National Gugak Center
The National Gugak Center, located in Seoul, South Korea, is the primary institution of learning for Korean traditional music, including both court music and folk music.
Successor to the music institute of the Silla kingdom in the 7th century, the was founded under its present Korean name in 1950. The English name was officially shortened to the National Gugak Center in 2010.
It is dedicated to "preserving and promoting traditional Korean music." Through academic courses, private study, ensembles, research, and performances, it preserves Korea's ancient musical traditions, including the ancient court ritual music called aak as well as the ritual music performed for the Jongmyo and the Munmyo.
In 2018, the organization added fifty more types of sounds and instruments to their repertoire due the pop song "Idol", which includes some gugak instruments.
