By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Enjoy Korean traditional music, or `gugak,' at the KBS Gugak Awards Dec. 11 at KBS Hall.
Artists who have strived to bring the traditional art form closer to the public will be awarded for their efforts.
Gugak, which literally means ``the music of Korea,'' refers to music that has its roots in Korea. From instrumental to vocal music, gugak is considered one of the easiest ways to learn Korean culture.
Starting in 1982, the KBS Gugak Awards is one of the biggest traditional culture events here and this year, visitors will have the chance to enjoy the best of the best of gugak with the awardees' and other congratulatory performances.
There are a total of nine awards, including Best Vocalist, Best Folk Song and Best Pansori.
The Best Vocalist Award will be given to Lee Yoo-kyeong, a young, yet talented traditional singer, while the Folk Song Award will be awarded to Park Jun-young. Park has mastered the ``Seodo Melodies,'' Important Intangible Cultural Property No.30.
Chung Ye-jin will receive the Best Pansori Award for her powerful voice range and colorful expressions.
Haegeum, the traditional fiddle, player Kim Ae-ra will win the Best Wind Instrument Award, while Kim Sun-ok will receive the Best String Instrument Award for playing the Geomungo, a traditional six-stringed instrument.
Gugak group ``Playground'' will be given the Best Gugak Group Award, while composer Ryu Hyeong-sun will receive the Best Composer and Yang Jung-hwan, the Best Gugak Publishing Award. Yang, the head of event planning group TOP, will be awarded for his contribution in trying to document gugak through publishing books and planning various events.
The Achievement Award will go to Seo Yong-seok, a candidate of the Important Intangible Cultural Properties No. 45, for his lifetime achievements in bringing the daegeum, a traditional flute, to the younger generation and striving to keep the native instrument alive.
The KBS Gugak Orchestra will grace fans with its passionate and soulful melodies, while the Gyeonggi Provincial Dance Company will show their elegant moves onstage, complete with exquisite traditional costumes and music.
Those who want to attend the event can simply apply through the Web site www.kbs.co.kr/1tv/sisa/kookak and receive their tickets at five p.m. at KBS Hall Dec. 11. For more information, visit the Web site or call (02) 781-3865.