Music of South Korea

The first evidence of Korean music is ancient, and it has been well-documented by surviving written materials since the 15th century and was brought to heights of excellence during the Yi kings of the Joseon Dynasty. Japan's invasion of Korea eliminated Korean music from 1905 to 1945. A brief post-war period rewakened folk and patriotic music. By 1951, Korea was split, into the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or North and the Republic of Korea or South Korea from which emerged two different approaches to music.

Related Topics:
Korean music - 15th century - Joseon Dynasty - North - South Korea

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South Korea where the US and its allies maintained large forces initially accepted Western big band, rock and roll, then pop music, most often taking American styles and tunes and translating them into Korean. At the same time classical music that had a long history of performance by Koreans, became an area of great expertise in orchestral performances and created superb soloists who toured the world to great acclaim coming into is own in the 1980s, with great success internationally.

Related Topics:
Big band - Rock and roll - Pop music - Classical music

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By the 1990s, Korean music that spoke to Koreans in a new vernacular began to be created; the traditional folk songs revived; and less derivative and more original music emerged. The contemporary culture of South Korea now includes world music elements, important new orchestral compositions featuring western orchestras with Korean soloists on traditional Korean instruments, and a new kind of musical nationalism that has emerged with new vitality particularly in scores for non-commercial areas. And in the film industry.

Related Topics:
Contemporary culture of South Korea - World music

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