Tradition meets tomorrow for gugak event at Insa-dong KOTE

Guests from SeoulShare during Muzikey's August 2025 show / Courtesy of Muzikey

Tradition collides with tomorrow at KOTE in central Seoul's Insa-dong neighborhood on Saturday, Jan. 31, where performers will explore traditional Korean music, or gugak, including the vocal narrative style known as pansori.

On the ground floor, two DJs will play distinct sets, one blending traditional motifs with contemporary beats, the other layering modern energy over ancient melodies. Meanwhile, the members of Bikabi, a troupe of foreign pansori singers, will lead an interactive pansori jam in the basement.

Tab Jones, a producer and DJ from New Jersey, will share the turntables with DJ Rio Anderson, former guitarist of Kontrajelly, who will reinterpret Korean traditional music, weaving together samples collected from electronic percussion and performances by masters of traditional music.

DJ Rio Anderson / Courtesy of DJ Rio Anderson

"More than just a genre, the philosophy and craftsmanship behind gugak are what made Korean music what it is today," said Cindy Kwak, founder and CEO of Muzikey, the organizer behind the event along with COO and co-founder Garry Kwon.

"While the modern industry is often monetized and mass-produced, we believe the authenticity of these sounds is its true strength. We are moving beyond EDM (electronic dance music) to show that these traditional roots can be reinterpreted as a living, breathing experimental sound that resonates emotionally with a modern audience."

Tab Jones / Courtesy of Tab Jones

Muzikey is a live show management platform intended to help musicians and organizers put on their own events. It allows users to easily sell tickets, manage promotion tools and handle the entire process from ticketing to entry through a digital system.

The event is being presented through Muzikey's signature music party brand, GA:RAK, which Kwak said is named after a traditional word for rhythm.

"In our heritage, 'garak' is the philosophy that when individual rhythms gather, they transform into a single song," she said. "We are applying that to people — bringing global audiences together to find a shared rhythm through music and interaction."

While the heart of the music is Korean, this event was specifically designed for a global audience. Kwak said the inspiration for this performance came from brainstorming and speaking with foreign visitors.

A poster for the GA:RAK event happening at KOTE in central Seoul's Insa-dong on Jan. 31 / Courtesy of Muzikey

"We realized they are deeply attracted to the real stories and roots of Korean culture rather than just standardized entertainment," Kwak said.

"We’ve curated the experience to be 'glocal' — combining local authenticity with global standards. To make traditional music approachable, we aren't presenting it in a museum style. Instead, we layer gayageum and other traditional instrument sounds over familiar techno and house beats. By integrating traditional sounds into a modern DJ set, we provide a sophisticated Korean-style party that feels both fresh and accessible to those hearing these instruments for the first time."

The event runs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Jan. 31. Early bird tickets, available through Jan. 20, are priced at 29,000 won ($20); tickets purchased afterward cost 34,000 won and include one welcome drink and finger food. Two sponsors are traditional Korean alcohol brand Maewol Maejoo and traditional cookie maker Saenggwabang. Visit muzikey.com for more information and to reserve tickets.