Korean arts to showcase in 18 countries

Band SsingSsing, a fusion of traditional Korean vocals with modern genres and an extravagant visual style, perform in New York, Jan. 8, 2017. / Courtesy of Lee Hee-moon Company

By Kang Aa-young

The annual program to promote Korea's culture overseas, dubbed “Traveling Korean Art,” will embark on a world tour on Friday, hosting programs in 18 countries, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Monday.

The annual project aims to promote selectively chosen Korean cultural-art programs abroad to give people around the world opportunities to experience genuine Korean culture through various activities. The program will hold shows and exhibitions in 23 cities in cooperation with local museum and festival organizers.

Programs offering music performances, visual arts and art exhibits have been selected based on their potential to succeed in the international market with unique content.

Eleven selected programs will give a sense of Korea's dynamic culture to international audiences, the organizer said.

Pangut, a traditional Korean music show / Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

The traditional art program is called “Pan Gut,” consisting of traditional Korean music and dance performances.

The show's name is a compound of “pan” (which means stage) and “gut” (generally meaning exorcism but in this context meaning a show). The performance will be held in Sao Paulo, Santiago and Montevideo.

A fusion of modern and traditional performances will also be held. Fusion band SsingSsing, after seeing success on last year's U.S. tour, will be joining again for this year's tour, appearing in London, Miami and New York.

The group, comprised of two cross-dressing male vocalists and a female singer, became a media sensation last year, being invited to perform at NPR's Tiny Desk which invites high-profile celebrities such as Adele and John Legend.

The annual cultural promotion project, started in 2014, has traveled 50 countries in total to give a sense of Korean culture to people all around the world.