YU Taepyungyang

Sorikkun (traditional Korean folk singer)

YU Taepyungyang
Times of the Remarks 2024. 11. 12. 08:30-08:55
Title SDF2024 Opening Ceremony

YU Taepyungyang, popularly known as the “gugak (traditional Korean music) prodigy,” attracted widespread attention when he became the youngest sorikkun (traditional Korean folk singer) to perform the three-hour-and-thirty-minute-long work “Heungbuga” in its entirety, a feat he achieved at just six years old, which he followed up with a performance of “Sugungga,” also in its entirety, in 2003. He learned pansori (Korean epic chant) under the masters Jo Tongdal and Seong Changsun before heading to South Africa in 2004 to study percussion in a unique segue in his career.

In 2016, he was accepted into the very competitive National Changgeuk Company of Korea, where he has actively played leading and supporting roles in such works as the changgeuk (traditional Korean opera) productions L'Orfeo, Trojan Women, and Mr. Heungbo, as well as the madangnori (traditional Korean folk theater) productions Here Comes Nolbo and Here Comes Chunpung. He also makes regular appearances on various TV programs, where he actively promotes gugak for wider audiences.