Performing the 'Traditional' in the South Korean Musical World

Abstract

This article examines contemporary, traditional music culture in South Korea through a close look at one South Korean musician, Yi Ji-young. Yi Ji-young, a kayagm (12- string zither) performer known for her work with composers of experimental music, has become, for many, a muse through which the emerging genre of new ‘traditional' or ‘national' music is finding its voice. Through interviews and a brief examination of her musical lineage, this article highlights the complexities of transforming a musical tradition. The artist's activities are entwined with discourse regarding tradition in South Korea. While the discourse regarding ‘tradition' provides an interpretive lens through which music performance can be viewed, the construction of a new traditional music incorporates an artist's personal experiences, notions of aesthetic validity, and competence. A focus on factors such as these makes possible a more nuanced analysis of the musician's role in, as well as an appreciation of the contingent nature of, the construction of a contemporary Korean music.