A striking display of colour, movement, and cultural exchange unfolded at the Korean Cultural Centre South Africa (KCCSA) on 11 July, as South African performers took to the stage in a Korean fan dance performance that captivated a full audience.
The performance was the culmination of a two-week workshop hosted by KCCSA in partnership with Korea’s National Gugak Center, where participants trained in Buchaechum — Korea’s traditional fan dance known for its fluid group formations and symbolic beauty. Dressed in traditional hanbok, participants used large fans adorned with peonies to create visual images of butterflies, waves, and blossoms, all choreographed to traditional Korean rhythms.
Adding to the evening’s rich cultural display, returning students from a previous KCCSA programme performed a traditional Korean drum dance, while one participant delivered a moving rendition of Arirang, Korea’s best-known folk song.
The showcase also featured a special solo performance by Kim Tae-eun, a member of the National Gugak Center, who presented Salpuri, an expressive and deeply emotional dance rooted in Korean heritage. Her appearance offered local audiences a rare opportunity to experience a classical Korean artform performed by a master artist.
“Many of the participants came in with a background in K-Pop, so they connected quickly to the group choreography,” said Kim. “It was exciting to guide that energy toward something more traditional — to help them discover the deeper stories and spirit behind Korean dance.”
The fan dance workshop drew participants from across Pretoria, including many from the KCCSA’s popular K-Pop Academy. The programme not only introduced a new dimension of Korean culture to South African audiences, but also sparked meaningful engagement and collaboration between the communities.
The Korean Cultural Centre continues to build long-term cultural connections through regular collaborations with Korean and South African partners. In August, the Centre will launch a special Pansori workshop — an introduction to Korea’s traditional storytelling through song — in partnership with the King Sejong Institute Foundation.
Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa (KCCSA) | 주남아공한국문화원
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