Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater

Heard of Gugak-ro, Jongno? Lining the 800-or-so meters of road connecting Changdeokgung Palace to Jongno 3-ga Station used to be an array of gugak (traditional Korean music) institutions, such as the Training Center for Gugak Musicians, the Korean Court Music Study Institute and the School of the Gugak Arts. That is, once upon a time, master musicians and virtuosos of the Joseon Dynasty made their dreams come true at this holy mecca of gugak. Today, however, shabby stores and refurbished hanok guesthouses have completely taken over. To restore this historical area, the government has decided to build the Seoul Donhwamun Traditional Theater across from the main gate of Changdeokgung Palace. With 140 seats, the theater will be used specially for gugak performances. The theater will be celebrating its grand opening with a marathon of concerts on September 1st. As an added bonus, the trendy neighborhood of Ikseon-dong is nearby, making for the perfect day-date.