Sinimsahwa, Taekwondo Cultural Performance at Gyeonghuigung(Palace)

Creating new genre of art that mixes Korean traditional music with Taekwondo

Taekwondo Cultural Performance, which made a lasting impression with 16,000 spectators last year, also attracts the eyes of visitors to Gyeonghuigung (Palace) from home and abroad.

Taekwondo Cultural Performance, started in 2007 by Seoul Metropolitan City to globalize Taekwondo and to attract tourists, is held at the front yard of Sungjeongmun of Gyeonghuigung (Palace), at 2 o’clock in the afternoon for an hour on every Wednesday and Saturday.

This year’s performance is ‘Sinimsahwa(辛壬士禍)’, a creative and dynamic performance illustrating a story from Korean history. Sinimsahwa will be performed until December.

‘Sinimsahwa’ is the story of King Gyeongjong, one of three Kings (Gyeongjong, Jeongjo, and Heonjong) who had his coronation ceremony at Sungjeongjeon of Gyeonghuigung (Palace). The performance was about the first of Gyeongjong when his political opponents were conspiring against him to crown Yeongjo as the king.

‘Sinimsahwa’ is a non-verbal type performance that incorporates Korean traditional music, traditional dances as well as modern music and dances to provide a high-quality performance. It is open to every citizen free of charge. In addition, Taekwondo Experiential Program for tourists from Tuesday through Sunday, three times a day (11, 13, and 15:00).

Taekwondo Experiential Program, held at the front yard of Taeryeongjeon, Gyeonghuigung (Palace), is targeted to tourists and foreign residents in Korea. The program is led by a certified Taekwondo instructor who can speak English featuring a program of wearing uniform, basic postures, art of self-defense and board-breaking.

This Taekwondo program was held 113 times in 2009 and attended by 1692 foreign visitors. Among the participants, Chinese accounted for 803, ranked first, and followed by 559 Americans, and 150 Japanese. Reservations are available at the program website (www.taekwonseoul.org).

Mr. Lee Hae-wu, Director of Tourism Promotion Division, Seoul Metropolitan City said “Taekwondo is a global cultural activity, which 70 million people in 188 countries are in training.” He added “Seoul will provide various and upgraded Taekwondo programs so that the Taekwondo tour program will become a new travel trend for tourists.”

• Period/Venue : Apr. – Dec. (Wed. & Sat., 14:00), Front yard of Sungjeongjeon of Gyeonghuigung (Palace)

• Period/Venue : Apr. – Dec. (Tue. ~ Sun., 11:00, 13:00, and 15:00), Front yard of Taeryeongjeon of Gyeonghuigung (Palace)
• Program : Wearing Taekwondo uniform, Theory of Taekwondo and meditation, Practice of Taekwondo skills (kicking, the art of self-defense, board-breaking, etc.)