Promotion of mental health by PungmulPanGut (one form of K-culture) -focusing on the ensemble Better Than Medicine (eBTM) performance. YouTube; https://youtu.be/SSenbSwI_5c

Mental health is attributed to person's well-being, abilities and productivity. The purpose of this study is to suggest the effects of K-culture to people in adversity. It is PungmulPanGut, represented by traditional Korean play culture. Pungmul is a performance with four percussion instruments, Janggu (Korean hourglass drum), Buk (barrel shaped drum), Jing (large gong), Kkwaenggwari (small gong), and play. In Korean, "pan" means that it's a place to do something. Gut means to make a wish. The ensemble Better Than Medicine (eBTM) is a team that has trained and worked with Gamuak (歌,舞,樂; singing, dancing, playing) for a long time, but is not perfect (we refer this as 2% lacking in music). The characteristic of our team is that we share joy while voluntarily participating and doing what we like. It is a combination of singing, dancing, playing musical instruments, and exciting people. There is wind-like energy and there is mutual cooperation, not competition. As we concentrate, we become immersed in each other's breathing and movement. So it makes us forget the hard situation, the hardships, the pain, and so on. In the meantime, our pleasures peak and share happy energy with each other. Even though we are two percent less skilled, our sense of happiness doubles. Music together is not competition but cooperative work and healing. Therefore, we suggest that PungmulPanGut can be better K-culture than medicine in promoting mental health.