Special Performance Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Ganggangsullae's UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Designation

by Lee Jonggil

Published 25 Sep.2025 09:00(KST)

Held at Yeongdong World Traditional Music Expo and Gyeongbokgung Palace
Featuring Traditional Dance, Creative Performances, and Fusion Korean Music

Ganggangsullae

A special performance will be held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Ganggangsullae's designation as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The National Heritage Administration and the National Heritage Promotion Agency will host the Ganggangsullae 60th Anniversary performance on September 30 at the outdoor venue of the Yeongdong World Traditional Music Expo in North Chungcheong Province. Additional performances will be presented as part of the Royal Culture Festival programs at Jibokjae and Hyangwonjeong in Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, on October 8 and 9.

Ganggangsullae is a representative traditional folk game in which women join hands and form a circle to sing and dance under the full moon. This art form embodies wishes for abundance, love, and life, reflecting the emotions of women who sought hope and comfort amid hardship. Recognized as a complex art that combines dance, song, and play, it was designated as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 1966 and inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2009.

This year's performances will feature a variety of styles, from traditional Ganggangsullae to creative dance and fusion traditional music. The Yeongdong event will be hosted by traditional musician Oh Junghae. The program includes traditional performances by Kim Jongshim and Park Jongsuk, holders of Ganggangsullae, the original composition "Circle of Village" by Won Il and the Darana Band, the creative dance "Cycle of the Earth" by the National Heritage Promotion Agency Art Troupe, and fusion performances by Choori Band and Yegyeol Band.

The October performances at Gyeongbokgung Palace will be part of the Royal Culture Festival program "Hanbokyeon," under the theme "Intangible Cultural Heritage: Clothes of Life, Folk Dance and Song." Won Il and the Darana Band, along with the National Heritage Promotion Agency Art Troupe, will take the stage again, reinterpreting the performance to make it more accessible for international visitors.