Contribution short abstract:

This paper uses the example of Swiss popular music practices in Switzerland and in South Korea to reflect on affective dimensions such as joy and other positive feelings associated with folklore practices in different cultural contexts.

Contribution long abstract:

Swiss folklore, more precisely yodeling, was brought to Korea at the end of the 1960s by a Korean who had returned from Switzerland. Shortly after his return, the enthusiastic yodeler founded the first yodeling clubs in Korea. He wanted to pass on the joy of traditional Swiss singing.

In light of this historical context, it is observed that the practice of yodeling and Swiss folklore persists in South Korea to the present day. It is noteworthy, however, that the Korean adaptation of these musical traditions differs in several ways from their Swiss "original form." In Switzerland, yodeling and traditional Swiss music are frequently performed with an emphasis on upholding traditional norms and values. In contrast, yodeling is practiced in South Korea out of various motivations. One significant reason for practicing this musical genre on the Korean peninsula is the joy of exploring and experiencing this music, the feelings as well as concepts associated with it.

This paper employs Swiss popular music as an illustrative case study to reflect on the ways in which the practice of intangible cultural heritage, for instance traditional music, may be subject to variation across different levels or reinterpretation in disparate cultural contexts.