• (The) Research of the performance art and culture
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• no.39
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• pp.197-222
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• 2019

In the paper, this study will be explored in the migration of the mask dance Eunyeul Talchum from North Korea to South Korea after the national division took place. During and after the Korean War, refugees from the Hwanghae province settled in the Republic of Korea who were performers of the three Korean mask dances: Bongsan Talchum, Kangryeong Talchum and Eunyeul Talchum. All of these mask dances are denoted as South Korea's National Intangible Properties under the Cultural Property Protection Law (1962.) However, Eunyeul Talchum is the only asset among these three that settled in Incheon, instead of the capital, Seoul. The purpose of this research is to examine the process of restoring and the idea of transmitting Eunyeul Talchum in Incheon after the division of Korea. As opposed to Bongsan Talchum and Gangryeong Talchum, which are recognized as major socio-ethnic groups, Eunyeul Talchum belongs to a minority. Because not only Eunyeul Talchum is the last Mask Dance which has been nominated as an Intangible asset among the other Hwanghae Talchum but also, most people in the preservation association are comprised of the second-generation refugees from Hwanghae province. During three months of research, the researcher observed the performances and the educational communicating Eunyeul Talchum's cultural legacy. This study included several research methods: open interview, examination of relevant documents, and live performances. Particularly, the researcher conducted interviews with the Human Cultural Property and musicians (including professional/scholarly to lay/untrained) in the Preservation Association. In conclusion, Eunyeul Talchum preservation association is not as preeminent as other Korean mask dances, it has been transmitted by performers from Hwanghae province with its unique masks and instrumental accompaniment. These performers and educators dedication to maintaining Eunyeul Talchum's attributes contribute largely to the Preservation Association's successful settlement in Incheon. Thus, the researcher examines which idea formed to subsist the Eunyeul Talchum preservation association.