NONGAK

A style of music known as Nongak or Pungmul is shown on the right. This is a form of rural percussion music that is usualy played by one or two performers. A larger band version of nongak became popular in Korea in the late 1970s and some even have found success all around the world.

Traditional

Instruments

The traditional Korean Instruments can be divided into 3 distinct parts: wind, percussion and strings. Korean bells and the traditional piri which is a cylindrical oboe is shown. Some other traditional instruments are gayageum and ajaeng which are zithers. Traditional instruments also include bells  and chimes of differents kinds such as kkwaenggwari. 

TROT

TEUROTEU

Trot is the oldest form of rock is Southern Korea. It was developed years before the Japanese occupation in Korea. This type of music can be said to have some relation to Japanese music and developed along those lines. Trot was taken from the word "foxtrot" or also known as ballroom dancing.

Trot's popularity dropped drastically in the 1990's when the start of dance group singers started and the start of K pop. However now, New groups such as LPG sing semi trot to help trot's comeback.

an example of a trot song can be found at this site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trot_(music)

K-POP is highly comercial, even througout Asia. These stars have high style, the looks and dance skills that are taking Asia by storm. This new wave of Korean music is called Hallyu or Korean Wave which is noting the influence Korean culture has been is Asia.

K POP

Modern

Music of

South

Korea

Is the modern style of music in Korea. On the right is a picture of the Big Bang, a popular boy group that is famous in South Korea. The picture on the lower right is of Rain, a south Korean Singer and on the lower left are the Wonder Girls. They are famous for their song "Tell Me".

Music of North Korea focuses on the praise of Kim Jeong Il and is controlled by the government. They encourage light, state-sponsored music. Thier music is played on the Pyong Yang Metro speaker station or in orchestras and is known as taejung kaeyo. Listening of South Korean music and Rock and Roll is prohibited and considered a crime. All the songs revolve around communism and the leaders of North Korea. A few known bands and singers include Wangjaesang Light music band.

Modern Music of North Korea