KSI Bogotá Performs Samulnori at the
2024 National Foundation Day
and Armed Forces Day Reception

> On October 1, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Colombia hosted the “2024 National Foundation Day and Armed Forces Day Reception”

> The event, attended by over 300 people, including Colombian government officials and Korean War veterans, featured a Samulnori performance by culture Intern and students from the KSI Bogotá

On October 1, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Colombia hosted the “2024 National Foundation Day and Armed Forces Day Reception” at the Ambassador’s Residence. The event was attended by over 300 guests, including Colombian government officials, key members of Congress, diplomats, Korean War veterans, and representatives of the local Korean community. During the event, students from KSI Bogotá’s Samulnori (traditional Korean percussion) group performed as the final act. This performance was made possible following a suggestion from Ambassador Lee Wang-keun of the Republic of Korea, who was deeply impressed by the Samulnori performance during the “KSI Bogotá Graduation Ceremony & Korean Cultural Night” held on July 29.
 
 

The celebratory performance at the 2024 National Foundation Day and Armed Forces Day Reception was prepared by a small team consisting of Culture Intern Son Hye-ri, dispatched in late September, and graduates of KSI Bogotá who had been learning Samulnori for 5–6 years. The team reinterpreted and performed “Utdari Pungmul”, a lively traditional Korean percussion piece characterized by its dynamic rhythms and energetic progression. Despite a short preparation period, the team worked tirelessly to synchronize their performance, drawing on their training at the Sejong Cultural Academy. Their spirited efforts garnered enthusiastic applause from the audience. Culture Intern Son Hye-ri reflected on the experience, saying, “Having to prepare a performance just a week after arriving in Bogotá was daunting, but the students followed through admirably. Thanks to them, I was able to start my internship in Bogotá on a positive note.”
 
 

Paula Prieto, who played the jing (gong), shared her thoughts: “It was a special experience to perform such a great piece with my Samulnori classmates. I was nervous, but the audience’s smiles and positive reactions made it a truly joyful experience.” Carolina Sanchez, who played the buk (drum), also expressed her gratitude: “Although the preparation period was short, having Culture Intern Son Hye-ri guide us gave me confidence, and the enthusiastic response from the audience made it incredibly rewarding.”
 
 

This Samulnori performance was a meaningful opportunity to introduce traditional Korean culture to Colombians. Moving forward, KSI Bogotá plans to continue offering Samulnori and Gayageum classes, providing Korean language learners with exposure to traditional Korean music. The institute also aims to organize diverse activities to share Korean culture with the local Colombian community.

Article by Cho Jung-yoon, correspondent at the KSI Bogotá