Pansori is often referred to as Korea′s version of opera, and like the opera, pansori
has hundreds of years of history in Korean culture.
But within the past few decades, the future of pansori has become increasingly uncertain.
Our Yim Yoonhee joins us with more about the traditional
art form. Pansori is a centuries-old Korean tradition
of musical storytelling, involving a vocalist and a drum... and it was inscribed on the
UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2008.
But with so few remaining pansori masters, it′s in danger of becoming a dying art.
Luckily, there a few people looking to change that.
Take a look at this next report. Some say it′s never too early to begin training.
At the young age of 8, these little girls have begun a journey unfamiliar to most kids
their age. Their ultimate goal is to become pansori masters.
To make sure they get there, they′ve been taken under the wing of one of Korea′s leading
pansori masters,... an effort aimed at producing a new generation of pansori performers.
But it′s the passion of these young artists that makes the biggest impression.
[KOREAN] "As the drum is being played, and I hear the
voices of others, and my mood is lifted,.... sometimes I even want to dance."
At the start of the new year, these students and others all under the guidance of pansori
master Jo So-nyeo entered an intense training camp for 15 days,... where they can learn
all about the traditional art of pansori. Becoming a pansori master is no easy task.
It may be below zero outside on a cold winter morning, but these students are up for the
challenge. [KOREAN]
"Singing outside, I can hear our voices, but the sound is also echoed and amplified. This
wide, open environment is very inspiring." And who better to herd the young fledglings
than Jo,... a pansori master who has been declared an Intangible Cultural Asset herself
for her expert knowledge of "Chunhyang," one of the songs in the pansori repertoire.
"It′s comforting to be able to study pansori with all these students. Hopefully they will
continue to become great pansori masters." Although these young girls have dedicated
themselves to pansori, the harsh reality is that in the modern day, the number of those
looking to learn the art has decreased dramatically, putting at risk the future of this age-old
Korean tradition. Still, it′s a beautiful part of Korean culture
we hope they carry forward for generations to come.
What is the main reason pansori is facing such a strong threat to its existence?
Rapid modernization has been cited as the main reason for the drastic decline in interest
in pansori. Pansori was originally an oral tradition,
passed down through the generations verbally, from person to person.
But in 1964, it was recognized by Korea as a National Intangible Cultural Property, resulting
in funding for
the art form,... which is probably why pansori is still around today.
But