Namwon National Gugak Center

The Namwon National Gugak Center envelops visitors in the enchanting world of Korean folk music, a genre known for its explicit beauty. Recruiting only the nation’s top performers in each discipline, the center offers a variety of regular folk performances such as musical plays, Pansori (epic stories told through song), folk songs, Gaya harp concerts, Samulnori, and more, representing all types of Korean traditional music.

The center is located in Namwon, the birthplace of “Dongpyeonjae Pansori,” and offers a regular “Pansori Performance” through which visitors can hear the authentic melodies of Dongpyeonjae Pansori, handed down from generation to generation.

In addition to performances, the center is home to a folk music reference room and a traditional Korean instrument gallery displaying approximately 60 different kinds of instruments along with pictures of famous performers. Among the instruments on display, of particular note are Gangneung Province’s “Sogu” (small drum) and the traditional Jeju folk instrument the “Muak.”

Nearby attractions include Gwanghallu, a garden from the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) and Ojakgyo, the bridge from the epic love story of Gyeonwoo and Jiknyeo. Namwon is also famous as the setting of the ancient novel “Chunhyangjeon,” which is celebrated with Chunhyang, a folk festival that takes place each year on May 5th.