Arirang’s Earth-Shaking 45,000
(Published June 03, 2012)

The Arirang Arariyo Festival held on June 2 draws to a successful conclusion

◇ Around 45,000 spectators (including some 3,000 performers) singing Arirang together. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

45,000 people were united at the Suwon World Cup Stadium on June 2 as they erupted into their ‘second national anthem’, Arirang, a song which embodies the spirit of Korea.

The Arirang Arariyo Festival was planned with the purpose of having Arirang listed by UNESCO as a Korean Intangible Cultural Asset.

The Arirang Arariyo Festival is an extension of last year’s Shake the Heavens and Earth Festival, which was staged with the aim of conveying to the World UNESCO judges (who will be in Granada, Spain in November) the strength of Korea’s determination to share, conserve, and pass on Arirang. The event was hosted by the Gyeonggi Art Center, Suwon City, and the Gyeonggi Suwon World Cup Stadium Management Foundation, among others, and was sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, KBS, and Daum Communication.

The festival was attended by 500 ‘protectors’ of Arirang, including political and cultural figures such as Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo; National Assembly Members Kim Jin-pyo, Nam Kyung-pil and Lee Chan-yeol; Gyeonggi Provincial Council Chairman Heo Jae-an; Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee Director Kim Gwang-hoe; Suwon Mayor Yeom Tae-yeong; Gyeonggi Police Chief Gang Gyeong- ryang; and Gyeonggi Arts Center Director Jo Jae-hyeon.

In addition, the 45,000-strong audience taking part in the event included about 100 members of foreign delegations from 21 countries (including France), 1,200 Samulnori performers, 1,000 members of various choirs, 1,200 soldiers and military band members, and 150 members of the Gyeonggi Provincial Traditional Classical Music and Dance company.
◇ Samulnori performers enter the Suwon World Cup Stadium. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang
◇ Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo trying his hand at drumming. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

Beginning at 7pm, the Arirang Arariyo Festival was packed with people who had arrived hours earlier to secure a seat.

Just prior to the event and the entry of ‘flash mobs’ (who arrange an activity in advance via the transmission of a message), cheerleading squads, and diplomatic missions, a four-part ‘street play’ (Samulnori) was performed by 3 groups. As the performers entered the stadium, a banner was raised in the audience reading: “Arirang: our other national anthem is our history-echo-soul”, to the rapturous applause of 45,000 people.

The performance was based on the four themes of Huinoaerak, namely, happiness, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. Comedian Seo Gyeong-seok presided over the proceedings. Chapter 1, ‘Hui’, proceeded in the following order, led by Kim Deok-su’s chorus: Jeongseon Arirang, Hollo Arirang, Hwimori Rhythm Gangwondo Arirang, Jjaksoe and a 4-bak Arirang. The ‘Origin of Performance’ took place with the appearance of the Samulnori musicians and a dance company, and vocalist Kim Dong-gyu led a chorus of Hollo Arirang.

‘No’, the second chapter, was Sangju Arirang, performed in the following order: Yangsan-do, Miryang Arirang, Yeongnam Melody, 4-bak Arirang. Each time the cries of Arirang spread around the stadium, soldiers in the audience raised their banners as one, creating a glorious spectacle.

‘Ae’, the third chapter, echoed with Wolsanga, Jjeokjjeogi, Deureonggaengi, Gu Arirang, Haeju Arirang, and Jindo Arirang. The strangely-named Jjeokjjeogi and Deureonggaengi were parts of the Samulnori performance. As Gu Arirang started, the dance company’s performance of ‘Ae’, the highlight of the third chapter, began. The expressions of the foreign delegates became earnest as they marveled at the fusion of traditional Korean Samulnori, Arirang, and the dance company.

‘Rak’, the fourth chapter, known as ‘The World’s Arirang’, was sung in the following order: Bolero Arirang, Dongsalpuri Arirang, 4-bak Arirang, the Gueum Arirang chorus of ‘Oh~ Arirang’, and Pangut.

The audience of 45,000, who had been cheering non-stop from ‘Hui’, the first chapter, until well after the 4-bak Arirang, began patriotically shouting “Daehanminguk!” whereupon the foreign delegations began applauding together and joined in with the cheers of ‘Arirang!’ and ‘Daehanminguk!’.
◇ Performance by Samulnori musicians. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

The 90-minute Arirang Arariyo Festival was conducted on a larger scale and attended by more people than last year’s Shake the Heavens and Earth Festival, which was recognized by the Korean Guinness Book of Records. The event was staged harmoniously, with taegeukgi Korean flags flying all over the place, the large crowd unified by Arirang and the exhilarating Samulnori.

Son Hyeon-su (41), who came from Suwon with his family, said: “I found about the festival a while ago and came because it was a holiday. I think that singing Arirang together with many other people is patriotic and it’s a good learning experience for the children. I’m glad that I came”.

David (35), a foreign teacher from Canada, said: “I was amazed at the passion of the Korean people”, adding: “I was very interested in the Samulnori, and this festival has also made me want to find out more about Arirang too.”

Mr. John Yu (31), who was accompanying him, said: “Even after emigrating and living in Canada from an early age, I have never felt so proud to be a Korean as I do today.” He added, “It would be great if Korea’s Arirang was protected”.

In order for the whole world to enjoy the performance together, it was broadcast live on Youtube, UStream, Africa TV, and Daum TV.
◇ The foreign delegation observing the Arirang and Samulnori performance. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

Governor Kim Moon-soo said: “Arirang is our second national anthem.” He added, “In the future, our efforts to protect what is ours through the patriotism of many citizens, including festivals like this one, which was created for the protection of Arirang, won’t have been for nothing.

Seo Gyeong-deok, Director of Gyeonggi’s Public Relations Planning, said: “I’m overwhelmed. I look forward to the huge public relations effect that this will have; around 45,000 people came together here to sing Arirang as one.” He added, “There are plans for video footage from the Arirang Arariyo Festival to be produced and shown at New York Times Square from July”.

Gyeonggi Arts Center Director Jo Jae-hyeon said: “Thank you to everyone who was aware of our purpose here today and graced us with their voluntary participation. Through Arirang, generational and class boundaries are being torn down, and a genuinely great combination is present in the harmony and communication here.” He added, “As our hearts were made as one through this performance, Arirang delivers us from present crises and is something that we will all strive to protect”.
◇ Governor Kim with the performance group after the Arirang festival. ⓒ G-News Plus / Seon-ryang Heo

The opening of this festival ties in with plans to register Chinese heritage as a Worldwide UNESCO Intangible Cultural Asset, after China’s Northeast Project in June last year, when Arirang was registered as part of their intangible cultural heritage.

Korea is currently revising the intangible cultural asset administration, and is pushing for Arirang’s registration as an intangible cultural asset. An application for the registration of Arirang as a Korean cultural property has already been submitted to UNESCO.

Along with the Arirang Arariyo Festival, you can see the performance and appreciate the special, traditional product of this record-breaking public event at the same time during the 2012 Gyeonggi Province Intangible Cultural Festival, open from June 2^nd to 3^rd on the outdoor stage at the Suwon World Cup Stadium.
◇ A small child participating in the Samulnori performance. ⓒ G-News Plus / Heo Seon-ryang

ⓒ G-News Plus News | Im Se-jeen sejeenee@kg21.net

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201206030459547055C049&s_code=C049