Journey to Korean Music

“Journey to Korean Music,” now in its ninth year, is a platform that introduces the music and culture of Korea to world music experts from around the globe and provides support for traditional Korean performance organizers seeking to take their productions abroad. Through Journey to Korean Music, Korean organizations can access opportunities for promotion and take steps to advance into the international market, while overseas experts can gain an understanding of both Korean culture and music. Over 100 international world music experts have visited Korea to take part in this program over the years.

This year’s program features 20 performances in total and includes not only Korean music but also traditional dance. Of past participating artists and companies, approximately 67 percent have successfully entered markets in Poland, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Norway, France and Denmark. Participation in Journey to Korean Music has also led to numerous other performance opportunities at events such as the 2010 WOMEX Opening Ceremony in Denmark, and Korean focused programs at Colours of Ostrava in the Czech Republic and the Paris Autumn Festival. The KAMS-EFWMF Tour Grant was also created in partnership with the European Forum of Worldwide Music Festivals, which includes some 40 member festivals, to support Korean performance organizations seeking to conduct tours in Europe.

This year, Journey to Korean Music features seven selected programs as well as three special programs, including “Palsanpung(Wind of Palsan):The Harmony of Palsandae and Master Dancers”(co-organized with Korea Cultural House) and “Korean Music: Masters of Our Time”(co-organized with Arts Council Korea). Journey to Korean Music offers a rich experience of Korean music in all of its diversity, from traditional Korean arts in their original forms to Korean music reshaped for the future using modern language.

Contact : kimeh@gokams.or.kr / +82-2-708-2273