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Arirang, Korea's Traditional Folk Song Representing Soul of Korea

This is the song of songs for Koreans.
With its many variations, it has been sung on the Korean peninsula for hundreds of years.
This tender and somewhat sorrowful melody has been deeply inscribed in the hearts of of Koreans throughout history, representing the resilient soul of its citizens.
With the Korean government recently applying to UNESCO to list Arirang as an intangible cultural heritage, the Gyeonggi Arts Center announced plans to host a special concert titled "Arirang Arariyo Festival", on June 2nd.
Some 2-thousand artists, including traditional percussionists, singers, and dancers, will perform to the music.

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[Interview : Kim Duk-soo, Artistic Director] "With the music of arirang, we'd love to share the spirit, philosophy, and
energy of traditional Korean music with the world".

And, at the National Folk Museum of Korea, another special exhibit, all about arirang, is currently underway.
Over two-thousand of artifacts related to arirang are on display.

[Interview : Park Ji-won jiwonpark@arirang.co.kr] "Visitors can also watch performances and listen to the music of arirang".

One of the very early feature films of Korea from the 1920s, was titled "Arirang".
Arirang has also been used as the brand name for cigarettes, match boxes, and monthly magazines in the 1950s.
The museum has gathered recordings of ordinary Koreans singing arirang.
Choi Jae-sun,.. a North Korean defector, also sang the melody growing up in the North, and never imagined the song would be widely sung in the south.

[Interview : Vanya Lee, Curator The Natl. Folk Museum of Korea] "Arirang is home to Koreans, and is also a part of Koreans' cultural DNA. Arirang has been passed down throughout historyand will continue to do so".

This special folk song carrying a heartaching,.. but also hopeful message,. will not only resonate with Koreans but also will touch the heart of the world, with its beautiful melody.

Park Ji-won, Arirang News.

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