Anchor: Every year around Christmas, carols are sung throughout the world to celebrate the holiday season. In South Korea, a diverse group of Christmas songs are garnering interest, ranging from carols that incorporate traditional Korean music to songs that criticize the holiday for becoming too commercialized.
Our Bae Joo-yon has more.
 
Report: [Sound bite: parts of gugak carol, "Santa Claus is coming to town." (Korean)]
“Bells are ringing~ Let the bells keep ringing~♪"
 
Park Ae-ri, a performer of gugak, or traditional Korean folk music, and her husband, contemporary dancer Poppin' Hyun-joon, came up with a pansori carol to express the joys that Christmas brings.
 
[Sound bite: Park Ae-ri – Gugak performer (Korean)]
“[We were like...]Is there a carol with a gugak theme? Why don't we make it?"
[Sound bite: Poppin' Hyun-joon – Popping dancer (Korean)]
“I wanted to put the Korean traditional shoulder move [like this in the choreography].” 
 
In a strong, firm voice, Park performs pansori, Korea’s traditional form of musical storytelling, while her husband dances by her side with his famous popping techniques.
 
[Sound bite: parts of gugak carol "the First Noel" by Sorea Band]
“Noel~~Noel~~♪"
 
Traditional Christmas carols have also been transformed within the gugak framework.
 
SOREA Band, a gugak group, touches the hearts of its listeners by performing a classic Christmas carol with traditional Korean instruments and beautiful vocals.
 
[Sound bite: parts of song "Holy Night" by Kim Tae-choon]
“Holy night is shameful~~~~♪"
 
On the other end of the spectrum, an underground singer, Kim Tae-choon, sings a carol that denounces how Christmas has become secularized.
 
[Sound bite: Kim Tae-choon – Underground Singer (Korean)]
“I just wanted to smash how it's gotten too commercial rather than celebrating Jesus' birth.”
 
Christmas carols have been changing incessantly since debuting in South Korea some 100 years ago. The songs are now reflecting South Korea’s culture as well as the style and views of current times.
Bae Joo-yon, KBS World Radio News.