A study on the expression of the emotion of ‘Han’in Korean dance movements : Focusing on Seungmu

This study explored the abstract concept of han in Korean dance through a literature review and examined Seungmu movements using Laban Movement Analysis (LMA). The review confirmed han as a multi-layered concept in which repressed sorrow is transformed into art through restraint and sublimation, particularly reflected in Seungmu’s narrative structure of condensation–conflict–resolution. Han Yeong-suk’s Seungmu embodies gradual sublimation, beginning with restrained flow, building energy, and purifying emotions within formal elegance, while Lee Mae-bang’s Seungmu reveals explosive release through improvisation and intensity, transcending formality. Based on these findings, we suggest broadening analysis to other lineages (e.g., Gang Seon-yeong, Salpuri) to capture diverse expressions of han and applying quantitative methods such as 3D motion capture alongside LMA to enhance objectivity and comparability of movement analysis.