Music Overview Paper
The Music of Korea
Andrew C. Coleman
BM: Instrumental Performance (Clarinet)
MUSC 314-001: Music in World Cultures
December 11, 2022
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When one thinks of music from Korea, K-pop groups such as BTS and Black Pink may
immediately come to mind; however, Korea has a rich history in traditional music which is still
prevalent today. To have a better understanding of the musical landscape in Korea, I interviewed
my Korean friend Joshua Cho. He is an international student who stayed with my family from
2016-17 while were both attending high school at Liberty Christian Academy. Although he was
raised in India for a time, he has interacted with much of the Korean culture, and he recently
fulfilled his Korean military requirements. Because he is a Missionary Kid, he also had some
insight into the music of India. The following is our in-person interview where I asked him
questions about the musical landscape of Korea in addition to questions about Korean traditional,
popular, and worship music.
In-Person Interview with Joshua Cho
Where are you from?
-I was born in Korea and raised in India.
What was your first musical experience?
-Living in India, I did not have much access to the internet. My first musical experience was
when I was around seven years old. There was a missions team from Korea that brought a CD
with them, and it was an album from one of the most famous Korean Christian singers. It was
some of the first music I was ever exposed to.
What instruments do you play?
-I play acoustic guitar, bass guitar, electric guitar, drum set, clarinet, saxophone, and piano, and I
used to play violin when I was younger.
What are some of your favorite music experiences (ensemble/band)?
-I would say High School marching band because we had a very strong bond within the group
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and with you (Andrew). I also loved working under the direction of Dr. Seipp.
What is your favorite genre of music today?
-CCM, R&B, and some Jazz
What genres of music are popular in Korea?
-Of course K-Pop, but we also have several different Christian groups that are fairly popular.
R&B is also big.
Who are some of the famous performing groups in Korea?
-BTS and Black Pink are the biggest ones. There are a lot of smaller groups that many foreigners
are unfamiliar with such as Aespa.
Are students encouraged to play instruments in Korea?
-I only spent about three months in a Korean school, and that was in 6th grade. We had a music
class where we played different instruments every week. It was a class many other schools
offered, but playing instruments is not as encouraged as in the United States. At least in our
culture, students are expected to study a lot after school, and there are a lot of after-school study
clubs. Parents expect their students to be a part of those clubs, and it is a drastically different
environment compared to the freedom American students have.
What are the most popular instruments to play in Korea?
-The most popular is guitar, but the most popular ones specifically students start on are clarinet,
flute, and trumpet. Outside of woodwinds, violin and piano are also very popular. We have a lot
of churches in Korea, so people start learning guitar in church. Even in the smaller communities,
they always have a guitar over other instruments.
How important is traditional music in Korea?
-Traditional music is still out there, and different TV programs have traditional music
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competitions. As for people our age, K-Pop is more mainstream and relevant; however, I think
something very unique about Koreans is their drive to share their culture. I think this was a result
of Korea having to rebuild itself after the second world war. We are very passionate about
introducing our culture to others, and that includes both modern and traditional music. I would
not say it is mainstream, but traditional music is still an important factor in our culture.
Are performances of traditional Korean music accessible to the public?
-Yes. Just like regular orchestral and musical performances, we have performances dedicated to
traditional music. We have several different groups that still perform traditional music today.
Do you know of any traditional Korean instruments?
-Yes. I do not know the English name, but there is one called 가야금 (gayageum). It has a long
wood piece on the bottom and has strings. There is a bridge in the middle. One side you pluck
and the other you use for vibrations. There is another instrument called 해금 (haegeum) that has a
long wooden piece attached to a larger base. It has one string, and there is a bow in the middle.
There is also the 꽹가리 (kkwaenggwari) which is just a small gong. The last one I can think of is
the 북(bak) which is a percussion instrument that has two different sides to hit.
Is it common for Koreans to listen to music from other countries, and which one is the most
popular?
-Pop music from the US is the second most popular besides K-Pop. We also have a lot of people
who listen to J-Pop and anime songs. Because we are culture-focused people, we are also very
interested in other cultures, and that has a lot to do with what we listen to in terms of music.
Is worship music a large part of Korean culture?
-Definitely. It is still growing, but I do not think that there are a lot of people that listen to
specifically English worship.
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Do Korean worship groups mostly sing original Korean songs, or do they do covers of songs
from other countries?
-We do a lot of covers of American songs, but we of course have traditional worship groups that
sing hymns. There are also younger groups that make worship music as well that is geared
toward younger generations.
Was there any emphasis on music during your time in the Korean military?
-I specifically worked in the Air Force branch of the military, and there was no emphasis on
music. There were certainly opportunities I could have sought out for music in the military, but I
chose not to because I did not think I was good enough to be a part of those programs. I was also
intimidated by the entire audition process. It is pretty much the same amount of emphasis that
America has on music in the military.
Due to your experiences as a Missionary Kid, what other kinds of music were you exposed
to?
-We have a lot of Bollywood, and we listen to it all the time. Bollywood is very interesting
because it is in a different language, and it also has a lot of music. There is a song called
Chammak Challo that is a super popular Bollywood collaboration between music creators from
America and India.
Brief Overview of Korean Music- Traditional
Korean traditional music is described as gugak which means “national music.” It was
only in the 15th century during the reign of King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty that Korean music
became a significant topic of study. As a result of King Sejong’s efforts, the first mensural
notation system called jeongganbo in Asia was created.1 In terms of traditional Korean music
1 “Traditional Arts,” Culture and the Arts, Korea.net, accessed December 12, 2022,
https://www.korea.net/AboutKorea/Culture-and-the-Arts/Traditional-Arts.
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classifications, it can be generally divided into two main categories. The first is jeongak meaning
proper music and minsogak meaning folk music. Indubitably, there exist different types of
traditional Korean music within each of the main two categories. Jeongak includes court music
and music performed for the upper class; in contrast, minsogak includes folk songs, lyrical
storytelling, shamanist storytelling, and other musical forms enjoyed by commoners.2 Music of
the upper class utilizes a slow tempo with a smooth and refined texture, and it seeks to create a
calm, dignified, and contemplative atmosphere. Jeongak can be likened to the fine silk attire of
Korean aristocrats.3 As for the folk music of Korea, it encompasses a substantial variety of
Korean vocal and instrumental music. The most widely known musical forms of minsogak are
pansori and samulnori. Much of the music of minsogak is categorized as either vocal or
instrumental in nature. Minsogak vocal music is divided into pansori, minyo, and japga.4
Minsogak instrumental music, on the other hand, is broken down into sanjo, sinawi, and
pungmul. Pungmul is the rural percussive music known today as samulnori.5
Brief Overview of Korean Music- Popular
The precursors of K-pop were seen in the mid-1980s when performers bore a similar
resemblance to contemporary South Korean popular musicians. Crucially, the backdrop is the
fusion of dance and music which occurred in the United States. The eventual genre that K-pop
would inhabit, however, was exemplified by Michael Jackson and MTV.6 K-pop is a musical
2 Robert Koehler and Byeon Ji-yeon, Traditional Music: Sounds in Harmony with Nature (Seoul: Seoul
Selection, 2012), 20, ProQuest Ebook Central.
3 Ibid., 21.
4 Ibid., 37.
5 Ibid., 41.
6 John Lie, K-Pop: Popular Music, Cultural Amnesia, and Economic Innovation in South Korea (Berkeley:
University of California Press, 2014), 74-75, ProQuest Ebook Central.
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brand and style that crystallized over the course of the first decade of the twenty-first century.
While still being styled as an export, K-pop underwent various mutations, it’s most vital being a
variant of J-pop before the modern formula was found.7 One of the most common examples of
K-pop infiltrating the globe is the song “Gangnam Style.” When thinking of K-pop as an export
or a transnational product, “Gangnam Style” is the exact embodiment of this vision of K-pop.
“Gangnam Style” sounded familiar to many young global pop consumers who were immersed in
hip-hop culture.8 K-pop in the current musical age still retains its exportability and relatability
through groups such as BTS and Black Pink. Correspondingly, the popularity of K-pop in Korea
is easily observable. South Korea is a land of sound-designed environments where washing
machines and trains play distinct tunes for users. This sonic stimulation can be seen in a larger
context with the amount of technology in Korea as you can see various TV screens in the
subway, cabs, buses, trains, restaurants, bars, and shops. It is almost nearly impossible to visit
Seoul without seeing or hearing any K-pop groups,9 and this speaks volumes as to how
mainstream K-pop truly is.
Traditional Korean Music Analysis
For the traditional Korean music analysis, I am watching a pansori version of the song
Ddiddiroo Diroo Diroo. After the song was released, interest in pansori, a type of minsogak/folk
music, rapidly increased.
Play-By-Play
0:00- A woman is adjusting her hair and some type of membranophone is being played.
7 Lie, K-Pop, 123.
8 Hyunjoon Shin and Seung-Ah Lee, Made in Korea: Studies in Popular Music (New York: Routledge,
2016), 52.
9 Michael Fuhr, Globalization and Popular Music in South Korea: Sounding Out K-Pop (New York:
Routledge, 2016), 3.
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0:03- Videos of a woman and man presumably getting dressed are shown.
0:10- A paper fan is opened, and the drums stop.
0:13- The percussive sounds resume, and women in a line of six begin chanting in unison.
0:17- The women move their left arms upwards in unison to point at a female soloist dressed in
blue.
0:21- The vocal soloist walks forward and begins singing about a rabbit. The women are still
moving in tandem with one another.
0:37- The soloist backs up from the line of women, and the women take over the
chanting/singing line. They are holding white paper fans which they use as a sort of prop.
1:18- The drummer exclaims a “hey” sound, and the ladies open their fans.
1:24- The soloist takes over the chanted melody again and moves in front of the line of women.
1:52- The soloist sings a sustained note, stops singing, and the membranophone is the last
instrument to be heard.
1:59- All the performers stay in place without moving.
Sound
For instruments, there is a singular membranophone that is struck by a man using a mallet and
his fingers. There are also six singers who sing in unison and a vocal soloist. I am unsure of the
exact key/scale used in pansori music, but it sounds similar to a minor pentatonic scale. There
are hard accents on many of the spoken syllables by the chanters/singers, and a very wide vibrato
is used frequently. The overall timbre of the music sounds rough and rugged which makes sense
as it is a type of folk music in Korea.
Behavior
The performers are wearing traditional Korean hanboks of varying colors. All of the movements
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made by the line of women are synchronized. The line of women is very interactive with the
soloist, and the soloist behaves as if telling a story. All of the performers are smiling, and there is
very little interaction between the singers and the percussionist.
Concepts
This specific performance is a part of the pansori story called Sugungga. The main story
involves a sick Dragon King. The turtle goes to the rabbit as his liver is the cure to the illness,
and the rabbit is tricked into coming to the underwater palace. After figuring out the truth, the
rabbit is able to escape his death by lying to the king. This type of music would serve as
entertainment and is therefore functional.
Popular Korean Music Analysis
For the popular Korean music analysis, I am watching a BTS live performance of Fake
Love. Since the choreography is extremely fast-paced, I will only do a Play-By-Play of the
music. I will cover the general motions of the choreography in the behavior section.
Play-By-Play
0:00- Male vocals enter, and a guitar background track plays. All the members are singing in
unison.
0:14- An electric bass instrument is added to the guitar.
0:25- The first verse finishes, and the chorus starts. An electronic beat is played on the start of
the chorus.
0:38- One of the BTS members with a white necklace begins to rap. The other members respond
to his rap with a melodic line, and this happens for a while.
0:51- A different member begins to rap, and the other members join in the rap intermittently. A
high-hat-sounding electronic instrument is added to the backing track.
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1:03- Another verse is sung where the members of BTS sing in unison again.
1:27- Instead of going directly into the chorus, the music has an extended pre-chorus which
directly leads to the chorus.
2:05- Another rap section with the same member begins. From here, the music is repetitive aside
from the bridge, and not much is different until the end of the song.
2:30- The bridge of the song starts and different members take over the solo.
3:57- The vocals slowly fade out, and the backing track stops. The members are in a circle
huddled together, and two of the members in the center are pointing upwards.
Sound
In terms of the sound of this specific K-pop group, there does not appear to be much emphasis on
live vocals or instruments. There are seven singers on stage doing choreography in this
performance. There is a pre-recorded backing track playing, and there are also vocals being
played on top of the live performers. The distinct instruments I could hear on the backing track
are electric guitar, a bass guitar, and a high hat. The song is in a natural minor key. The overall
timbre of this music is very cheery and energetic.
Behavior
A lot of the movements done on stage by BTS are very highly choreographed. The opening of
the song starts with the members in a line, and they jump out from behind the previous person.
The overall choreography is seemingly made to highlight the solo vocalist. The soloist usually is
in the middle of the group while the others are usually grouped in pairs. The group members are
very exaggerated with their movements, and they seem to try and capture the tone of the lyrics
through body movements.
Concepts
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In terms of concepts, this song does not seem to have any historical significance. Functionally
speaking, this performance is solely for entertainment. The audience seems to be extremely
excited about the performance due to the constant teenage girl screaming, so I am assuming that
this music is well received.
Worship Korean Music Analysis
For the worship Korean music analysis, I am watching “Praise the New Life” by The
Church of Almighty God.
Play-By-Play
0:03- A male vocalist and some type of digital keys enter. The singers and band members are
very interactive throughout the entirety of the song.
0:11- Two female vocalists enter, and a three-part trailing texture is heard.
0:18- A drum set enters followed by an idiophone that sounds like a shaker. The main male
vocalist begins the verse by himself. There are also some midi-sounding strings played in the
background. The beat and chord changes stay consistent.
0:51- Here is the start of the pre-chorus, and one of the female vocalists enters to sing harmony.
0:59- A very short chorus is sung, and all the members of the group join in to sing harmony.
1:09- One of the female vocalists begins singing for this second verse.
1:25- The male singer takes over the rest of the second verse, and the setup is the same for the
next chorus.
1:59- The male and female vocalists who sang the previous verse now sing the third verse in
octaves. The setup for the chorus is the same.
2:48- On the last note, the bass guitar as well as the vocalists sustain the same pitch in octaves.
Sound
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In terms of instruments, there is a drum set, some type of idiophone shaker, a bass guitar, and
keys. There is also some sting synth in the backing track as well. There are two main vocalists,
and the rest of the group joins in for the harmonies. The song is in a major key, and the overall
timbre of the song is warm, sunny, and wholesome.
Behavior
Since the video is a music video, there is no interaction with any audience; however, the group is
constantly interacting with one another in the video. The two main vocalists are especially
interactive.
Concepts
Besides this being a worship song geared towards being thankful for a new life in Christ, there is
not any historical significance relating to Korea in this video. I would say this video is functional
in the fact it is meant to share the gospel, but it is most likely a song people would listen to on
the radio. Therefore, it is non-functional in this context.
Conclusion
Korea has a unique and diverse musical landscape where they have many traditional
music forms in addition to one of the most popular genres of music today known as K-pop. From
my time researching Korean music, I noticed how true Josh’s comment about Koreans being
driven to share their culture and learn about others’ culture is. Just look at K-pop; it is
functionally an export, and it has brought a lot of attention to Korean culture. Korea was also
influenced by many other types of music from Michael Jackson to J-pop, and their synthesis of
various types of music has led to their distinct and popular style.
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Bibliography
Fuhr, Michael. Globalization and Popular Music in South Korea: Sounding Out K-Pop. New
York: Routledge, 2016.
Imagine Your Korea. “‘Ddiddiroo Diroo Diroo’ Pansori Version.” Video. YouTube, November 2,
2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU5jtaWyUho.
Koehler, Robert and Byeon Ji-yeon. Traditional Music: Sounds in Harmony with Nature. Seoul:
Seoul Selection, 2012. ProQuest Ebook Central.
Korea.net. “Traditional Arts.” Culture and the Arts. Accessed December 12, 2022.
https://www.korea.net/AboutKorea/Culture-and-the-Arts/Traditional-Arts.
Lie, John. K-Pop: Popular Music, Cultural Amnesia, and Economic Innovation in South Korea.
Berkeley: University of California Press, 2014. ProQuest Ebook Central.
Mnet K-POP. “[BTS - FAKE LOVE] Comeback Stage | M COUNTDOWN 180531 EP.572.”
Video. YouTube, May 31, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5ZeAfz4G3s.
Shin, Hyunjoon, and Seung-Ah Lee. Made in Korea: Studies in Popular Music. New York:
Routledge, 2016.
The Church of Almighty God. “Christian Music Video | Korean Song ‘Praise the New Life’ | It’s
Such a Joy to Enjoy the Love of God.” Video. YouTube, June 12, 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFoPr2a5F_k.
