Music and dance were means of religious worship and this tradition continued through the Three Kingdoms period.

More than 30 musical instruments were used during the Three Kingdoms period, and particularly noteworthy was the hyeonhakgeum (black crane zither), which Wang San-ak of Goguryeo created by altering the seven-string zither of Jin Dynasty China. Also notable was the gayageum (zither of Gaya), which was used in Gaya (42-562) and brought to Silla by Ureuk. The 12-string gayageum is still played in modern Korea.

A performance of Aak, court music

Goryeo followed the musical tradition of Silla in its early years, but came to have more diversified genres later. There were three types of music in Goryeo - Dangak, meaning music from Tang Dynasty China, hyangak or village music, and aak or court music. Some Goryeo music was inherited by Joseon and is still used in ceremonies today, especially those involving ancestral worship.

As in music, Goryeo enjoyed the dance tradition of Three Kingdoms initially, but later added more varieties with the introduction of court and religious dance from China's Song Dynasty.

During the Joseon Dynasty period, music was respected as an important element of rituals and ceremonies. Early in the dynasty, two offices dealing with musical matters were established and efforts were made to arrange musical texts.

As a result, a canon of music called Akhakgwebeom was produced in 1493. The book classified music to be played at court into three categories - ceremonial music, Chinese music and native songs. Especially during King Sejong's reign, scores of musical instruments were newly developed. In addition to court music, the traditions of secular music such as dangak and hyangak continued.


Western music was first heard in Korea with the introduction of a Christian hymnal in 1893, and began to be taught at schools in 1904. Changga, a new type of song sung to Western melodies, flourished across the country.

As the nation experienced tumultuous changes with its forced opening to the West and the prolonged Japanese colonial rule, changga was sung to enhance Korea's love of nation, spirit of independence, and new education and culture. In 1919, Hong Nanpa composed Bongseonhwa (Touch-me-not) in the form of changga.

After national liberation in 1945, Korea's first Western-style orchestra was inaugurated as the Korea Philharmonic Orchestra Society. Today there are nearly 50 full orchestras in Seoul and the provinces.

An increasing number of Korean musicians are performing outside Korea these days, winning acclaim from concert audiences and awards at prestigious international competitions. Among the most notable performers are the Chung Trio conductor-pianist Chung Myung-whun, cellist Chung Myung-wha and violinist Chung Kyung-wha.

Among singers, sopranos Jo Su-mi, Shin Young-ok and Hong Hye-gyong have all established an impressive presence in the international community of music. They have performed leading roles in productions at New York's Metropolitan Opera and other famed stages in addition to recording for world-famous music companies.

The musical "The Last Empress"

In August, 1997, "The Last Empress," a musical depicting the last years of Korea's monarchy and Empress Myeongseong, was staged in New York to the wide acclaim of the American press. The musical, an epic tale, was viewed as offering a precious opportunity to expose Korean history and culture to Americans, particularly Korean-Americans.