Folk Music Route

Gochang, Namwon, Mokpo, Imsil, Jeonju, Jindo, Haenam – Be Enraptured by the Melodies of the Southern Region

The Folk Music Route of the Southern Region “Namdo” is divided into two sections: Course 1 in Jeollabuk-do Province and Course 2 in Jeollanam-do Province. Course 1 connects Jeonju, a city rich in arts and culture, with Imsil, known for its representative Ho-nam left-handed Nongak (farmer's band music), Namwon, the setting for the pansori works "Chunhyangga" and "Heungbuga," and the birthplace of the Dongpyeonje School, and Gochang, a center for the revival of pansori. Course 2 includes Mokpo, an open port city; Jindo, known for its unique Southern charm and excitement; and Haenam, the site of the historic Battle of Myeongnyang and the southern tip of the Korean Peninsula.
The deep, expressive melodies and dramatic singing style of Namdo folk music, which includes pansori, folk songs, danga (short songs), japga (mixed songs), and labor songs, represent a traditional Korean sound. Known for its musical excellence, Jeolla-do Province's folk songs are often referred to as 'Namdo Minyo' (Southern Folk Songs). Historically, this province has been renowned as a “city of arts,” producing many prominent artists. The music preserved and passed down by these artists has adapted through generations and continues to resonate with today's audiences. Engaging with these intangible cultural heritages allows us to connect with the vitality of history, recognizing timeless values through gestures and sounds and forming emotional and cultural connections.

Folk Music Route Visit Routes

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Gochang Pansori Museum

Pansori (designated as National Intangible Cultural Heritage and UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage) is a traditional Korean genre of musical storytelling performed by a vocalist and a drummer. "Pan" refers to "a place where people gather" or "an occasion," while "sori" means "sound" in all its natural manifestations expressed through human voice. The Gochang Pansori Museum in Gochang-gun was established to preserve and promote the tradition of Pansori, providing visitors with opportunities to appreciate this unique art form. The museum systematically showcases the history, characteristics, and artistic world of Pansori through photographs, models, videos, and sound recordings. Exhibits include items related to the lives of renowned Pansori figures like Shin Jae-hyo, as well as displays highlighting famous Pansori singers from Gochang, such as Jin Chae-seon and Kim So-hee. Behind the museum, visitors can find the Gochang Shin Jae-hyo House, which was the residence of Shin Jae-hyo, a significant figure in the history of Pansori, known for his contributions to the development and criticism of Pansori. Shin, who lived in this house until the end of his life, trained master singers and compiled and adapted the scripts of six pansori (Korean traditional musical storytelling) stories: Chunhyangga, Simcheongga, Bak Taryeong, Garujigi Taryeong, Ttokki Taryeong, and Jeokbyeokga.

Address

100 Dongni-ro, Gochang-eup, Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do
Contact

+82-63-560-8061

Visiting Hours

Summer Season: 09:00 - 18:00
Winter Season: 09:00 - 17:00
(Closed on Mondays, January 1, Lunar New Year, and Chuseok)

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Inside Gochang Pansori Museum
Admission Fee

Free
Website

www.gochang.go.kr/pansorimuseum/index.gochang

Directions

Get off at Gochang Cultural Terminal → Walk for 16 minutes

National Intangible Heritage Center

National Intangible Cultural Heritage refers to intangible cultural assets, such as knowledge, techniques, rituals, and performing arts, which have been continuously re-created by a community and possess high historical and artistic value. These assets are characterized by being shared within the community and primarily transmitted through oral tradition. The National Intangible Heritage Center is a comprehensive administrative and cultural space established to systematically protect and fully preserve these intangible cultural heritages. Various materials, including those accessible through music and video, as well as traditional instruments, costumes, accessories, knots, and masks, convey the meaning and value of intangible heritage in an engaging manner. The center offers a variety of programs where visitors can directly feel, touch, and experience these cultural assets. Additionally, performances by national intangible heritage holders on Saturdays provide an opportunity to experience the beauty and excitement of traditional culture.

Address

95 Seohak-ro, Wansan-gu, Jeonju-si, Jeollabuk-do
Contact

+82-63-280-1400

Visiting Hours

9:30 AM - 5:30 PM (Closed on Mondays and January 1)

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In front of Permanent Exhibition Hall 2 on the second floor of Yeollinmaru
Admission Fee

Free
Website

www.nihc.go.kr

Directions

Get off at KTX Jeonju Station → Take Bus No. 6 from Dongbu-daero Jeonju Station Bus Stop → Get off at Jungang Market, Jungang Cathedral, Korea National Open University Bus Stop → Transfer to Bus No. 430 → Get off at National Intangible Heritage Center Bus Stop → Walk for 1 minute

Gwanghallu Pavilion, Namwon

Gwanghallu Pavilion is one of Korea’s most beautiful pavilions, often compared to Gyeonghoeru in Seoul, Bupyeongnu in Pyongyang, and Chokseongnu in Jinju. Built by Hwang Hui, a renowned prime minister of the Joseon Dynasty, in 1419, the pavilion was rebuilt in 1638 (the 16th year of King Injo's reign) after being burned down during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1597 (Jeongyujaeran). The surrounding garden, known as Gwanghallu Garden, is a significant example of traditional Korean landscape architecture, embodying the principles of geomancy, yin-yang, and the five elements. Gwanghallu symbolizes the Moon Palace, and the pond in the garden represents the Milky Way. The bridge installed over the pond is the Ojakgyo Bridge, where the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl (Gyeonu and Jiknyeo) meet on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month. The three islands created in the pond symbolize Bongraesan, Bangjangsan, and Yeongjusan, which are mountains where Taoist immortals are believed to reside. Gwanghallu Garden, which expresses an ideal world where these immortals live, is also the place where Seong Chunhyang and Yi Mongryong, the main characters of the novel "The Tale of Chunhyang," formed their bond. The site includes Chunhyang Shrine, which houses a portrait of Chunhyang painted by artist Kim Eun-ho, the Chunhyang Hall with various information related to Chunhyang, and a thatched house that recreates Chunhyang's home.

Address

1447 Yocheon-ro, Namwon-si, Jeollabuk-do
Contact

063-620-8907

Visiting Hours

April - October: 8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
November - March: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

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In front of the Tourist Information Center within Gwanghallu Pavilion
Admission Fee

Adults: KRW 4,000 / Youth and Military Personnel: KRW 2,000 / Children: KRW 1,500
Website

www.gwanghallu.or.kr

Directions

Get off at KTX Namwon Station → Take Bus No. 3-164, 4-101 (and others) from Namwon Station Bus Stop → Get off at Nammunro 4-ga, Samjin Pharmacy Bus Stop → Walk for 6 minutes

Pilbong Nongak Training Center

The exhilarating Pilbong Nongak (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage) is a type of traditional Korean folk music performed during farming or festive seasons to uplift spirits. It is a popular performing art that strengthens community bonds, often referred to as pungmul, dure, or gut. Pilbong Nongak, which originated and has been passed down in Pilbong-ri, Gangjin-myeon, Imsil-gun, Jeollabuk-do, is a village pungmul. In the eastern region of Jeolla Province, traditional Korean folk music is known as Jwadong Nongak, and Pilbong Nongak, which has preserved its original form the best, is its representative. Initially a simple form of nongak, it developed into a high-level performance after inviting Pak Hak-sam, a sangsoe (leader of a nongak troupe and the primary gong player), around 1920. Pilbong Nongak is characterized by its powerful and vigorous rhythms, emphasizing group harmony and unity rather than individual skills.

The Pilbong Nongak Transmission Center, where people can learn and experience Pilbong Nongak, is a popular destination for both dedicated students and the general public. Particularly during school vacations, it attracts hundreds of students from all over the country each week. Situated within the Pilbong Cultural Village, the center offers a variety of programs, including traditional culture experiences, a Pungmul Exhibition Hall showcasing the history of Pilbong Nongak, indoor and outdoor performance venues for various cultural events, and a traditional Korean village complex (churyakwon) providing hanok stays and experiences.

Address

272 Gangun-ro, Gangjin-myeon, Imsil-gun, Jeollabuk-do
Contact

+82-63-643-1902
Visiting Hours
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09:00 AM - 6:00 PM (Closed on Sundays)
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In front of the Information Desk at Pilbong Nongak Training Center
Admission Fee

Free (Nongak and Sogo Dance Lessons: Students (Elementary, Middle, High School) KRW 9,000 / Adults KRW 10,000)
Website

www.pilbong.co.kr

Directions

Take a bus to Gangjin from Central City Terminal → Get off at Gangjin Intercity Bus Terminal → Take Bus No. 202 from Gangjin Terminal Bus Stop → Get off at Sangpil Bus Stop → Walk for 6 minutes

Jindo National Gugak Center

Located at the foot of Yeoguisan Mountain in the southern part of Jindo, a cradle of traditional Namdo arts, Jindo National Gugak Center was established to preserve and develop the long-standing traditional culture and arts of Namdo, and to conduct systematic research, education, and performances in Korean traditional music.

Jinakdang, meaning "Hall of Precious Sounds," Dalbit Madang (Moonlight Courtyard) offering views of Yeoguisan Mountain and Gwiseongpo Port, and Byeolbit Madang (Starlight Courtyard) where you can see the starry sky, host various regular and special performances. In addition to performances within the center, there are also active external performances. In particular, the "Visiting Gugak Center" program, which visits culturally underprivileged areas, enables more people to experience and enjoy Korean traditional music.

Furthermore, weekend cultural experiences are operated, allowing visitors to enjoy performances, learn Korean traditional music, and explore Namdo culture.

Address

3818 Jindo-daero, Imhoe-myeon, Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do
Contact

+82-61-540-4011
Visiting Hours
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09:00 ~ 18:00 
(Closed on Mondays)
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In front of the Information Desk at Jinakdang Theater (only available on Saturdays), main gate guard room
Admission Fee

Free
Website

https://jindo.gugak.go.kr/site/main/main.do

Directions

Get off at Mokpo Station from the KTX → Board bus number 500 at the 'Mokpo Station' bus stop → Get off at the Gurae Village bus stop → Transfer to the Samho Bus Terminal and board a bus bound for Jindo → Get off at Jindo Public Bus Terminal → Board bus number 106-2 at the 'Jindo Public Bus Terminal' bus stop → Get off at Guiseong-ri bus stop → Walk for 15 minutes.

National Maritime Museum of the National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage

Korea, an island nation surrounded by the sea, has a rich history of seafaring and maritime activities. Trade ships braving the rough seas often met with misfortune, sinking to the ocean floor laden with precious cargo. These sunken ships, or treasure ships, have captured the imagination of people for centuries. Advances in technology have allowed us to salvage these vessels from the depths, revealing the treasures they carried. The remains and artifacts of these ancient ships found at sea are collectively known as underwater or maritime cultural heritage.

The National Maritime Museum, operated by the National Research Institute of Maritime Heritage, is a space dedicated to showcasing underwater cultural heritage. As a repository for marine artifacts excavated from across the country, this exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of Korea's maritime culture, the development of shipbuilding technology, and the daily lives of our ancestors. Inside, visitors can see both real and model ships from the Goryeo Dynasty, while the outdoor area features a reconstructed Joseon Dynasty vessel, offering a vivid and immersive experience. A diverse range of underwater artifacts also provide a glimpse into the past. In particular, the Sinan Ship, excavated in 1976, is considered a precious heritage that offers insights into the Maritime Silk Road and the culture of East Asia in the medieval period.

Address

136 Namnong-ro, Mokpo-si, Jeollanam-do
Contact

+82-61-270-3001

Visiting Hours

09:00-18:00 (Last entry 1 hour before closing; Closed on Mondays)

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Information Desk at the National Maritime Museum
Admission Fee

Free
Website

www.seamuse.go.kr

Directions

Get off at KTX Mokpo Station → Walk to Seongmo Doctor’s Building Bus Stop → Take Bus No. Nangman22 or Nangman22-1 → Get off at National Maritime Museum Bus Stop → Walk for 3 minutes

Usuyeong National Tourist Site

During the Joseon Dynasty, the provinces of Jeolla and Gyeongsang were frequently raided by Japanese pirates known as wakou. To defend these regions, the Joseon court established naval bases, each headed by a naval commander. When viewed from Seoul, the base on the right was called Usuyeong, and the one on the left was called Jwasuyeong. Haenam was the location of Usuyeong. Usuyeong National Tourist Complex was created to commemorate the Battle of Myeongnyang and preserve the site's historical significance. The Battle of Myeongnyang, which took place in 1597, was a naval battle where Admiral Yi Sun-sin, with only 13 ships, achieved a decisive victory over the Japanese navy at Myeongnyang Strait (Uldolmok). Located between Haenam County and Jindo County, Uldolmok is the narrowest strait in Korea with the fastest tidal currents. Because the sound of the rapids crashing against the rocks was said to resemble the sound of a crying sea, the strait was named Uldolmok, meaning 'the sea passage that weeps.' This was transcribed into Chinese characters as Myeongnyang. The Myeongnyang Battle Memorial Park, built overlooking Uldolmok, houses the Myeongnyang Naval Battle Memorial Hall, modeled after a panokseon (turtle ship). Here, visitors can find abundant materials about Admiral Yi Sun-sin, the Battle of Myeongnyang, turtle ships, various weapons, and the history of naval battles worldwide. From the nearby observatory, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Uldolmok, Jindo Bridge, and Jindo Tower. In front of Uldolmok, where a thunderous roar can be heard, stands a statue of the great hero Yi Sun-sin deep in thought. Unlike most statues of Yi Sun-sin, which depict him in armor, this statue is striking for its portrayal of the admiral wearing a traditional Korean robe and holding a map.

Address

1021 Hakdong-ri, Munnae-myeon, Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do
Contact

+82-61-530-5541
Visiting Hours
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09:00 ~17:30 (Closed on Mondays)
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Information Desk at Usuyeong National Tourist Complex
Admission Fee

Free
Website

https://www.haenam.go.kr/tour/index.9is

Directions

Get off at Mokpo Station from the KTX → Board bus number 500 at the 'Mokpo Station' bus stop → Get off at the Gurae Village bus stop → Transfer to the Samho Bus Terminal and board an intercity bus → Get off at the Nokjin bus stop → Walk for 25 minutes

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