Experience the charm of summer evenings with timeless tunes at the Umyeonsan Music Festival
The 2025 Umyeonsan Music Festival: A Celebration of Traditional Korean Music
The much-anticipated 2025 Umyeonsan Music Festival is set to take place at the National Gugak Center from August 23 to September 20, 2025. The festival, held in the open cultural space known as Yeonheemadang, will feature a series of concerts showcasing traditional Korean music, or Gugak, in the evenings[1][2].
Performances are scheduled to start at 8:00 PM, with tickets priced at 10,000 Korean won for A class seating[2]. Notable events include the opening performance on August 23 with "A Tiger from Mudeungsan Is Here?", an original folk play, and a collaboration between the National Gugak Center and pansori singer Ko Yeong-yeol on August 30, featuring selections from "Chunhyangga" and "Sinbaetnorae"[1][2].
In addition to the concerts, the festival offers a range of interactive activities for visitors. English tours at the Gugak Museum are available from 2:00 PM, providing insights into Korean traditional music culture[2]. Additionally, before the concerts, starting at 4:00 PM, interactive activities such as a traditional knot-tying workshop, craft-making experiences, photo booths, and food trucks will be available[1].
The festival also extends to the National Gugak Center's front plaza, where you can find the vibrant "Yeonhui Pan" showcase of street folk arts on September 6[1]. On September 13, gugak artists Kim Mu-bin, Sori Maepsi, and Yoon Se-yeon will present experimental reinterpretations of folk classics[1].
The festival takes place every Saturday evening at the outdoor Yeonhui Madang stage[1]. Tickets for the festival can be purchased through platforms like Interpark Global and Nol Ticket[1][2]. This month-long celebration offers a romantic escape from urban life, featuring traditional Korean music and performances, and culminates in the Seoul Gut, a shamanic ritual honouring community health and happiness[1][2].
The 2025 Umyeonsan Music Festival not only offers an immersive experience of traditional Korean music but also introduces opportunities for outdoor-living and home-and-garden activities during the day. English tours at the Gugak Museum provide insights into Korean traditional music culture, and before the concerts, interactive activities such as a traditional knot-tying workshop, craft-making experiences, photo booths, and food trucks can be enjoyed.
