Mr Jeon Ju Ho, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre in Nigeria (KCCN), has called on Nigerians to partner with the Korean community in promoting the country’s traditional music as reflected in K-pop.
Ju Ho made the appeal during the opening of the K-pop Meets Korean Traditional Music exhibition on Tuesday in Abuja.
The exhibition explores the fusion of Korea’s rich musical heritage with the global influence of contemporary K-pop. Originating in Korea, K-pop is now beloved by millions of fans worldwide and often incorporates elements of traditional Korean music, adding emotional depth to its sound.
The event is co-hosted by the National Gugak Centre and KCCN as part of the 2025 Touring K-Arts Programme, an initiative of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Foundation for International Cultural Exchange (KOFICE).
According to Ju Ho, the exhibition highlights how traditional Korean music forms the cultural foundation of K-pop the core of the Korean wave known as Hallyu. He emphasised that this connection offers a valuable platform for cultural exchange between Korea and Nigeria.
“The exhibition showcases how traditional Korean music is being interpreted within K-pop,” he said. “It presents different branches of Korean traditional music found in various K-pop works, organised into three categories.
“We hope this inspires more collaborations, including opportunities to introduce traditional Nigerian music to Korea.”
Also Read: 2025 K-Pop Festival: ‘Xtreme Movement Crew’ Thrills Korean Music lovers
He added that the exhibition is designed to introduce Korean traditional music to Nigerian audiences using K-pop a genre they are already familiar with as a medium.
“Many Nigerians are not familiar with our traditional music, which is why we brought Korean traditional instruments that are also used in K-pop. People often overlook traditional music because of their strong preference for K-pop,” he noted.
Ju Ho expressed optimism that the event would open doors for collaborations between Korean traditional music and Afrobeat, calling it an “exciting prospect.”
“To be honest, there has not been any notable collaboration between Korean traditional music and Afrobeat,” he said. “This exhibition, organised by the National Gugak Centre Korea’s premier institution for traditional music aims to change that. Both the government and cultural institutions are keen to deepen artistic exchanges.”
The exhibition featured a rich display of Korean traditional costumes and musical heritage, including Nong-ak, Cheonnyeomense (Pungnyu), Gayageum, Yonggo, Jing, Jabara, Taepyeongso, and traditional masks such as Chwibali and Malttugi of Bongdan Talachim.
Attendees were treated to a vibrant journey through Korea’s musical past and present, with exhibits showing how ancient rhythms continue to influence modern K-pop. The Korean community presented a fusion of tradition and modernity, echoing Korea’s evolving cultural identity while drawing parallels with Nigeria’s deep-rooted musical traditions.
The highlight of the event included a K-pop dance performance and an exhibition of traditional Korean instruments.