A misfortune genius of Korean music is revive on YouTube; Jeongseon Arirang sung by Ok-sim Kim (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XjgpKI5IOE)

Abstract

Arirang has quite a long history in Korean music. Arirang means the heart is tingling. Jeongseon Arirang is well-known Arirang from the Gangwon province, so it shares certain features of Dongbu minyo (folksong), including the Menaritori. Jeongseon Arirang of Ok-sim Kim is pure and innocent. She has an ingenuous country voice. It is a kind of hope that provides our mental strength. Mental power is as important to our health as a eating right. Jeongseon Arirang sung by Ok-sim Kim is Seoul style of rhythmic pattern and melody. Jeongseon Arirang is designated as the Intangible Cultural Property No. 1 by the Gangwon province in 1971. This article outlines the emotional biography of Jeongseon Arirang of Ok-sim Kim relationship.

INTRODUCTION

The author wants to publicize the value and beauty of Korean culture all over the world. Because, the author thinks that Korean culture is the most precious thing, even now it is pitifully the least valued in my country. Especially, Korean traditional music has been treated cruelly. Often considered old and difficult, Korean traditional music has been put aside in Korea. Hallyu music or the “Korean wave” has recently become a source of great pride for Koreans. A consideration of Korean aesthetics or an investigation of Korean arts must, for the Korean at least, include the concept of meot (fine) and mat (flavor). These concept bear no direct relation to beauty or other Western aesthetic standards, or do they derive from Chinese aesthetics, as do many other aspects of Korean culture (Hwang, 1978). Therefore, the author thinks it is not a genuine Korean music. The author believes that what is genuinely Korean is the most global. We are living in an increasingly global society and Internet world. So, having memorable, deep exchanges and impressive inspiration on the Internet is also possible. People all over the world can join the Korean art or search the Internet for more information. In this way, the author expect people all over the world will be falling in love with Korean music and more and more foreigners will be loving listening to Korean music. So, first of all, the author wants to inform Ok-sim Kim who is called folk singer of coming from heaven for Gyeonggi folksong (Gyeonggi minyo). Also, the author wants to inform her sing, Jeongseon Arirang for people all over the world.

 

Biography of Ok-sim Kim

Ok-sim Kim (1925-1988), her real name was Ae-hee Kim (see, Fig. 1). She was born in Gyeonggi province Yangju-city Eunhyun-myun Yongam-ri in 1925. She adopted as daughter by a rich person who was lived in Hamgyeong province when she was 8 years old. Just in time, she and singing closely began bounding up together. She learned Hamgyeong province folksongs such as ‘maenarisori’, ‘Hamgyeongdo Arirang’, and ‘Aewonsung’ from the neighbors. At the age of twelve she came back in Seoul and became a disciple of well-known Joseon Kweonbeon (a kind of Art institution), which was a professional art training institute. At this time, she sets to study singing in earnest. She became pupil under Soo-bong Ju who was master of Gyeonggi folksong in the colonies of Japanese. She won the first prize at the national Korean music contest in 1958. Thanks to her amazing voice and singing skills, she gained fame in the Korean traditional music world. Her voice was refined and had such a power to touch people. After that time, her career basically peaked from 1958 to 1962. Unfortunately, she was carried off by hypertension and suffered from ill health in 1969. After that she led a life of deep sorrows but, she accepted her fate. She had a bitter experience from now on she had a limited sphere of activity. In this way, she has transcended above self-interests and has taken a philosophical view of life. But, she never succumbed to the difficulties not letting the unfortunate situations hamstring or stymie her. Gyeonggi folksong is designated as the Intangible Cultural Property No. 57 by the Korean government. For various reasons, she was left out the Intangible Cultural Heritage title from the government. But, she was called the first number of Human Cultural Properties of ex-dissident. She died on January, 1988.

Fig. 1.KimOk-sim, http://blog.naver.com/wjd2415?Redirect=Log&logN1

Before her activity, Gyeonggi folksong was primarily considered as unexhausted purposes or to entertain people. After her activity, Gyeonggi folksong is an upgraded to appreciate an elegant piece of music. She was highly praised for her ability to express various feeling according to mood, rhythm, condition, and lyric on her own. Therefore, she is an all-weather folk singer haunting presence and voice will stick with you a long time after the song ends.

 

DISCUSSION

In fact, in 1971 the Gangwon province proclaimed Jeogseon Arirang as the first Gangwon province Intangible Cultural Asset. Jeongseon Arirang is designated as the Intangible Cultural Property No. 1 by the Gangwon province in 1971.

Jeongseon Arirang sung by Kim Ok-sim is Seoul style of rhythmic pattern and melody (Figs. 2 and 3).

Fig. 2.Jeongseon Arirang Record sung by Kim Ok-sim made by King Star Record Co. Ltd.

Fig. 3.Music of Jeongseon Arirang, http://www.kocis.go.kr/koreanet/view.do?seq=2020

 

Korean folksong (Minyo)

Folk arts in particular, including music and dance, experienced a vacuum-like effect as numerous tradition-bearers were either killed during battle or become too old to perform or teach (Hesselink, 2004). Minyo (folksong) describe the life of masses, their hardships, love. Minyo began to be sung from the very old days, and are specific to the locality in which they are found they are part of our past, and they are appreciated because of their deep roots. Han Myônghûi, a musicologist and journalist, makes the distinction between local and popular crystal clear: T’ongsok minyo are those sung by professional musicians, those sung for the media and for recording. T’osok minyo are those sung by the common people, those who are not in any way specialist singers (Howard, 1999). ‘Folk songs’ were sung by common people during work or social activities. One of their most important characteristics is that they are part of oral culture. The melodies and texts are learned by imitation and participation rather than books (van Kranenburg et al., 2007).

Korean folksongs have traditionally been divided into three geographical areas, the north, center and south. The first area ought roughly to the northern P’yôgan, Hwanghae and Hamgyông provinces, the second the central Kyônggi, Kangwôn and Ch’ungch’cng provinces, and the third the southern Chôlla and Kyôngsang provinces. The three geographical areas match three song styles which, based on musical idioms, are described as Sôdo (sô=west; to/do province or district), Kyônggi and Namdo. These three, however, basically describe songs west of the T’aebaek mountain range (Howard, 1999). Gyeonggi minyo indicate folksongs from the central part of Korea, which encompasses Gyeonggi and the northern part of the Chungcheong provinces. In 2011, Hyunjin Park noted Gyeonggi minyo relatively mild in mood and lyrical and light and clear. In 2009, Chung-myun Lee noted before the liberation in 1945, Seoul was a part of Gyeonggi–do. In other words, there must have been an Arirang which is unique to Gyeonggi-do region. Seoul is the capital of Korea. Therefore, if there was a Seoul Arirang, it would be the representative Arirang of Korea.

It is pity that such a genius as she should not be appreciated. She was an extraordinary genius for Gyeonggi folksong. She sang a song flowing out of her heart, not artificial skill. So, during the Korean War (1950 - 1953), she would like to help the people by singing a song. None but she could have done it. The author thinks she practices day and night before a waterfall for three years. She finally had a voice of freedom from all ideas and thoughts beyond deep sorrow. She sang a song healing song beyond entertain song and appreciated song. Also, she has an original mind for the interpretation and expression of song. Jeongseon Arirang of Ok-sim Kim is pure and innocent. She has an ingenuous country voice. It is a kind of hope that provides our mental strength. Mental power is as important to our health as a eating right. Therefore, the author insists and hopes that YouTube may help people all over the world to reassess her values.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None.