2,011 Drummers Shake the World!
(October 4, 2011)

2011 Shaking Heaven & Earth took place on October 3rd to celebrate National Sports Festival in Goyang City
2,011 people from around the nation gather for a record-breaking pungmul performance

– To celebrate National Foundation Day of Korea on October 3rd and to bid for the success of the 92nd National Sports Festival, a large group of people gathered together at the Goyang Eoulrim Nuri Byeolmuri Sports Arena. It was hosted by the Gyeonggi Arts Center and sponsored by Gyeonggi Province, Goyang City, and the Korea Record Institute. (Jo Yeong-cheol of Dong-A Ilbo)

2,011 people struck their kkwaenggari, jing, buk, and janggu, opening the skies and shaking the very foundations of the earth. The Jajinmori beat progressed into a Huimori beat, and it was hard to resist moving to the rhythm. The performers chimed in with an occasional Eolssu! and Jeolssu!

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To celebrate Korea’s Foundation Day on October 3rd, Goyang City – host of the upcoming 92nd National Sports Festival – saw 2,011 performers gather to stage the largest pungmul show in history. The 2011 Drum Festival was hosted by the Gyeonggi Art Center and sponsored by Goyang City and the Korea Record Institute.

The 2,011 samulnori performers from the thirty-one cities and counties of Gyeonggi Province, as well as from Seoul, Chungcheong, Gyeongsang, Jeolla, and Gangwon, congregated at the Eoulrim Nuri Byeolmuri Sports Arena. It was the largest assembly of samulnori performers in history. The Korea Record Institute recognized the performance as a new record in the Korean Guinness Book of Records.

It was a preliminary performance for the 92nd National Sports Festival on October 6th and a drive to promote peace, harmony, and sharing along with the beauty of Korea’s traditional culture. It has been 22 years since Gyeonggi Province last hosted the National Sports Festival. The performance was a means by which to convey a sense of the province’s prowess.

Samulnori Master Professor Kim Duk-soo of Korea National University of Arts took the podium as the event’s art director. “We recruited 2,011 performers from all over the nation for this event. Our goal is to bid good fortune for the upcoming event and to gather the largest group of performers in Korean history to heighten awareness of togetherness and communication. Any mass performance requires a certain amount of sacrifice. That is key in bringing peace and harmony to this world.”

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo, Goyang City Mayor Choi Seong, National Assembly Members Paik Sung-woon and Kim Tae-won, Chairman Kim Gwang-hoe of the Gyeonggi Provincial Council’s Culture and Sports Tourism Association, and Director Jo Jea-hyun of the Gyeonggi Arts Center were at the opening event.

– The 2011 Shaking Heaven & Earth brought together 2,011 samulnori performers from all corners of the nation. It was the largest cast of performers in the history of Korean theatre. (Jo Yeong-cheol of Dong-A Ilbo)

From six-year-olds to seniors in their sixties, the performers’ ages widely varied, but they all came together as one to send out a message of harmony to the audience.

Yun Su-bin (5th grade) from Suwon said, “I’ve been learning samulnori for three years as part of our school’s specialized curriculum. This is my first time performing with such a large group. I had a great time.” Yang Bok-su (F, 64), who learned samulnori as a hobby over the last five years, said, “I could hear my heart throb. This is a very meaningful performance because we are raising awareness for a good cause. I didn’t even notice my body getting sore from all the playing.”

Some volunteered to attend despite their conditions. Jo Jan-hui (M, 19, Seowon University), who played the buk ever since he was a fifth grader after suffering hydrocephalus, said, “I feel freedom and happiness when I hear the kkwaenggari and buk. I am very proud to be one of the 2,011 participants.”

Members of Ddamddi, pungmuldan troupe of four handicapped people from Eunpyeong-gu in Seoul, were clearly excited about being part of the performance, too. From his wheelchair, Lee Seok-hyeonsaid, “We are challenged in communication, but music always unites us. That is how we find hope,” as he explained how he started playing. “We are all honored to be among the 2,011 performers gathered together today. This is a fantastic event.”

There were even a few foreigners in the mix. Mustafa (22, Turkey) is part of Hallyum University’s samulnori club. “I enrolled in this club six months ago because I have always been interested in Korean culture. There are similar instruments in my home country, so when we play, I feel like I am back home with my friends. I stand out because I am the only foreigner, but this is a new experience for me.”

A moving performance by 2,011 people

– Governor Kim Moon-soo strikes the jing to herald the beginning of the performance. (GNews Plus)

The event began at four in the afternoon with a parade into Eoulrim Nuri Byeolmuri Sports Arena, a facility that covers 165,288 square meter. When all 2,011 performers were assembled, the real party began. Deokyang-gu of Goyang City was filled with all sorts of sounds and rhythms for two hours, from simple and rural Yeongnam samulnori to utdari samulnori from Gyeonggi and Chungcheong as well as many other regional beats.

The parade began at the rear of the stadium as 2,011 performers filed along the 500 meter path into the stadium.

When the flag-bearer took the lead by waving the flag to mark the beginning of the event, the taepyeongso began to play. It was soon joined by the kkwaenggari, jing, and buk as it evolved into a large parade.

The 2,011 performers marched across the 4-lane road before the stadium as they played their instruments. Citizens joined in by clapping on the pedestrian road. There were non-stop camera flashes and dancing in the streets.

Kim Hong-yeom (69, Yangcheon-gu) joined the parade, dancing to the beat. “I came here with a friend to see the performance. I always loved gugak (Korean Music). It¡¯s so uplifting.”

The parade made its way into the stadium after ten minutes of marching. It took forty minutes for the entire parade to enter. Each and every performer was dressed in full samulnori costume. The stadium was filled with over 1,000 spectators. The event was hosted by comedian Hwang Ki-sun.

Governor Kim, Mayor Choi, and Chairman Cho stepped up on the center stage to strike the drum to start the official event. As Governor Kim hit the jing and the other VIP guests hit the buk, confetti shot high into the sky and the audience broke into applause.

The samulnori performance took the audience’s breath away. Sorigut was performed between sessions and the beat changed styles from Yeongnam samulnori, best described as masculine and energetic, to huimori beat to utdari samulnori, which is more intricate and involves an exchange between two main performers.

The climax was highlighted by pannori. Very skilled kkwaenggari, jangu, and sogoplayers came to the center to perform sangmonori, twirling the ribbon attached to their hats as they themselves twirled in midair. The crowd went wild whenever they performed a new trick.

– The Korean Record Institute recognized the day’s event as a new record in Korea’s Guinness Book of Records. After the show, Director Jo Jea-hyun of the Gyeonggi Arts Center received an authentication certificate from the Korea Record Institute. Director Jo and Art Director Professor Kim posed for a photograph. (Jo Yeong-cheol of Dong-A Ilbo)

Most of the audience members raised their thumbs in approval of the day’s performances, impressed with Korea’s traditional melody and rhythm.

Song Seon-ju (F, 40) from Yangpyeong County, said, “It was a moving performance. The 2,011 people performing together had an effect that I didn¡¯t anticipate. Samulnori usually consists of four performers, so I don¡¯t know how they arranged it for 2,011.”

In Hye-yeong (F, 39, Goyang) said, “I’ve never see so many people perform in my life. The shear sound of it makes your heart race.”

Ju Seong-yong (M, 36, Goyang), who came with his infant, said, “It was a moving performance. Never in the two hours did the performance go stale. Each and every minute was exciting. If they were doing this to promote the National Sports Festival, I¡¯m certainly sold.”

After almost two hours of performing, each of the 2,011 participants received an authentication certificate from the Korea Record Institute. At the ceremony, Director Jo received the certificate as the representative. The Korea Record Institute will also include the achievement in the Guinness World Records.

Gyeonggi Arts Center Director Jo said, “I was touched by how the citizens were so involved with the performance: they all stayed for the entire 2 hours. I hope this event will raise awareness about the National Sports Festival. I hope all goes well.”

The excitement did not fade after the performance was over. The performers and citizens got together at the stadium and held their own little ceremony. Governor Kim was there with the citizens, playing the kkwaenggari and having a wonderful time.

Governor Kim said, “That was a very touching performance. It was a magnificent display of our traditional sound and entertainment. I hope the world learns more about our culture through events like this.”

– Governor Kim with kkwaenggari in hand after the show. He mingled with the audience, playing instruments and dancing. (Jo Yeong-cheol of Dong-A Ilbo)