국악
Gugak (국악) is the traditional music of Korea, encompassing court music (jeongak), folk music (minsokak), and vocal genres like pansori. It features pentatonic scales, complex rhythmic cycles (jangdan), melismatic singing, and heterophonic textures.
Origin: Korean Peninsula; evolved from indigenous shamanic, ritual, and court traditions.
Era: Origins in ancient Three Kingdoms period; peaked during Goryeo and Joseon dynasties; preserved and revived in modern Korea.
