Culture and Arts: Chung Gong Sori
While Gwangju may be on the cutting edge when it comes to the contemporary art scene, it may not be known that Gwangju is also home to institutions that try to foster and maintain the traditional arts of Korea. Chung Gong Sori is one such place.
Chung Gong Sori is a house/hagwon in Gwangju that teaches many aspects of traditional Korean culture. This place is where the married duo, Taekkyeon-master Lee Sun-mi and Master-of-Crafts Kwon Chun-soo, live and conduct their cultural activities and host classes with other teachers.
What is unique about this hagwon is that you can see the family’s lifestyle and philosophy. Traditional Korean culture reflects the long history and brilliant spirit of the Korean people, and was originally passed down through special occasions in Korean palaces, but eventually took root amongst the general populace as well.
Such ceremonies and traditional arts include folk music and folk religion (shamanism and exorcism), Sinawi (traditional Korean music accompanying shamanistic rituals), Buddhist Classical music and Confucian Gwan-hon-sang-jae, which are the four ceremonial occasions of coming of age, marriage, funeral and ancestral rights.
Lee and Kwon stated that they feel proud of their Korean culture and heritage. They find it rewarding when others gather to learn Korean culture and traditional arts and try to understand – even if just a little. They also stated that it is fulfilling to actively instruct others and to be able to be true artisans.
They feel passionately that traditional Korean arts need to be inherited, used, developed and passed down to future practitioners of the arts and crafts, marital arts and culinary skills in order to maintain a strong Korean identity and culture.
If you would like to explore and learn a Korean art, then the courses offered are:
– Making Daegeum (Large bamboo flute) or Dansoo (smaller vertical flute)
– Taekkyeon (a type of soft martial art)
– Making Tteok (rice cakes for every-day and special occasions)
– Dyeing natural fabrics using traditional Korean dyes
– Making Sotdae (a duck-shaped good-luck charm for the village entrance)
– Learning Guk-Gung (Korean archery) and using traditional Korean bows
– Tea Etiquette is taught by example, and tea is served the Korean way. Participants can hear the Daegum during the tea ceremony
– Play Traditional Korean instruments
– Recreational climbing at a Korean Hanok
The contact details for Chung Gong Sori are:
Chung Gong Sori
Gwangju City, Dong- Gu, Dong-Myeong-Dong, Dong-Gye-Ro, 1 beon-Gil.
Business Phone Number: 062-226-5777
Cell Number: 010-7247-7506