Exploring the aspects and directions of popularization and modernization of classical poetry
Authors:   The Research Of The Korean Classic, Hwang Byeong-ik 
Published: December 2023

Classical poetry has become a highly challenging literary genre today, but originally, it was an art form that combined music and literature and received love from various classes of the society. Valuable efforts to popularize and update classical poetry include the following: recordings and videos of Sijochang & Gagokchang as daily Gugak by the National Gugak Center; King records’ Gagok and Gasa wonryu; Hyangga and Goryeogayo for children from Gugak FM Inc.; Synnara record’s Gyeonggi 12 Japga; various albums like Seoul Performing Arts Comapany’s “Sanwhaga”, Jeongeup Municipal Gugak Troupe’s “Sangchungok” and “Jeongeup Love Song”, and Songolmae’s “Cheoyong’s Sorrow”; music videos including Moon Sook-hee’s “Cheongsanbyeolgok”, theatrical performances like Lee Yun-taek’s “Dosolga”, and various dance and music performances in cities like Gyeongju, Buyeo, Samcheok, Ulsan, and Pohang. These are all significant contributions to the promotion and modernization of classical poetry. Unfortunately, since there was no systematic evaluation and support for the works, they were not very memorable to the public. However the film “My Love, Don’t Cross That River” (5 million viewers), the movie “Ssanghwajeom” (3.78 million viewers), and the SBS historical drama “Seodongyo” (from 2005 to 2006, viewer rating 21.4%), which used video effects effectively, were popular successes.
The main points emphasized in this paper as part of the effort to popularize and modernize classical poetry are as follows: proactive development of related cultural heritage travel routes, the development of content that combines history and literature, the restoration and reenactment of original performances, enhancing historic, on-site, and dynamic experiences in secondary school curricula, exhibition promotion using characters and calligraphy, building archives through the establishment of classical poetry museums, and the continuous discovery and adaptation of original storytelling in classical poetry. First and foremost, scholars should establish definitive source texts in modern- language for classical poetry (especially Goryeogayo and Hyangga) included in secondary school curricula and the works targeted for popularization. Subsequently, education and explanations should not merely dwell on simple interpretations of the works but should vividly evoke history and expand literary imagination. The goal should be to convey the works in an easy and engaging manner, enabling them to resonate with the joys and sorrows of today and stand the test of time. For example, 〈Woojeokga〉, which contains the narrative of monk Youngjae’s awakening of 60 thieves, says, “The poem I wrote, let alone the group of 60 thieves/Not even a single heart was touched/So I will have to sell my computer and hide deep in the mountains” (Lee Seung-ha, 〈Woojeokga〉), Likewise, “Cheongsanbyeolgok” is transformed into a modern interpretation as “Living, living for capital, living for capital / Eating heads and legs, living for capital / Yalri-yalri yalrang-syeong yal-lari yal-lara” (from Park Nam-chul’s poem “Living for capital”), offering good examples of how classical poetry can be adapted into contemporary meaning.