Anna Jiwon Park has been covering the politics at The Korea Times since the summer of 2024, when she joined the press pool for the Office of the President in Korea. Prior to that, she spent about five years reporting extensively on financial markets, regulatory authorities and the financial industry. She joined The Korea Times in 2019 after spending eight years as a broadcast journalist at Arirang TV, Korea’s leading global broadcaster, covering politics, defense and culture.
'Dreaming or Intoxicated' highlights essence of pansori repertoires
Pansori performers rehearse the newly created changgeuk "Dreaming or Intoxicated" at the National Gugak Center in southern Seoul, Tuesday. The show will run from June 27 to 29. Courtesy of the National Gugak Center
By Anna J. Park
By Anna J. Park
The National Gugak Center's new performance “Dreaming or Intoxicated” starts Thursday and runs for three days. It features Korea's most beloved and respected pansori master Ahn Sook-sun. Pansori is Korea's traditional art form of storytelling and singing. Two other renowned pansori masters, You Mi-li and Yume Kyung-yae, also star in the show, along with talented young performers including Yang Hye-won, Lee Jin-woo and Jang Seo-youn.
Pansori dates back to the 17th century. Among some 12 famous pansori works that were widely popular during the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom, only five are still performed frequently today. Pansori basically involves only two musicians, a singer and a drummer, but since the beginning of the 20th century, this traditional storytelling music has influenced the creation of another traditionally focused performance genre called “changgeuk.”
Changgeuk retains most of the traditional pansori dialogue and singing styles, yet it involves more performers playing various characters and has larger stage settings. This theatrical format is often dubbed as a traditional Korean-style opera or musical, in which pansori-style singing is maintained.
Pansori master Ahn Sook-sun performs during a rehearsal of "Dreaming or Intoxicated" at the National Gugak Center in southern Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of the National Gugak Center
The National Gugak Center's “Dreaming or Intoxicated” also falls into the changgeuk genre, yet it has eliminated excessive staging and any elements of unnecessary grandeur. Since 2014, the center has produced a “mini-changgeuk” series, aiming to revive the pure, original changgeuk format of the early 20th century.
This performance is the sixth “mini-changgeuk” created by the National Gugak Center. Producer Ji Gi-hak, a veteran director of traditional Korean music, has participated in three changgeuk shows with the center and he has returned to create this performance.
“One of the main goals of creating this series is to revive the essence of pansori performance,” Ji told reporters after a rehearsal open to the press on Tuesday afternoon. “We aim to put our focus on sound itself, rather than spectacle, thereby bringing the pure beauty of pansori singing to audiences.”
Pansori performers rehearse the newly created changgeuk "Dreaming or Intoxicated" at the National Gugak Center in southern Seoul, Tuesday. The show will run for three days from June 27 to 29. Courtesy of the National Gugak Center
"Dreaming or Intoxicated" will provide a rare chance to listen to highlights from all five surviving pansori plays. The 80-minute show compiles famous excerpts of the works ― Chunhyang-ga, Simcheong-ga, Heungbo-ga, Sugung-ga and Jeokbyeok-ga.
Audiences can immerse themselves in traditional Korean storytelling and singing on the timeless themes of love, separation, manipulation, filial duties and more. The highlights are reconstructed seamlessly, revolving around the central figure of pansori master Ahn Sook-sun.
The highlights of five pansori repertoires are presented on stage. Courtesy of National Gugak Center
Producer Ji said the show's plot was inspired by Ahn's lifelong dedication and her unwavering efforts to deliver the best pansori performances.
“Pansori plays are very demanding and lengthy,” Ji said. “Whenever and wherever I saw master Ahn, she was always murmuring pansori dialogue and singing. She is such a master, but she still does her best until right before each performance.
“Watching her dedication, I made it the show's plot, the highlights of which are the five pansori plays that slip by in her pansori singing practice, just like a passing moment in a dream.”
Pansori master Ahn Sook-sun performs during a rehearsal for "Dreaming or Intoxicated" at the National Gugak Center in southern Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of the National Gugak Center
Ahn, 69, is also listed as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Korea. But Ahn said pansori is something she still has to practice each and every day.
“There's a saying that pansori performers need to practice every day, just like having meals every day,” she said with a smile. “We don't skip meals as long as we live. That's how performers need to stick to pansori. I think performers need to live with it, by falling into the swamp of pansori.”
The show will be performed in the National Gugak Center's 130-seat theater Pungnyu Sarangbang without sound amplifiers, allowing audiences to enjoy the natural sounds of the performers.
"Dreaming or Intoxicated" will run for three days from June 27 to 29 at the National Gugak Center in southern Seoul. Courtesy of the National Gugak Center