Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater to Host Free Performance by Gasa Inheritor Moon Hyun on November 4

Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater will present the solo performance "Complete Performance of the Twelve Gasa Project II - Half Performances of Four Gasa and Gyeongje Sijo ‘Life: Song’" by Moon Hyun, an inheritor of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Gasa, on November 4. This performance is a stage designed to highlight the musical value and literary beauty of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Gasa and Gyeongje Sijo, delivering the depth of traditional vocal music to today's audience.

Poster for Moon Hyun's 4 Gasa Half Performances and Gyeongje Sijo ‘Life: Song’ performance

The ‘Complete Performance of the Twelve Gasa Project’ is a mid-to-long-term performance project by Moon Hyun, which continues the journey of performing the full twelve songs of the traditional Gasa sequentially on stage. While faithfully inheriting the Gasa singing methods she received, Moon Hyun planned this project to deliver the musical characteristics and literary meanings of Gasa to the audience in a more familiar way. Following the Gimpo performance last June, this second stage will present four of the twelve Gasa as half performances and add Gyeongje Sijo to unfold the diverse musical world of Jeongga.

In this performance, one can encounter four Gasa including ‘Song of Spring Slumber’, ‘Jukjisa’, ‘Fisherman's Song’, and ‘Plum Blossom Song’, as well as the Gyeongje Pyeong-sijo ‘O Chrysanthemum’, the Saseol-jireum-sijo ‘Riding a Crane’, and the Su-jap-ga (Saseol-yeok-eum-jireum-sijo) ‘I Wish to Make a Window’. While utilizing the characteristics of Gasa, which contain different poetic words and emotions for each work, it conveys the charm of traditional vocal music through restrained singing methods and long breaths.

The stage composition, which combines dance, video, and commentary to allow focus on the deep breathing and delicate emotions of Gasa, is also noteworthy. Accompaniment will be provided by daegeum player Kim Sang-jun and janggu player Hong Seok-bok, both performers belonging to the National Gugak Center Court Music Orchestra, adding harmony between traditional vocal and instrumental music. Through this, the audience can experience not only the musical beauty of Gasa but also the literary emotions and the meaning of Pungryu contained in the works in a three-dimensional way.

‘Complete Performance of the Twelve Gasa Project II - Half Performances of Four Gasa and Gyeongje Sijo ‘Life: Song’’ is a performance that preserves the original form of traditional Gasa while delivering its artistic value to today's audience. It is expected to be a time to newly discover the depth and charm of traditional vocal music by following the sound paths of Gasa that have been passed down for a long time.

The performance will take place on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 7:30 PM at Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater, and all seats are free of charge. Advance free reservation via assigned seating is mandatory, and reservations and further details can be checked through the Seoul Namsan·Donhwamun Traditional Theater website (www.sgtt.kr) or by telephone.

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