By Honorary Reporter Solaleh Emami from Iran

Actor Kim Tae-ri won Best Actress at this year's Baeksang Arts Awards for her portrayal of a young pansori (traditional lyrical opera) artist in the historical K-drama "Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born" (2024). 

In 2021, Kim started preparing for her role with Kwon Song-hee, an accomplished  pansori artist who bridges traditional and contemporary styles through her organization Pansori Lab in Seoul. Kwon played a crucial role in bringing authenticity to the drama's musical performances.

Below are excerpts from an email interview with Kwon from May 13-26. 

Pansori artist Kwon Song-hee (left) was the consultant for the historical K-drama "Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born" (2024). (Kwon Song-hee & tvN)

Explain your beginnings in pansori.
My journey began at age 8 when I first encountered pansori through the film "Seopyeonje" (1993). Starting young meant I had no preconceptions and simply accepted pansori as another form of music. My first performance came just six months after I began training, with nervous energy hidden beneath my traditional Hanbok (traditional outfit).

How are you preserving and transforming the art form?
While pansori requires extensive training with limited rewards in today's system, we're exploring various forms to keep it relevant, from traditional performances to contemporary adaptations like changgeuk, a form of traditional theater combining pansori with opera, and collaborations with modern music groups like Leenalchi. 

Kwon Song-hee in 2018 holds a performance as part of the Pansori Five Madang Project: Misanje Sugungga II. (Kwon Song-hee)

How do you approach teaching and what have you learned from global exposure?

I emphasize understanding the fundamentals and the "why" behind the music, allowing students to develop their own artistic voice. My international experiences including at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics have shown pansori's universal appeal while deepening my appreciation for musical diversity.

What do you see in pansori's future?

Looking ahead, I believe pansori's classic aesthetic value remains strong. Newcomers should think of it as a powerful storytelling art where one drummer and one vocalist create entire worlds through imagination. We're committed to helping it thrive in contemporary times.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.