Pansori Materials Left by Sorikkun Park Songhee... Publication of Donated Materials Collection

Summary of Life Trajectory Based on Donated Materials to the National Intangible Heritage Center
"Important Materials Such as 'Heungboga' Manuscripts, LPs, and Cassette Tapes"

A collection of materials summarizing the life of the late Park Song-hee (real name Park Jeong-ja), a master singer and holder of the national intangible cultural heritage Pansori 'Heungboga,' has been published. On the 26th, the National Intangible Heritage Center announced that it had published the 'Intangible Heritage Donation Materials Collection' based on materials donated by the family of the late master Park Song-hee.

Born in 1927 in Hwasun, Jeollanam-do, Master Park studied under the top master singers of her time and gained fame by performing on various stages. Starting in 1944 with the Dongil Theater Troupe, she played leading roles in the Women's National Theater Club, New Korean Theater Troupe, and Sun Theater Troupe. Her full-fledged career as a sorikkun (Pansori singer) began when she became a disciple of Park Nok-ju (1905?1979), a towering figure of the Dongpyeonje Pansori style. Through systematic learning, she was recognized in 2002 as the holder of the national intangible cultural heritage Pansori 'Heungboga.' She nurtured successors and carried on the tradition of Dongpyeonje Pansori until her passing in 2017.

The published collection includes 766 items such as photos of Master Park performing women's theater in the 1950s, various Pansori scripts (changbon), promotional materials for performances, and costumes worn during performances. It also contains photos taken with her teacher, holder Park Nok-ju.

An official from the National Intangible Heritage Center explained, "'Heungboga' scripts, LPs, and cassette tapes are key materials that show the life of the sorikkun. Since women were not allowed to perform jaedam (comic storytelling) at the time, these materials demonstrate the process of supplementing and completing the 'Nolbo Park riding scene,' which was not transmitted from holder Park Nok-ju." They added, "'Sukyeong Nangja' scripts and micro cassette tapes also show traces of completing the story, which had only partially survived in the latter part, into a one-hour-long sorikkun performance."

The collection will also be available on the National Intangible Heritage Center's website.