This is a performance of Chunaengjeon (Dance of the Spring Oriole) at Yeongyeongdang Hall of Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul's Jongno-gu District.

By Gil Kyuyoung
Photos = Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of Korea Heritage Service

Seoul's four main royal palaces will host performances of gugak (traditional music) such as court music and dance.

The Royal Palaces and Tombs Center of the Korea Heritage Service on March 14 said that jointly with the National Gugak Center (NGC), it will hold 29 gugak concerts next month, May and September at the palaces of Gyeongbokgung, Changdeokgung, Deoksugung and Changgyeonggung.

Next month, performances held in 1828 for Queen Sunwon's 40th birthday will be presented at Changdeokgung's Yeongyeongdang Hall. The pieces will be based on dances created by Crown Prince Hyomyeong like chwita, or marching music played during royal or military processions, music by a military marching band, musanhyang (court dance) and Chunaengjeon (Dance of the Spring Oriole).

Concerts reenacting those marking Queen Sunwon's 60th birthday in 1848 will be held in May and September at Tongmyeongjeon Hall of Changgyeonggung. Those performed during the reign of King Sejong the Great will be held at Sujeongjeon Hall of Gyeongbokgung, which housed Jiphyeonjeon Hall, where the Korean alphabet Hangeul was created.

Recreation of traditional pipe and string music enjoyed by King Gojong will be held in September at Deoksugung's Seokjojeon Hall.

The events are free with paid admission to each palace.

More information is available on the NGC's official website (www.gugak.go.kr).

This is the official poster for a pungryu (traditional performing arts) concert at Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul's Jongno-gu District.