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| ▲This photo shows Imin Jinyeon. (Yonhap) |
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| ▲This photo shows Imin Jinyeon. (Yonhap) |
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| ▲This photo shows Imin Jinyeon. (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- "Imin Jinyeon is the most refined artwork of our people that was performed for the emperor 120 years ago.The high-quality court art of that time recreated so that people could enjoy it together has a deep meaning." (Kim Young-woon, director of the National Gugak Center)
Imin Jinyeon , the last imperial Banquet, was held in the winter of 1902 and will be performed for the first time in 120 years.
The National Gugak Center will perform its year-end performance "Imin Jinyeon " at the National Gugak Center's Yeak-dang from Dec. 16 to Dec. 21.
Imin Jinyeon is a imperial Banquet held at Deoksugung Palace Gwanmyeongjeon Hall on December 7 (November 8 of the lunar calendar) in 1902, the 40th anniversary of King Gojong's enthronement. It was designed to establish the dignity of the royal family during the rapidly changing period and to show off to the inside and outside that the "Korean Empire" state by holding large-scale national rituals which reveal strict hierarchies.
While the Imin Jinyeon was held all day at the time,the performance is reduced to 100 minutes this time.
Kim Young-woon, head of the National Gugak Center, said in a trial performance on Thursday said, "The Korean Empire was in the midst of a decline in power 120 years ago, but now it has become an advanced country."
Imin Jinyeon was remade through rigorous research based on the historical records.
At the trial demonstration, colorful court costumes, finely reproduced stages, and delicate court music and traditional dance by the National Gugak Center's orchestra and dance troupe took place. The performance set the audience as the emperor so that the audience can watch the performance from the emperor's perspective at the time.
Director Park Dong-woo who directed and staged said, "We allowed the audience to see from the perspective of the emperor at the time," adding that this also has the meaning that citizens of Korea are the owners of Korea."
Initially, Imin Jinyeon was planned to be held in March, but was postponed to August due to COVID-19 and postponed again to December due to the flooding of some facilities of the National Gugak Center just before the performance.
Director Park said, "The Imin Jinyeon is happening in December after two postments regarding the problems with the facilities," adding, "I think It's a strange coincidence that we will perform this banquet in December again."
Tickets for the performance, which will be held five times, are almost sold out.
Kim said, "We would like to stage again next year if possible for more people to see."
(This article is translated from Korean to English by Jiwon Woo.)
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