A History of Korea and
Korean Music
The Three Periods
 Most historians and scholars separate the history of
Korean music into three distinct periods:
 Ancient
 Medieval
 Modern

1Most
of what we know
about the ancient and
traditional periods of Korean
Music comes from a book
known as the Samguk Sagi,
“The History of the Three
Kingdoms (of Korea)”
 Though Korean, the book is
written in Chinese script, the
language of scholars all over
East Asia
Samguk Sagi
1146 C.E.
 The book is the first
compilation of Korean
history, and the section that
tells us about music and
ceremony is called
“Treatises”
Music of
Ancient Period
• Based on religious rites
and celebrations
• Used to honor nature,
particularly the sun, the
heavens, and the earth
 The music of the ancient
period (known as
akkamu )subdivides into
two major practices2:
 Angmu – music and
dance
 Kamu – song and
dance
 Again, it should be
reinforced that both
performances were
carried out as religious
rites to honor the
spirits of the earth and
heavens.
The oldest form of Korean music is called
sinawi. It developed in the ancient period as a
way to communicate stories through song3.
The Amsa-dong Settlement is a
re-imagining of what ancient
Korean settlements may have
looked like.
시나위
Goryeo Dynasty
(918 – 1392)

4Established
in 918 with the
complete unification of
warring tribal states, the
dynasty is generally
considered to be the
beginning of the “medieval”
era for Korea.
 The period is known for its
revitalization of Korean
culture; it is the first time we
can consider any cultural
work as coming from a
people who are uniquely
“Korean.”
Joseon Dynasty
(1392 – 1897)
 Following the overthrow of
the Goryeo dynasty, the
Joseon rulers moved the
capital to Seoul, where it
remains today.
 Joseon rule is marked by
the rise of stringent legal
restrictions and the rise of
Confucianism as the official
state religion.
Daechwita
 Literally, “the great blowing
and hitting”
 Music of military processions
and martial exercises during
the Joseon Dynasty.
A Shift in Culture
 *It is important to note the shift of the music’s
primary intention – from religious worship to
honoring the courts; the cultural dynamic shifts
from religious to secular
 The internal shift of Korean culture is moving from
spiritual Buddhism to the more earthly-concerned
Confucianism, and this change will be reflected in
their music and art.
Medieval Music

Jeongak - the preferred style of the ruling
upper-class; literally translates to “right” or
“correct” music.
정악
 Style emphasizes stringed and wind instruments,
especially the haegeum and the sogeum

Nongak – village music preferred by the larger
population of commoners; literally translates to
“farmer’s music”
농악
 Style is mostly percussive, with the use of multiple
drums or buk
정악 Jeongak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OcZ2cxpgEw
농악 Nongak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RXxccApAvY
The Dawn of Modern
Korea
 Early
 In 1897, Joseon Korea became an imperialist state, unified under Emperor
Gojong.
 This would last until 1910, when the Empire of Japan would claim Korea
as a protectorate.
 During Japanese rule, much of Korean culture was censored and
suppressed, and otherwise replaced by Japanese influence.
 Late
 The Japanese essentially ruled Korea until 1945.

In 1950, the Korean War began, dividing the country into two entities,
North and South, which still exist today.
Early Modern
Korean Music
• During the occupation of
Korea by Japan, Joseon
culture was replaced with
that of the Japanese.
• The courtly presentations
of the Korean Joseon were
replaced by imperial
marches and nationalist
Japanese music.
•
Oftentimes, this music
embodied an anti-western
attitude along with being
pro-Japanese, especially
during the height of the
Second World War.
Evolution of Anthems
Daehan Jeguk Aegukga –
National Anthem of the
Joseon Korean Empire

Aegukga –
Current National
Anthem
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
Oo10zQKLPTU&src_vid=wZffHtvxtSs
&feature=iv&annotation_id=annotatio
n_4244696355
 Lyrics: “God help the
Emperor/May he live
forever/Bestow treasures like
mountain piles/May his influence
and power reach across the
world/Fifty million times may his
blessings be renewed every
day/God help the Emperor6
https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=CceXXXubvdE
Contemporary
Popular Korean Music
(1955 - )

During the period immediately following the
Korean War, the music of South Korea would
become molded by foreign influence



Western genres like orchestral music and
, soon to be followed by more
contemporary styles like rock n’ roll and
dance music.
Since foreign music began to influence
Korea during the Joseon period, native
Korean music and the music influenced
by outsiders were set apart from one
another,

Yangak – music from outside
influence, (literally, “foreign music”

Gugak – traditional, Korean music,
(literally “people’s music”)
At times, however, these styles blend
together, as is the case for Korean New
wave.
Genres of South Korean music:

Korean rock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
XixiMWRKbT0

Korean Pop (or “K-Pop”):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
U7mPqycQ0tQ

Korean New Wave:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
Tkx2IaGudb8

Korean Rap:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9bZkp
7q19f0
Works Cited

1Lee,
P. (1993). Sourcebook of Korean Civilization. (1st ed.) New
York, NY: Columbia University Press.

2Bang-Song,

3Kim,
S. (2000). Korean music: Historical and Other
Aspects. Seoul, South Korea Jipmoondang Publishing Company.
P. (1984). Ann Arbor, MI: University Microfilms.
 4Kumja, P. (2003) Goryeo Dynasty: Korea’s Age of Enlightenment,
918-1392. San Francisco, CA: Chong-Moon Lee Asian Arts Center.

5Duncan,

6Koh,
J. (2000) The Origins of the Choson Dynasty.
WA: University of Washington Press.
M. Korean Empire Retrieved from
http://www.nationalanthems.info/kor.htm
Seattle,