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.
Pyeongtaek Nongak performs farmer’s music with four types of traditional music instruments: Gong, Small Gong, Long Drum, and Round Drum. Through the performance, we can imagine how farmers entertained themselves and their co-workers in agricultural society with dances and percussive music during leisure time. The Group has actively participated in preservation work since its establishment in 1950. The Group was invited to perform in many countries. Its performances are mainly accompanied by traditional music instruments while performers wear Sangmonori hats decorated with ribbons and dance to drum beats. During the programs, the Mudongnori performers would stand and dance on another’s shoulders. Strong beats and skillful acrobatic moves always caught the eyes of the audience.