Korean Cultural Center in Hong Kong successfully concluded its performance of "Playing in the Blue Moon," a new traditional music and dance performance, at the Studio Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, a representative performance venue in Hong Kong, on November 24th. The performance received a great response from approximately 260 audience members and local art professionals, including around 30 students majoring in traditional Chinese music at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA).

Yeonhee Group "Yeonhwa"

This performance was presented by the Yeonhee Group "Yeonhwa," affiliated with the K-BOF Overseas Distribution Support Project of the Korea National University of Arts. It is a creative performance concert created with the theme of "Moon" on the traditional Korean holiday of Daeboreum, which celebrates the first full moon of the lunar year. Based on the rituals, games, music, and dances that took place under the full moon, the performance reinterprets them from Yeonhwa's perspective and expresses them through music, singing, and dance. The work introduces Korean traditional music and dance to the audience in a more contemporary manner. The performance received a high level of local interest in Korean traditional music, as all seats were filled within 10 minutes of opening the ticket sales.

In the latter part of the performance, the atmosphere became even more lively as the audience directly participated in the games, creating an interactive experience. The performance group continued to encourage applause and cheers, bringing the performance to a passionate and energetic conclusion.

One audience member who watched the performance expressed their impressions, saying, "I have seen traditional object play performances several times in Korea, but most of the performing groups were composed of male members. However, this time, seeing a performance composed of female performers feels very fresh, and there is an allure in the stage that only women possess." They also mentioned, "I have been a fan of Korean traditional music for a long time, and I really enjoyed this performance. Such performances are exactly what we want to see in Hong Kong, at the level of performances we desire." A local arts professional commented that although it was a traditional performance, the refined rhythm and communication with the audience added to the enjoyment of the spectators and played a significant role in showcasing the vibrant spirit of Korean traditional arts.

KCCHK plans to continue exploring and supporting opportunities to promote the appeal of emerging Korean traditional musicians in the Greater Bay Area, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, with the aim of expanding the overseas presence of Korean performing groups and establishing Korean traditional music as a new content within the Hallyu wave, following the success of K-pop and K-dramas.