Travelling to a new place for the first time, most of us carry our own cultural identities shaped by our own past and history which, in turn, have been shaped by our ancestors. This provides for the most powerful resource when engaging with new cultural environments. In order to have a seamless transition into new surroundings, it is important to understand the host culture and to abide by the general outline provided by it. “When in Rome, do what the Romans do.” Or in this case, “When in Korea, do what the Koreans do.” This is the essence of the Korean Folk Village event by KDIS students on March 24, 2016.

One of Korea’s longest serving dynasties carefully preserved and bundled in one event, its customs and lifestyles can be seen during the Korean Folk Village event. Few events in Korea offer the rich history and blend of cultures predominant during the Joseon dynasty. With its dancing farmers, tight-rope walkers, acrobatic skills on horseback, the experience of being a soldier serving in an ancient army for a day, and life-size huts, this living and breathing museum brings Korea’s rich history back to life.

Dancing farmers celebrating the harvest and working to the beat of percussion instruments has been re-enacted in the Folk Village’s farmers’ dance. This reenactment of history is characterized by a mix of slow and fast-paced music created through small and large gongs and barrel drums. While the player of the small gong kkwaenggwari sets the beat and leads the dance, the other dancers perform acrobatic movements, twirling long, white paper streamers attached to their hats. An exquisetly performed art, all done to the sound of classical instrumental music, generally classified as jeong-ak (“proper music”).  The dancers wear white costumes with colorful vests and sashes and conical hats topped with big, colorful paper flowers. As they move, these flowers bob and turn with every movement of their heads. A very spectacular performance, but that’s not all. On the other end of the folk village arena is a man walking, bouncing and swinging on a thin, tight rope.

Tightrope walking, a world famous acrobatic skill, popularized during the Joseon Dynasty is locally called, jultagi. Unlike the tight-rope walking seen world over, this one is special. Accompanied by music and a witty dialogue between the tightrope walker and an earthbound clown, the tightrope walker has to stay on the rope aided only by an Asian fan. While the clown cracks jokes, the walker has to balance as he walks and runs to and from the tightrope. Not only does he walk, he crawls across on his knees, bounces high into the air, twists through 180 degrees, sits cross-legged in the middle of the rope, and even stretches out his legs. Quite entertaining to the audience, a little dangerous to the performer. Before the performance begins, a ritual called Julgosa is performed, to wish for an accident-free performance because a fall on a tightrope can kill the performer. The ritual honors the gods of heaven and earth as well as legendary tightrope walkers. But that’s not all there is, the game of archery is another trademark of the popular ancient dynasty and today’s folk village.

History books say that the legends of Goguryeo, an ancient kingdom of Korea,  possessed such an impressive ability with the bow that they were able to catch five flies with one arrow. Not only was this a fly catching technique, the weapon proved to be one of the most powerful during war. A more sophiscated assemblage of a bow made from bamboo core, horn belly, sinew on the back, oak handle, mulberry "ears" and a covering of birch bark over the back and held together by fish airbladder glue was arguably one of the most powerful war weapons during the dynasty. Combining this with a fierce and fast moving horse, the bow and arrow provided the much needed protection and strength for thousands of years, leading to the peninsula’s survival of all forms of invasions.

Another feature offered at the Folk Village is a form of equestrian martial arts called masangmuye. A team of seven horse riders, all dressed in imitation hanbok (Korean traditional outfit), are accompanied by rousing music as they enter a ring with an infectious bundle of energy. These horse riders perform impressive acrobatic skills as they hang off the sides of the saddle, do handstands and shoot arrows. With the help of a Korean-speaking presenter, the team builds a sense of energy that excites the crowd as they twist and turn their bodies and gallop around the ring. In ancient times, these equestrian feats were one of the most important means of determining success or failure of examinees in the military service.

Even the visitors get the thrill of the art, whether it is the act of being a hunter or the experience of being an ancient soldier for a day. This live museum engages its visitors in several cultural activities with an additional view of the classical grace of Korea’s ancient traditional houses one by one.

This exquisite collection of events is what makes the Korean Folk Village event one of the most visited tourist events in Korea, enjoyed by many international tourists, including KDIS students. Every year, over half of KDIS’ students, click the apply button on the MIS school event attendance registration site to go and watch an accomplished tightrope walker put on a show, as well as farmers’ dance dancers demonstrate some of the most exquisite, well performed acrobats, with a touch of history.  “It is an experience of a lifetime, the most fun, clean and historic event I have been to,” mentions one of the African students. “We have tightrope walking in my country, but this one was unique, the tightrope walker had fun and the way he was bouncing off the rope and balancing, was really fascinating”, exclaims another student from India. Not only was the event meant to allow international students to experience Korean traditional society and culture and to help them improve their understanding and knowledge about the Korean people, it was also an opportunity to share their rich culture and history and to improve the networks and bonding of the entire student body. A goal which seems to have been achieved.

By Chiindi Chiputa (2015 MDP, Zambia)