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Korea's royal rite music ‘Jongmyo Jeryeak’ enchants Singapore

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By Kwon Mee-yoo
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The National Gugak Center presents “Jongmyo Jeryeak,” traditional Korean royal ancestral rite music, at the Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay in Singapore, Friday, as part of 'A Tapestry of Sacred Music' festival. Courtesy of Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange

The National Gugak Center presents “Jongmyo Jeryeak,” traditional Korean royal ancestral rite music, at the Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay in Singapore, Friday, as part of "A Tapestry of Sacred Music" festival. Courtesy of Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange

“Jongmyo Jeryeak,” a traditional Korean musical ritual originating from the royal ancestral ceremonies of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), captivated international audiences during its recent debut performance in Singapore.

Presented by Korea’s National Gugak Center, Jongmyo Jeryeak was performed at the Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay on Friday and Saturday as part of the venue’s annual "A Tapestry of Sacred Music." This festival, now in its 16th edition, celebrates spiritual and religious music from around the world, emphasizing themes of harmony and healing. This year’s event featured artists from 10 countries, including Brazil, Turkey, France, India and Japan, alongside Korea.

Designated by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Jongmyo Jeryeak historically accompanied ancestral rituals at Jongmyo Shrine in Seoul, paying homage to the deceased kings and queens of Joseon. Composed of ceremonial orchestral music and matching dance movements, the ritual has been continuously practiced for over 600 years, representing Confucian ideals of respect and reverence.

The Singapore performance took place at Esplanade’s largest theater, selling out 1,500 seats each day, reflecting strong local interest in Korean culture. Some 60 musicians and dancers participated in the performance, impressing audiences with the scale and intricacy of the presentation. To enhance audience understanding, the National Gugak Center screened an explanatory video before the curtain rose.

This year's performance coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Singapore. Tan XiangHui, senior producer at the Esplanade who organized the festival, highlighted the importance of fostering cultural exchanges between the two countries.

"Singaporeans are getting acquainted with many contemporary aspects of Korean culture, from K-pop, K-drama, K-food and so on. It is only natural that, to understand one another better, we also explore our roots and traditions," XiangHui said in an interview with the Korean embassy in Singapore.

"When I encounter amazing artists, I am simply excited to share them with our audiences and this is the impetus for inviting the Korean artists that we’ve previously worked with to Singapore. Likewise, I hope that there will also be more opportunities to introduce good Singaporean artists to Korean audiences in future. Over time, these interactions create familiarity between our two countries, strengthening our ties and friendships."

The National Gugak Center presents “Jongmyo Jeryeak,” traditional Korean royal ancestral rite music, at the Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay in Singapore, Friday, as part of 'A Tapestry of Sacred Music' festival. Courtesy of Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange

The National Gugak Center presents “Jongmyo Jeryeak,” traditional Korean royal ancestral rite music, at the Esplanade — Theatres on the Bay in Singapore, Friday, as part of "A Tapestry of Sacred Music" festival. Courtesy of Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange

To commemorate this occasion, the Korean Embassy in Singapore and the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE) hosted supplementary events, including an exhibition featuring photographs of Jongmyo Jeryeak performances, a digital zone providing virtual experiences of traditional Korean instruments and opportunities for visitors to try on traditional Korean costumes.

Chang Hwee Nee, CEO of Singapore's National Heritage Board, praised the event. "It is remarkable to witness Korea’s royal ancestral music, a tradition continuously preserved for over 600 years, being presented to international audiences. We are honored to introduce this splendid Korean cultural heritage in Singapore.”

Jongmyo Jeryeak has increasingly appeared on international stages since 2000, beginning with performances in Japan, followed by Italy and Germany in 2007, France in 2015, four cities in Germany in 2022 and Hungary and Poland in 2023. Following the successful run in Singapore, the National Gugak Center will bring performances to Tokyo on April 19, commemorating 60 years of Korea-Japan diplomatic ties, and Hong Kong in November, upon invitation from the Korean Cultural Center there.

Kang Dae-geum, acting president of the National Gugak Center, affirmed the institution’s dedication to preserving and promoting traditional Korean music.

"Upon the successful debut of Jongmyo Jeryeak in Singapore, we will strive to continue promoting the beauty and essence of Korea’s royal court art both domestically and internationally,” Kang said in a statement.