Rooted in Rhythm: Woori Sori Explores Imsil Pilbong Nongak

Woori Sori, an all-women's intergenerational Korean percussion group, uses Korean drumming, dance, and song to bring people together through both performance and collective ritual. We perform gut, which bridges the powerful connections to celebrate community and gather power to manifest transformation. Since our inception in 1995, we have been dedicated to drumming together to achieve gender, racial, social, and economic justice.  

Pungmul performances blur the boundary between audience and performer, turning the event into a shared ritual that unites us with the earth and sky. We play four traditional Korean percussion instruments, each symbolizing different aspects of the universe: the kkwaenggwari (small gong) for stars and thunder; the jing (gong) for sun and wind; the buk (barrel drum) for moon and cloud; and the janggu (hourglass drum) for rain. Pungmul follows shamanic tenets to protect from evil, bring about worldly blessing, and foster societal harmony. With these core principles, historically, pungmul has served various purposes, from agricultural rituals and community celebrations to acts of resistance and social protest, all centered around collective action.In recent years, we have deepened our understanding of pungmul by hosting scholars and other practioners, studying folk songs, and incorporating traditional Korean banners (nonggi) into our performances. This commitment has allowed us to perform nationwide, including a notable opening for ADG7 in Los Angeles. 

We are now embarking on an immersive journey to Pilbong, South Korea, to study Imsil Pilbong nongak, a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage that maintains its strong agricultural roots. This study is incredibly important to us because the drumming practice of pungmul is a part of our indigenous culture and it is important to center our connection to the land of Pilbong, South Korea. We will take part in a seven-day intensive program where we will learn rhythms from masters in Imsil Pilbong. During this time, we will live on-site, immerse ourselves in the unique rhythms of each instrument, and play alongside participants from around the world who have also come to learn. Additionally, we will explore other traditional folk practices that have become rare in modern South Korea. Inspired by the folk roots of pungmul, this journey offers us an exciting opportunity to connect deeply with pungmul’s agricultural and rural, farming collective foundations. Our ultimate goal is to weave these agricultural rhythms into our performances, celebrating and amplifying collective strength and transformation through the power of traditional drumming. 

By supporting this campaign, you will help members of Woori Sori (Aram Han Sifuentes, Youngju Ji, Min A Kim, SaeJin Lee, Inhe Choi, Danae Kovac, Nara Han Sifuentes, Joyce Kim, and Gina Choi) get one step closer to Pilbong, South Korea and bring their Imsil Pilbong nongak learnings to Chicago.