By Honorary Reporter Kathleen Recinos from El Salvador
Photos = Kathleen Recinos

The Korean Embassy in El Salvador on Nov. 4 held a concert to mark 60 years of friendship between the two countries at San Salvador's National Theater and another on Nov. 5 at Santa Ana's National Theater featuring performances by the Jeollabuk-do Gugak Center of Korea and the Salvadorean folk music group Xolotl.

The center is Korea's main training institute for traditional Korean arts. The Salvadorean folk music group Xolotl has performed throughout Central America, Europe and the U.S. for 44 years.

Before the festivities began, a minute of silence was held to remember those who died in the Itaewon incident. Korean Ambassador to El Salvador Choo Won-hoon also gave a speech thanking the audience for their interest in Korea and national institutions for supporting this year's events.

Korean Ambassador to El Salvador Choo Won-hoon in a speech thanks the audience for coming out to the event.

The center's orchestra performed pieces such as "Shinbaenori," which featured exciting percussion instruments and variations, and the minyo (folk song) "Gunbam Taryeong."

The Jeollabuk-do Gugak Center Orchestra performed traditional pieces such as those from pansori (traditional lyrical opera).

In the middle of the performance, Xolotl joined the orchestra to play its interpretation of a song considered to be El Salvador's second national anthem, "El Carbonero." This was one of the most memorable moments of the night as the sounds of traditional Korean instruments like the gayageum (plucked zither), haegeum (string instrument akin to a fiddle) and daegeum (bamboo flute) were combined with those of the host country like the marimba, guitar and pan flute to produce a beautiful performance.

The Jeollabuk-do Gugak Center Orchestra and the Salvadorean folk music group Xolotl perform "El Carbonero," a song considered El Salvador's second national anthem.

This was one of many cultural events run by the Korean Embassy in El Salvador to introduce and promote traditional Korean arts.

enny0611@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.