Established last year to bring pansori (traditional narrative singing) and classical music to some of the country’s remote villages, this year’s “Art World Village Project” will bring together two masters in a fusion of pansori and cello this summer.

The project was launched by Hyundai Motor’s Chung Mong-koo Foundation in collaboration with a team of professors from the Korea National University of Arts, with the aim of creating an arts project as part of the company’s corporate social responsibility efforts.

The Art World Village Project, which is slated to run until next year, is returning for its second year and is once again being held in Bijeon Village in Namwon, North Jeolla Province, and Gyechon Village in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, where there is a dearth of cultural events and activities.

“The number of Koreans who appreciate classical music is more than I could have ever imagined,” said Chung Myung-wha, one of the country’s most respected cellists, during a press conference at the Sejong Center in Seoul on Wednesday. “And through this ‘Art World Village Project’ I can feel my dream of spreading classical music to the masses becoming even more of a reality.”


“When I was younger and living overseas I was exposed to so many different music genres, but it wasn’t until I was much older and returned to Korea that I was really able to hear traditional pansori for the first time. This is one of the reasons that inspired me to take part in this project,” Chung added. “Now that the world is starting to break down distances and increasingly become one, I think it’s important that we not only continue to embrace classical music, but our traditional music as well.”

Chung and legendary pansori artist Ahn Sook-sun will combine forces to provide ordinary citizens and young, budding musicians in these two remote villages with the opportunity to hear and learn from two of the country’s best musicians.

“There are not very many opportunities nowadays for people to hear modern-day interpretations of pansori, especially in remote areas,” said Ahn during the press conference. “I think this project provides a unique opportunity for people to be more exposed to pansori and classical music that they would otherwise not have the chance to experience.”

“I have always wanted to fuse pansori with a wide variety of genres,” Ahn said. “And in terms of the cello, I think the tone of the instrument in combination with pansori will really pair beautifully together. Although our music compositions have not been completed yet, I’m excited to hear the final results.”

This year’s festivities will kick off with a gugak (traditional Korean music) street festival in Bijeon Village from June 16 to 19, followed by a classical music street festival in Gyechon Village from Aug. 19 to 21.

On Aug. 19, Chung and Ahn are scheduled to hold a cello and pansori fusion concert performance that will serve as the opening of the festivities in Pycheongchang. As part of the festival, Ahn will also hold a special pansori education camp for the area’s residents from July 25 to 29.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)