Korean national music, Gugak, includes songs, dances and ceremonial movements. It was developed into a system resulting in the creation of the oldest mensural notation system called jeongganbo in the early 15th century, during the reign of King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty.


Gugak term was first used by in the Joseon Dynasty to distinguish traditional Korean music from foreign music.


Traditional Korean music,Gugak, is classified into several types; jeongak or jeongga(music enjoyed by the royalty and aristocracy),pansori – sanjo - japga(folk music),jeongjae (music and dance performed for the King at celebratory state events), salpuri – seungmu – beompae(music and dance connected with shamanic and Buddhist traditions),gagok - sijo(poetic songs).


The Korean people developed a wide range of musical instruments(it can be 60 instruments when performing.). These traditional musical instruments are divided into three categories; wind instruments, stringed instruments, and percussion instruments.


I am sharing a video from Korean National Gugak Center. If you like to view different kinds of performance you can visit their page.



Source: The Book Facts About Korea,Imagine Your Korea