By Margareth Theresia
Photos = Lee Jeongwoo
Video = Park Daejin

"We want to become a team long remembered for our music that bridges tradition and modernity."

The duo Dodree comprises a pansori (traditional lyrical opera) singer and an artist trained in traditional Korean dance who fuse gugak (traditional music) with K-pop.

Na Yeongju, a third-generation member of a pansori family, and Lee Songhyun, who started learning dance at age 3, seek to create their own subgenre of Hallyu (Korean Wave).

The group's name is a combination of dodeuri, a standard six-beat rhythm in gugak, and the English word "free." The term refers to unwavering determination to go beyond boundaries and expand globally rather than being confined to one genre.

What differentiates Dodree is its infusion of gugak into the framework of K-pop. The duo struts its stuff in flashy performances like a K-pop idol, but every song lyric and dance move contain elements of Korean tradition.

To prepare for Dodree's debut, Na taught gugak techniques to Lee, while Lee train Na in the graceful movements of traditional dance. Complementation by using each other's art created Dodree's strength, namely the organic blend of traditional music and dance.

This musical experiment created the "K-crossover pop" song "Just Like a Dream," which was released on Jan. 26. The debut tune conveys the two's emotions transcending language using only Korean lyrics, attracting praise from domestic and international fans.

Na Yeongju (left) and Lee Songhyun of Dodree on March 20 pose for a photo before their interview with Korea.net at the office of the group's management agency Innit Entertainment, an affiliate of JYP Entertainment, in Seoul's Gangdong-gu District.

Since its debut, Dodree has collaborated with the National Museum of Korea to produce content infused with the country's traditional heritage. Feb. 13 saw the release of the music video for "Just Like a Dream" filmed at the museum.

"The mere act of filming at a space with artifacts was fascinating and felt like a dream," Lee said. "I was honored to wear a Hanbok (traditional clothing) at a space symbolizing Korea and showcase choreography featuring Korean dance lines to our music."

Na said the group's appeal is "the way it blends Korean beauty with familiar K-pop formats, allowing the public to naturally embrace it," adding, "We will lower the barrier to entry for gugak while fully displaying its unique charm."

Dodree's dream is to go beyond being an idol and becoming a bridge of the times.

"Since the roots of tradition do not change, developing and expanding in various ways also represent a form of tradition," Lee said. "Some must preserve tradition as it is while others must interpret it in new ways to create its own charm."

margareth@korea.kr