Gamelan is a traditional ensemble music or the instruments used in the ensemble. It is mainly played with percussion instruments such as metallophones and drums. Gamelan is deeply rooted in Indonesian culture and is often used in traditional ceremonies and performances. The traditional orchestra was designated as the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2021.
"This year, we are planning to promote a collaboration between Indonesia Gamelan and Korean Gayageum," Zelda Wulan Kartika, the Chargé d'Affaires of the Indonesian Embassy in Seoul, told reporters at a press conference on January 31. Gayageum is a traditional Korean musical instrument with strings known for a variety of tones and melodies. Without disclosing a specific date for the collaboration event, the diplomat said the embassy is working with the Seoul Institute of the Arts (SIA), a famous art university in South Korea.
"Since 2018, we have been in close cooperation with SIA by providing one lecture to teach Gamelan class at the Applied Music Department," Kartika said. SIA has been attended by many South Korean celebrities such as actress Son Ye-jin who starred in the 2019 drama series "Crash Landing on You." The series received immense popularity in Asian countries.
In February 2023, former Indonesian Ambassador to South Korea Gandi Sulistiyanto expressed his hope to create an Indonesian entertainment ecosystem equal to the Korean Wave by cooperating with South Korea's entertainment sector. The usage of K-pop-related keywords on Twitter skyrocketed to more than 6 billion in 2020 from about 5.09 million in 2010. Indonesia ranked first in terms of the usage of K-pop keywords on the social media platform, followed by Thailand.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian embassy's data showed that the number of Indonesians residing in South Korea which stood at about 34,000 in 2021, surpassed 60,000 in 2023. The two nations established diplomatic relations in 1973.
reporter
Kim Joo-heon
jhkim123@ajunews.com
