Heroes of Independence Look at the Stars

Programs

The fusion gukak music group Vidan tells stories through its music, creating songs based on themes such as Korea’s national heritage, culture, and historical figures. This focus has earned the group the title of “a team that sings about Korea’s treasures.” Vidan also produces videos that complement the themes of its songs, conveying meanings that the Korean lyrics alone may not fully express.
In October, Vidan will perform in a very special location: the Seodaemun Prison History Hall, where many independence fighters were imprisoned and tortured during the Japanese colonial period. One of Vidan’s songs, “The Castle of a Hero (Seodaemun Prison),” adds even more significance to the event. The concert’s repertoire will primarily feature songs from Vidan’s released albums. The setlist includes songs inspired by themes such as Hunminjeongeum, the ancient name of the Korean script, General Yi Sun-sin, the hero of the Imjin War (from their first album Opening New Age); and subtle imagery of Joseon white porcelain and traditional Korean houses (hanok) from their second album White Miracle.
Before the performance, a documentary on national heritage will be shown in nine languages to enhance the audience’s understanding of the songs. During the performance, music videos associated with the song themes will further enrich the emotional experience. Vidan’s setlist features traditional instruments such as the haegeum, daegeum, gayageum, and percussion instruments like the kkwaenggwari and modeumbuk. In particular, rare traditional instruments like the unra and jeongju will captivate the audience with their unique sounds.