In the 15th century, Master Nan-gye Park Yeon laid the foundation for Joseon music by compiling music theory books and systematizing musical instruments. His musical spirit was passed down through generations, establishing Gugak as a crucial element in preserving the sounds of our people.

In the 20th century, even under Japanese colonial rule, Gugak endured suppression and resonated with the independence movement through Pansori and folk music, becoming a powerful echo that preserved our national identity.

Since its start in Yeongdong, Chungcheongbuk-do, in 1965, the Nan-gye Gugak Festival has become an important tradition for carrying on the legacy of Gugak. Along with the Nan-gye Gugak Orchestra, founded in 1991, it has made Yeongdong the undisputed center of Gugak.

Just as our music echoed across the world at the 1900 Paris World's Fair, we now aim to elevate Gugak beyond a mere heritage and let it blossom into a global culture through the Yeongdong World Gugak Expo.

Yeongdong will embrace Gugak in a way that fits our times and become the foundation for our music to continuously resonate throughout the world.

This year, we celebrate the 80th anniversary of national liberation and the 130th anniversary of the name Yeongdong (永洞) itself.

Now is the time for the fragrance of Gugak to permeate the entire world.

The sound containing the soul and pride of Korea will resonate across the globe through this expo, transforming from a legacy of the past into a new language that communicates with the world.

This first-ever Gugak Expo in Korea will be a meaningful leap toward the globalization of our traditional music.

Please join us on this significant journey. Thank you.