City Dance Company, will also appear.

The venue, Kous, has a capacity of 230 seats, allowing the audience to closely observe the dancers' detailed movements due to the proximity between the stage and the seats. Tickets can be reserved on Naver Reservation starting from the 4th. Admission is 100,000 won for VIP seats, 50,000 won for R seats, and 30,000 won for S seats.

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