Koreans spellbind Peace Mo audience

The audience who attended the show put on by the National Centre for Korean Namdo Performing Arts troupe on Saturday, June 16, were swept away by the pulsating musical rhythms of their Samullori instruments, captivated by haunting folk songs rendered by traditionally made up songstresses and spellbound by the intricate dance moves of the artistes from the far east.{{more}}

The night began with soothing percussion instruments used by farmers such as the jing (large gong), janggu (large hour glass drum) and the buk (drum) which then escalated into energetic music that got heart rates going.

The hypnotic voices of the singers performing the byeongchang (short poem) folk tunes on the gayageum (12 stringed zither) were just as mesmerizing as the elaborate colourful silk costumes they adorned.


The female dancers performed the salpuri shaman rituals for the spirits where their steps seemed effortless and as if they were floating daintily across the stage, while the men were more pronounced in their movements. They jumped, pranced and in one segment they twirled their necks in an illusion with their feathered headpieces.

Ambassador for the Republic of Korea Soong-Chull Shin said that he was with pleased to share the culture ambassadors from his country who were currently touring the world to showcase their rich heritage. He said that in this part of the region, they had already toured Venezuela, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana, Barbados and Suriname. The Korean Diplomat said that after St Vincent and the Grenadines they would perform in Grenada and mentioned how humbled he was by the warm reception he received from Vincentians and from Asians living in the country.



Taiwanese Ambassador, Jack Cheng (2nd from left) and wife (far left), Korean representative to the Ambassador, Soong-Chull Shin, Venezuelan Ambassador, Cibisay Urdenata.

Ambassador Chull Shin however pointed out that Korea was also making several bids to world governing councils; particularly for the National Centre for Korean Namdo Performing Arts to be chosen as the site for a “World-wide Exhibition” centre for 2012 and for Korea to be made the host of the 2014 “Olympic Winter Games.”

Ambassador Chull Shin said that with over 1,000 years of Korean tradition, music and dance he had hoped that the 12 performers from the National Centre for Korean Namdo Performing Arts could give the audience a taste of his homeland.(SG)