Park Su-jin (Guro High School in Seoul)

A few years ago, the Korea Tourism Organization’s video Feel the Rhythm of Korea: SEOUL pleasantly shocked audiences, both domestically and overseas. The video’s main characters, Inalchi and Ambiguous, were broadcast, sparking interest in Korean traditional music. However, public interest in Korean traditional music has waned in recent years, reflecting a broader trend of traditional cultures simply struggling to maintain popularity.

This issue extends beyond traditional Korean music, encompassing various facets of Korean traditional culture that face the risk of disappearing. The lack of absolute interest is a significant factor in this challenge, despite our efforts in traditional events such as the guard-changing ceremony at the palaces and martial arts demonstrations. Despite these initiatives, people’s engagement with traditional culture has continuously remained low. 

In my opinion, one of the reasons for this lies in the unfavorable promotional methods. While current trends among the public prefer short video content on platforms like reels and TikTok, the promotion of traditional culture still relies on outdated methods such as tags and follow events. This approach fails to align with contemporary promotional strategies targeting the younger generation through social media.

Another challenge lies in the conservative mindset of some workers in the field and consumers toward traditional culture. Concepts like “Hanbok” are limitedly understood by the public due to resistance in acknowledging the evolution of traditional attire across different eras. Embracing or accepting cultural changes and transformations is crucial for the survival of traditional culture. In fact, this evolution should be celebrated rather than dismissed as mere imitation.

To ensure the survival or conservation of traditional culture, we need to accept or preferably promote its change and innovation while fostering acceptance from the public. In other words, the focus should be on creating and promoting innovative approaches to traditional culture beyond preservation, encouraging a more open-minded perspective among both industry professionals and the public.