Seoul Namsan Gugakdang

Situated in the Namsangol Hanok Village, Seoul Namsan Gugakdang, which opened in 2007, is a traditional Korean music venue on three levels, two of them below ground. In addition to the 330-seat main auditorium, the venue also features a traditional music experience chamber, a practice room and a food court. The main performance space on the first basement level is the only music venue in Korea equipped with a specially-designed solid wood interior which does not absorb sound, allowing the audience to experience natural unamplified acoustics. The wide repertoire features different recitals every day from a variety of traditional music genres, and the venue also runs free experience programs including a traditional tea tasting event and traditional painting classes.

Its location in a hanok (traditional Korean house) makes Seoul Namsan Gugakdang the perfect venue for traditional Korean music, equally suited to both the grandeur of royal court music and to pansori, a genre of traditional Korean music which is performed with the participation of the audience. Since it opened in 2007, Seoul Namsan Gugakdang has hosted a number of traditional Korean events designated as Intangible Cultural Heritages, and the leading figures of traditional Korean music have also performed here. There is also a special program of events for newcomers to traditional Korean music.