A bearer of Korea's national intangible heritage, the troupe combines gongs, drums, dance, and spinning-ribbon hats in a vibrant Nongak performance.

★ Pyeongtaek Nongak has been designated a Korean National Intangible Heritage since 1985 and is an important representative tradition of Wootdari Nongak in the Gyeonggi and Chungcheong regions.
★ Korean Nongak was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2014.

Pyeongtaek Nongak is a major representative of Wootdari Nongak in Korea’s Gyeonggi and Chungcheong regions. The Pyeongtaek Nongak Preservation Society has long worked to preserve and transmit this communal tradition of music, dance, and ritual arts. Korean Nongak is also inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Pyeongtaek Nongak brings together traditions of rural labor communities, seasonal prayers for well-being, marketplace entertainment, and professional performers, offering an important window into Korean folk performance culture.
 

Nongak is Korean farmer’s music. There are five types of nongak in Korea: Wootdari (웃다리) nongak of Gyeonggi and Chungcheong, Left Jeolla nongak, Right Jeolla nongak, Southeastern Korea (Yeongnam, 영남) nongak, and Eastern Gangwon-do(Yeongdong, 영동) nongak. Each nongak has its unique representation of Korean culture and has been recognized as an important intangible cultural asset in each region. It was designated as the eleventh asset of the Important Intangible Cultural Property by the South Korean government in 1985. Additionally, it was listed as one of the World’s Intangible Cultural Assets by the UNESCO in 2014. 

【Performance Highlights】
The performance combines traditional percussion instruments—including gongs, drums, and janggu hourglass drums—with dance. Performers also wear hats fitted with long ribbons, which spin dramatically through the air as they turn their heads rapidly. The repertoire includes Jisin-balgi, a ritual for peace, protection, and good fortune; Duregut, traditionally performed to entertain farmers after periods of intensive labor; Nanjanggut, a lively form associated with traditional marketplaces; and Geollipgut, in which performers visited households to offer blessings and gather contributions. Fast, powerful rhythms combine music, dance, technical skill, and ritual elements to create an exceptionally festive stage atmosphere.