Traditional play ¡®Chunhyang-jon¡¯ to be performed in Pyongyang in January

The Chonbuk Namwon Chunyang Chang Troupe will take part in a joint South and North Korean performance of the traditional Korean play ¡®Chunhyang-jon¡¯ in Pyongyang on January 25.

The Namwon Chunhyang Cultural Group said on Tuesday that they would meet with a North Korean delegation in Beijing before heading to Pyongyang to perform the play at the Ponghwa Theatre. ¡®Chunhyang-jon¡¯ tells of the ill-fated love of a principled young aristocrat named Yi Mong-Nyong and a beautiful commoner named Sung Chun-Hyang.

The South Korean side will perform the first 4 acts while the North Korean side will perform the last 4 acts, which include the pair¡¯s reunion in jail and the entrance of a corrupt royal inspector. Renowned singer Ahn Sook-Sun and the Namwon Municipal Classical Music Group will be among the 60-member delegation visiting Pyongyang.

The Chonbuk Namwon Chunyang Chang Troupe had originally planned to perform in North Korea on May 20 but the performance was delayed due to North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il`s state visit to China and his participation in the inter-Korean summit.

Kim Kwang-Oh kokim@donga.com