Gugak Museum | Facility Introduction

Bringing music closer,

Taking understanding deeper,

Making recreation more fun

Launched in 1995, the Gugak Museum is the only museum in Korea specializing in gugak , orean traditional music. It has served as a primary educational center for Koreans as well as visitors from overseas. We are proud to present the redesign of our permanent exhibition which has reinforced its role as a “listening” exhibit, demonstrating the museum’s specialized focus as a music museum. It provides the opportunity to learn about and enjoy various artifacts related to Korean traditional music, and to feel and experience the instruments and the beautiful sounds they produce.

Museum information
Open : 10AM - 6PM Last admission 17:30 Closed on Mondays and January 1st Free admission Media Guide : Media Guides are available for rent at the museum help desk

Viewing Order
Korean Traditional Music Courtyar → Sounds of Nature and Life → Musical Instruments → Musical Scores and Historical Documents → Audio-Visual Archive → Master Artists → Interactive Exhibits
Gugak Museum exhibits rotate

Inquiries
02-580-3130

Gallery Information 1F
Gallery Information 2F

PERMANENT EXHIBITION: GUGAK MUSEUM

Korean Traditional Music Courtyard

Jeonjeong(殿庭), the courtyard of the royal palace, was the venue for prestigious formal gatherings. When the event required music, an orchestra appropriate to the dignity of the occasion was assembled. Thus, the courtyard was a special place where the courtesy of the royal palace balanced with music symbolizing the peaceful encounter of Ye(禮), the order of the cosmos, and Ak(樂), the harmony of the universe. The large instruments used for the court ceremonies are now housed in this gallery. You can enjoy the unique tone color of each instrument that is usually obscured by the sound of the orchestra and shrouded in the procedure of the ceremonies. As experiencing sound is the foremost aim of the exhibition, we have prepared the best performance video footage using the highest quality audio-visual equipment. You can enjoy the unique tone color of each instrument that is usually obscured by the sound of the orchestra and shrouded in the procedure of the ceremonies. You may enjoy music pieces such as Yeongsanhoesang , Jongmyojeryeak , and Namdo Sinawi performed by the musicians of the National Gugak Center on a 4K Ultra High Definition (3840x2160) screen with fourteen 13.1-channel speakers. Before exploring other aspects of music culture, including instruments, music scores, and musicians, we open the door to this “listening” exhibition by meeting with the beauty of the music itself.

축(祝, Chuk)

박(拍, Bak)

어(敔, Eo)

건고(建鼓, Geongo)

진고(晋鼓, Jingo)

특종(特鐘, Teukjong)

특경(特磬, Teukgyeong)

편종(編鐘, Pyeonjong)

편경(編磬, Pyeongyeong)

삭고(朔鼓, Sakgo)

응고(應鼓, Eunggo)

방향(方響, Banghyang)

Sounds of Nature and Life

"Sound, along with light, is the longest history and tremor." If music is understood as a meaningful vibration and movement passing through people´s hearts, this special exhibition space is for you to experience the primordial sound that had existed on the Korean peninsula long before music bearing the sensibility of Koreans appeared. Sounds of nature and life, such as rain, wind, waves, ears of rice, green barley, grasshoppers, and cicadas, are the origin of music in this land. Common, yet unique sounds capturing the lives and wishes of the Korean people - fulling cloth, grinding mung beans, and burning wood - are the materials for the music of the land. As this room is designed for you to focus solely on sound itself, we encourage you to apply your imagination in developing the sound into song and instrumental music, and even bodily movement.

소리품 전시실 전경(View)

Musical Instruments

Musical instruments are the vessels that contain the music. Each region and nation has created or transformed individual instruments appropriate for their own music. In that sense, therefore, "an instrument of a place" is also "the music of a place." Korean instruments have also existed in the form most suitable for the music of the land. Most music introduced from foreign countries into this traditional society was Koreanized by adapting it to local aesthetic values. Imported foreign instruments were also modified and improved to enable the use of playing techniques appropriate for Korean music. Korean instruments can be categorized into several different groups based on various criteria, such as musical affiliation, component materials, principle of sound production, and playing method. The instruments exhibited here are classified as wind, string, or percussion instruments. On display in this exhibit are not only the instruments of the present day, but also ancient instruments excavated from archaeological sites. Visitors can experience both their tangible materials and their intangible sound, and hear the connection between the music and the instrument.

월평동 발굴 양이두(羊耳頭, Yangidu (replica)) 6~7세기 추정 (1994~1995년 발굴)

양이두 (복원)(Yangidu (restored))

요고(腰鼓, Yogo)

창녕 화왕산성 연지 출토 북 (복제)(大鼓, A drum excavated from Hwawangsanseong Fortress in Changnyeong (replica)) 9세기 추정 (2005년 발굴)

창녕 화왕산성 연지 출토 북 (복원)(大鼓, A drum excavated from Hwawangsanseong Fortress in Changnyeong (restored))

소(簫, So)

훈(塤·壎, Hun)

지(篪, Ji)

약(籥, Yak)

적(篴, Jeok)

생황(笙簧, Saenghwang)

소금(小笒, Sogeum)

대금(大笒, Daeguem)

단소(短簫, Danso)

퉁소(洞簫, Tungso)

향피리( [觱篥, 篳篥] 鄕觱篥, Hyangpiri)

당피리(唐觱篥, Dangpiri)

세피리(細觱篥, Sepiri)

쌍피리(雙觱篥, Ssangpiri)

태평소(太平簫, Taepyeongso)

나발(喇叭, Nabal)

나각(螺角, Nagak)

고동(Godong)

풀피리(草笛, Pulpiri) 21세기

양금(洋琴, Yanggeum) 20세기

부(缶, Bu)

용고(龍鼓, Yonggo)

소리북(Soribuk)

장구(杖鼓, Janggu)

제주 무속장귀(제주 무속장구)(Shaman ritual janggu for Chilmeoridangyeongdeunggut on Jeju Island) 20세기

밀양백중놀이 사장구(砂杖鼓, Sajanggu used in Miryang Baekjungnori(Summer Festival in Miryang)) 20세기

꽹과리(小金, Kkwaenggwari)

징(鉦, Jing)

자바라(啫哱囉, Bara)

운라(雲鑼, Ulla)

벅구(소고)(小鼓, Sogo)

물장구(Muljanggu)

물허벅(Mulheobeok)

테왁(Tewak)

뇌고(雷鼓, Noego)

뇌도(雷鼗, Noedo)

노고(路鼓, Nogo)

노도(路鼗, Nodo)

악기실 전경 이미지(View)

Musical Scores and Historical Documents

A musical score is a tool for music creation, preservation, and reproduction. Because music - an auditory art - is visualized in music scores, notational systems have been developed in various forms appropriate to and advantageous for each primary purpose. The scores of Korean traditional music are largely divided into two types: government-compiled scores and private scores. Government-compiled scores were published by the state and contain the music of the royal court rites. Private scores were written by individual musicians and record music of the people outside the palace. Notation method, publication date, style of music, musical features, and even the writer’s notes provide information on the historical changes in music over time, involving aspects such as the contemporary musical standpoint, changes and variation in pieces, and technical alterations. Records of the past, including musical scores, dance scores, musical treatises, and paintings bring you closer to the music you are listening to now.

임인진연도병(壬寅進宴圖屛風, Imin jinyeondobyeong Ten-panel screen describing the banquet held in Imin Year) 1902년

대악후보(大樂後譜, Daeakhubo, Score of Great Music: Later Edition) 보물 제1291호 1759년

악학궤범(樂學軌範, Akhakgwebeom, Encyclopedia of Musical Canon) 1743년

삼죽금보(三竹琴譜, Samjukgeumbo, Geomungo score written by Samjuk) 1841년

가곡원류(歌曲源流, Gagok wollyu, Score for lyrical songs written by Park Hyo-gwan and Ahn Min-yeong) 1876년

문헌실 전경 이미지(View)

Audio-Visual Archive

Records, especially of music, have taken a new turn since the invention of recording technologies. The sound of the "here and now" could thereby be recorded and stored. "Archiving" involves keeping recorded materials, storage of collected data, and the digitization of data. The Gugak Archive - established in 2007 at the National Gugak Center - collects, preserves, and utilizes not only audio-visual recordings of traditional music, dance, and performances, but also printed materials related to gugak produced in Korea and abroad. You can enjoy representative stage works of the National Gugak Center, and the rare and precious audio-visual material in this gallery selected from among more than 390,000 items stored in the Center as of the end of 2018. The items on display may be diversified and possibly expanded in the future as new collections are added to the Gugak Archive. Visitors can not only discover the physical recording media, such as cylinders, standard play (SP) records, and 8mm slide films, but also encounter the bygone "here and now" embodied in pictures, sound sources, and videos through these historical records.

가방식 실린더 축음기(Portable Cylnder Phonograph)

엘리엇 웨이스가버 콜렉션 중 제주민요 녹음 릴테이프, 기록지(Reel tape recordings of Jeju Island folk songs and insert card from Elliot Weisgarber collection) 1968년

권오성 콜렉션 중 민요 채록 릴테이프(Reel-to-reel tapes containing folk songs from Kwon Oh-sung collection) 1960년대

최덕원 콜렉션 중 사진철(Films and Photos from Choi Deok-won collection) 1976~1996

최덕원 콜렉션 중 전라남도 서남해안 민요 조사 음원(Tapes of folk songs collected in the southwestern coastal regions of South Jeolla-do Province from Choi Deok-won collection) 1980년대

한불 수교 130주년 기념 2015~2016 한불 상호교류의 해 공연 Press Kit 팸플릿 이미지 이미지

한불 수교 130주년 기념 2015~2016 한불 상호교류의 해 공연 Press Kit 팸플릿 이미지(The Press kit pamphlet for the performance commemorating the 130th year of establishing diplomatic relations between Korea and France, 2015-2016/ The Year of Korea France Exchange) 2015년 9월 18일(금)~19일(토) 20:00 / 프랑스 국립샤이오극장 장빌라드 대극장 / 출연: 국립국악원 정악단.무용단

한불 수교 130주년 기념 2015~2016 한불 상호교류의 해 공연 오픈 리허설 이미지 이미지

한불 수교 130주년 기념 2015~2016 한불 상호교류의 해 공연 오픈 리허설 이미지(Images of the open rehearsal stage of the performance commemorating the 130th year of establishing diplomatic relations between Korea and France, 2015-2016/ The Year of Korea France Exchange) 2015년 9월 18일(금)~19일(토) 20:01 / 프랑스 국립샤이오극장 장빌라드 대극장 / 출연: 국립국악원 정악단.무용단

한불 수교 130주년 기념 2015~2016 한불 상호교류의 해 공연을 위한 조명 디자인과 프랑스 파리 국립샤이오극장 전경 이미지

한불 수교 130주년 기념 2015~2016 한불 상호교류의 해 공연을 위한 조명 디자인과 프랑스 파리 국립샤이오극장 전경(Image of the Theatre national de Chaillot and Lighting design for the performance commemorating the 130th year of establishing diplomatic relations between Korea and France, 2015-2016/ The Year of Korea France Exchange) 2015년 9월 18일(금)~19일(토) 20:02 / 프랑스 국립샤이오극장 장빌라드 대극장 / 출연: 국립국악원 정악단.무용단

<꼭두> 국·영문 포스터(Korean and English version Poster of Kokdu) 2017년 10월 4일(수)~10월 22일(일) 국립국악원 예악당 / 작.연출: 김태용, 음악: 방준석 / 출연: 국립국악원 정악단.민속악단.무용단

<꼭두> 의상 스케치와 공연(Sketch of costume designs and scenes from Kokdu) 2017년 10월 4일(수)~10월 23일(일) 국립국악원 예악당 / 작.연출: 김태용, 음악: 방준석 / 출연: 국립국악원 정악단.민속악단.무용단

무대소품 <꼭두> 소품 '상여'(Funeral bier, performance props used in Kokdu) 2017년 10월 4일(수)~10월 24일(일) 국립국악원 예악당 / 작.연출: 김태용, 음악: 방준석 / 출연: 국립국악원 정악단.민속악단.무용단

<토끼타령> 팜플렛(Pamphlet of Tokki taryeong, the Song of Rabbit) 토끼타령 2016년 5월 13일(수) ~ 17일(일) / 국립국악원 풍류사랑방 / 연출·대본: 지기학

의상스케치와 공연사진(Costume sketch and images from the performance) 토끼타령 2016년 5월 13일(수) ~ 18일(일) / 국립국악원 풍류사랑방 / 연출·대본: 지기학

토끼 의상과 소품(Rabbit costume and props) 토끼타령 2016년 5월 13일(수) ~ 19일(일) / 국립국악원 풍류사랑방 / 연출·대본: 지기학

아카이브실 전경 이미지(View)

Master Artists

The twentieth century was a period of great difficulty from the perspective of the transmission of traditional arts. It experienced the crisis of nearly breaking with tradition, yet could not accept foreign music independently either. Even in those days, some masters kept the traditional alive. Their performances in their heydays were preserved in audio-visual format, and the instruments and keepsakes that accompanied their hard times have been handed down to us today. Some have faded, but the sounds are still alive. The exhibit here highlights musicians born before the 1940s who established names for themselves in court music and folk music by forming their own schools and musical families. Their keepsakes, such as instruments, albums, scores, and photographs, donated or deposited by the musicians' families and disciples, are available to the public. From the traces left behind by these earlier artists, we may be able to find our future direction in traditional arts for a new era.

김천흥 춘앵무복 황초상1벌, 초록하피1개, 홍단금루수대1개, 바지저고리1벌, 한삼1쌍, 버선1컬레, 부용관1개 이미지

김천흥 춘앵무복 황초상1벌, 초록하피1개, 홍단금루수대1개, 바지저고리1벌, 한삼1쌍, 버선1컬레, 부용관1개(金千興春鶯囀服, Kim Cheon-heung's Chunaengmu dance costumes) 20세기

지영희 피리(池瑛熙觱篥, Ji Yeong-hui's Hyangpiri)

지영희 해금(池瑛熙奚琴, Ji Yeong-hui's Haegeum) 20세기

신제와 시나위조 등 해설모음(Manuscript of notes on sinje and sinawijo) 20세기

성창순 철현금(成昌順鐵絃金, Seong Chang-sun's Cheolhyeongeum) 20세기

안비취 꽹과리와 채(安翡翠小金, An Bi-chwi's Kkwaenggwari and beater) 20세기

안비취 공연 포스터(An Bi-chwi's Concert poster)

성계옥 진주검무 무복과 무구 (전립, 한삼, 무검)(成季玉晋州劍舞巫服·巫具, Seong Gye-ok's costumes for Jinju Sword dance (hat, handkerchief, sword))

명인실 전시실 전경(View)

Interactive Exhibits

"How does pitch change according to the thickness, length, and tension of an object? Do an instrument's materials affect its tone color?" Are you curious? We explain how the sounds of traditional instruments are produced. Please enjoy yourself and have fun in this sonic playground. Orchestrate your own ensemble for pungnyu music and create your own melody with a dice game.

체험실 전경(View)

국악박물관