The Seoul Namsan Gukakdang was established in 2007 as Korea’s first traditional music-specialized theater. It was found to spread the excellence of Korean traditional music and to promote traditional performing arts. The beautiful and unique structure of the theater blends well with the surrounding environment by placing the theater at the basement based on the traditional Korean architectural structure on the first floor. This Korean traditional design and sense of beauty contains the essence of Korean historical identity.
The sunken garden “Chimsangwon,” a stair-shaped garden connected to the lobby of the basement theater, presents an especially beautiful landscape view with natural sunlight, similar to Gyotaejeon at Gyungbokgung. The theater, capable of accommodating 300 people, uses wood to give a natural sense of beauty. There is also thrust stage which enables smooth and close communication with the audience, and the overall structure is designed so that the audience can enjoy rich natural sound without the aid of audio equipment. This type of design is optimal for Korean traditional art.
The Seoul Namsan Gukakdang, a balance of artistry and aesthetic beauty, has met its tenth anniversary in 2017. Celebrating its anniversary, the theater facilities and other spaces have been renovated, upgrading it into a theater optimized for various traditional art performances. It has now become a space alive with Korean traditional culture and arts and a favorite tourist site for many citizens and foreign tourists. The Seoul Namsan Gukakdang is a special place where people can enjoy high quality art performances and a time of relax within the comfortable atmosphere of the Namsangol Hanok Village, a special mix of Korean culture with nature located in the city center.