Study of an Effect of Korean Dance for Middle-Aged Womens as a Culturel Welfare

The purpose of this study is to examine how Korean dance affects middle-aged women by acting as a cultural mediator. A qualitative approach was taken in order to best achieve the purpose of this study. The data used in this study were collected from Feb 10th to April 1st, 2016, using in-depth interviews. The results are as follows; firstly, on an emotional level, the middle-aged women participating in Korean dance as a cultural mediator, feel a sense of self-achievement and social belonging, as well as experiencing an improvement in their psychological stability by resolving their depression. Those who had lost their sense of autonomy and productivity were able to recover some of their self-esteem through this activity. Secondly, in terms of their activity, the Korean dance enabled the ladies to exercise their poorly used muscles by strengthening their gross and fine motor skills through the movements associated with the Korean traditional music. This allowed them to ease their chronic physical pain and it can be considered that their overall exercise function was increased by expanding their exercise radius. Third, in the cognitive area, it was possible for them to revive their happy memories by listening to the music which was loved by their preceding generations. This is because the melody of familiar Korean music provides them with the chance to remember their former days. Lastly, in the social area, the Korean dance allowed the middle-aged women to accept themselves through music and movement, as well as playing the role of a mediator which enabled them to overcome their isolation and the conflicts they face in their social relations. In addition, they achieved self-realization by reconnecting with the regional community through the Korean dance performances, which they learned as social community members.