HANA Center’s Drumming (Pungmul) Programs

Pungmul is a traditional art form that is deeply rooted in Korea’s culture and history, particularly as a form of protest or dissent in organizing movements. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, public gatherings were banned, but music-making was one exception; Koreans thus gathered and played pungmul as a form of resistance. Later, in Korea’s 1980s democratization movement, student-led protests were often filled with the sounds of pungmul. Not only did pungmul music provide an energetic backdrop for protests, pungmul is considered the common people’s music; pungmul thus symbolized the people’s unity as they fought for democracy.

HANA’s Drumming Programs are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. 

Woori Sori (Our Voice) 

“Woori Sori” means “our voice” in Korean. Woori Sori is a multi-generational Asian American women’s group that practices the art of pungmul, breaking the traditional norm of pungmul being led by men. Woori Sori creates a healing and empowering space for women of color to come together, practice an art form with meaningful cultural roots, and raise their voices together in community actions.

In 2021, Woori Sori performed at community events including a vigil honoring the victims of the Atlanta shooting in March 2021, HANA’s annual fundraising gala in June 2021, and an “Art of Remembrance” event with KAN-WIN and Northwestern University in July 2021 to honor “comfort women” survivors of sexual slavery during World War II.

In 2022, Woori Sori performed at a vigil to honor the victims of the Atlanta shooting one year later. Woori Sori will also perform at moCa Cleveland in March 2022 in response to group member and artist Aram Han Sifuentes’ solo exhibition “Who Was This Built to Protect?” The exhibition centers large-scale red silk curtains with white text modeled after Red Cards created by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center to outline rights and protections of all people under the U.S. Constitution, regardless of immigration status.

#DrummingUpPower

HANA’s youth #DrummingUpPower program establishes and maintains strong relationships with area Chicago Public Schools, and provides youth opportunities to participate in a cultural form that resonates with their experiences as immigrants and people of color. The #DrummingUpPower program and other youth programs have continued to meet online throughout the pandemic. Although they were unable to access HANA’s drums at home, youth continued to learn pungmul rhythms using various household items. They also incorporate body movement, dance, poetry, spoken word, and music. #DrummingUpPower returned to in-person programming in February 2022. HANA is excited to have youth back in-person to learn pungmul!