The global popularity of K-Pop shows no signs of slowing. From stadium-filling concerts to record-breaking streaming numbers, Korean pop music continues to shape the world’s soundscape. A new exhibition at the Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa invites visitors to look beyond the bright lights of contemporary hits to discover the traditional music that helped inspire them.
The exhibition, “K-Pop Meets Korean Traditional Music,” runs 26 September through 28 November 2025 at the Centre’s main gallery. It highlights how instruments, rhythms, and performance styles from Korea’s centuries-old musical heritage echo through today’s chart-topping K-Pop tracks.
Visitors can explore authentic traditional instruments and elaborate royal-court dance costumes that have appeared in iconic music videos—from the geomungo (Korea's six-string zither) featured in BLACKPINK’s Pink Venom to the dynamic percussion referenced in BTS Suga’s Daechwita and Stray Kids’ Thunderous. Large-scale video projections and striking set pieces bring these connections vividly to life.
The exhibition unfolds across three themed sections that capture the breadth of Korea’s traditional soundscape, guiding visitors from the refined musical traditions enjoyed by Korea’s aristocratic circles, through the splendour and ceremony of royal court performances, and finally into the lively rhythms and communal spirit of folk music and dance.
Adding an interactive element, a digital installation called the “Gugak Sound Box,” an immersive station showcasing Korea’s traditional music, lets guests create their own blends of authentic sounds in a hands-on experience.
The exhibition opened with a special performance for more than 100 guests, including members of the local arts community and diplomatic corps. A live show blending K-Pop dance with traditional Korean music set a vibrant tone, followed by a guided tour led by a curator from Korea’s National Gugak Center, offering visitors deeper insight into the history and artistry behind the works on display.
“While K-Pop is loved around the world, its heartbeat is rooted in Korea’s own traditional music,” said Jiyeol YOU, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa. “This exhibition invites visitors to enjoy the excitement of K-Pop while discovering the rich heritage that gave it life.”
The exhibition is presented by the Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa in partnership with the National Gugak Center and forms part of Touring K-Arts, a global programme supported by Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE), which brings outstanding Korean performing arts to audiences around the world.
The exhibition is open weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and closed on weekends and public holidays. Admission is free.
Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa (KCCSA) | 주남아공한국문화원
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