Korea in Brief
Attractions
Korean Cuisine
Art & Craft
Big Event
Theme Tour
Who's Being Talked About?
Education
Neighborhoods
This Day in History
Tourist Information
Embassies
Incheon Int'l Airport
Gimpo Int'l Airport
Korea City Air Terminal
Communication
Airlines
Foreign Tourist Bureau
Subway Map of Seoul
This Month Seoul in Breif Specific Maps of Seoul
Where to Stay What to Eat What to Do What to See What to Buy What to Know
 Home >> Attractions >> Tradition art
The Amazing Airiel Acrobatics of Kim, Dae Gyun
Tightrope Walker

Kim, Dae Gyun, wows kids and adults alike with his airiel acrobatics and clownish antics on the tightrope.
Kim, Dae Gyun, is the youngest living cultural asset of Korea at the age of 33. He began tightrope walking at the age of nine.   He fell in love with the charm of walking on a tightrope, and spent the following 24 years perfecting his skills.

Finally, his training and skill paid off, and along with a little good luck, became a human cultural asset of Korea in January of 2000.   His has been well received around the world after performing his acrobatic feats in such places as the United States, Canada, Japan, and France.
History of Tightrope Walking

The acrobatic feats of walking or dancing on the tightrope were introduced to Korea through China and Central Asia.   

Originally, wayfaring entertainers of the middle ages passed their time playing the music of the peasants, joking about aristocrats, turning chinaware, and performing marionette shows in the large gardens of villages. The acrobatic feats of walking on the tightrope were often the most looked forward to shows that the wayfarers performed.

The troupe of entertainers often performed their acrobatics for the king, and became very popular in ancient Korea. Two kinds of acrobatics were developed during the Joseon Period (1392-1910); one type was pure walking on the tightrope, which was performed by a clown.   

The other type was Eoreum, or climbing on the tightrope, which was performed by troupe of entertainers. The clown performer was most often invited by the Korean nobles to perform the first type of acrobatics. The troupe of entertainers performed their feats while, wandering from place to place for the second type of play. At present, the ability to walk on a tightrope by a clown is designated as a piece of important intangible cultural property.

The length of the tightrope is about 10m and is attached to posts about 3m in height. It is pulled taught and does not loosen or give slack even with the performing standing on it. While walking on the tightrope, the performer has a fan in his hand to balance his body and to add a touch of beauty.   While walking on the tightrope, musicians give zest to the acrobatic feats while playing Korean instruments such as the flute, and Jang-gu or Korean drum.   The music played adds a nice flavor to the actions of the artist on the tightrope.   

There are 43 different kinds of skills performed by the acrobat such as jumping up from the tightrope about 180cm and landing back on the rope.   Walking on the tightrope is a basic action, and the clown shows his skill by walking backwards forwards and lying down. Sometimes, the clown surprises the spectators by pretending to fall to the ground during the performance.

The goal of the performance is to make the spectators laugh, by joking and singing on the tightrope as well as performing technical feats. Tightrope walking is something that everyone should see while they visit Korea.
29-07-2001
backsend mailprint


 
Copyright ¨Ï 2001 What's On Communications Inc. All rights reserved.
Write to Us post@whatsonkorea.com.