Pansori is a simple but impassioned type of performance often called "Korean opera". It consists of only two people: a singer and a drummer. The singer tells one of the traditional pansori stories while the drummer beats out unique rhythms and shouts encouraging words at the singer. It is a unique type of theater, relying not only on words to tell the story, but singing style, gestures and even audience participation.

The 5 tales

Pansori began around the 1600's as a popular activity among peasants in the newly emerging unified Korea. Eventually it spread and became a popular pastime of the upper classes as well. There were originally 12 different stories the performers told; today, only 5 still exist:

Simcheongga
A familial tale in which the daughter of a blind man agrees to sacrifice herself to the ocean in order to have her father's vision restored. The dragon that ruled the sea was impressed by this display, and sent her back to be reunited with her father.

Chunhyangga
The most artistically respected of the 5 pansori songs, this is the story of a wife who refuses the advances of a powerful magistrate, and is tortured for it. The husband eventually saves the day. The moral is the value of marital fidelity.

Heungbuga
A good brother/bad brother tale, in which the good one nurses a sick bird back to health, for which he receives good fortune. Seeing this, his wicked brother breaks another bird's leg just so he can fix it. Of course he gets only hardship in return.

Sugungga
A popular, comical story concerning the same Dragon King from Simcheongga, who this time has fallen ill and attempts to get medicine from land animals.

Jeokbyeokga
A military epic which depicts an army general who refuses to give in to the enemy, and whose efforts are eventually rewarded with victory. Adapted from an old Chinese story.

Wild style

Pansori performances can last for hours, and the audience is encouraged to shout praise at the singer along with the drummer. The tales are generally morality plays, and the sense of community among the audience members is strengthened by the lessons of the narrative, as well as the combined rhythmic shouting.

The structure, length, rhythm, and wild vocal style of pansori make it one of the more unique styles of traditional music in the world.

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