Western music was introduced at the end of the 19th century and gained rapid acceptance. There are a number of Korean musicians performing and competing internationally today. Traditional Korean dance may be divided into court dance, folk dance, ritual dance, and the dance of professional entertainers. Court dances are slow, stately, and elegant, the movements balanced and restrained. Folk dance includes farmers dances, mask dance-dramas, and various group dances meant to accompany work.
Ritual dance appears in Confucian, shamanistic, and Buddhist ceremonies.
Professional entertainers performed both court and folk dances, often combining features of the two. Several were designated Intangible Cultural Properties by the Korean government, while their most notable performers were recognized as Human Cultural Treasures. The paintings of Goguryeo were generally dynamic and rhythmic, those of Baekje elegant and refined, and those of Silla somewhat speculative and meticulous. Understandably, traditional painting suffered under the policies of the Japanese colonial period. Meanwhile, Western styles were introduced and gained a degree of prevalence.