Reexamining the Artistic Worlds of Masters Lee Eun-ju, Kim Seok-chul, and Park Bong-sul

National Intangible Heritage Center 'Master Homage'

A performance reflecting on the life and art of late masters (National Intangible Cultural Heritage holders) celebrating their 100th birth anniversary will be held. The National Intangible Heritage Center will present 'Master Homage' every Saturday at 4 p.m. from the 12th to the 26th at the Eolsuma-ru Grand Theater. Disciples who inherited traditional performing arts from the masters will recreate their artistic worlds with gratitude.

This year, the event highlights Lee Eun-ju (1922?2020), holder of Gyeonggi Minyo; Kim Seok-chul (1922?2005), holder of Donghaean Byeolsingut; and Park Bong-sul (1922?1989), holder of Pansori Jeokbyeokga. Tribute performances will be held on the 12th, 19th, and 26th respectively.

Born in Yangju, Gyeonggi, Lee Eun-ju (real name Lee Yoon-ran) was active as a Gyeonggi Minyo holder from 1975 alongside masters An Bi-chwi and Muk Gye-wol. Her legacy is reinterpreted through theater and music in this event. Her voice is directly heard through LP recordings such as 'Arirang,' 'Jipjangga,' 'Hano Baengnyeon,' 'Changbutaryeong,' and 'Farewell Song.' The meaningful sound life is vividly conveyed by Gyeonggi Minyo inheritor Park Jeong-mi’s singing and actress Kim Yoon-hee’s acting. The Heritage Center stated, "Disciples and Gyeonggi Minyo transmission educators Kim Geum-sook and Kim Jang-soon will make special appearances."

Kim Seok-chul was a musician active throughout the East Coast. Born into a shamanistic family, he trained in Donghaean Byeolsingut from a young age. His direct descendants?daughter Kim Young-hee (honorary holder of Donghaean Byeolsingut), Kim Dong-yeon (transmission educator of Donghaean Byeolsingut), and Kim Dong-eon (holder of Busan Gijang Ogu Gut)?continue the tradition. They will perform on stage with preservation society members to convey the charm of Donghaean Byeolsingut. Previously unreleased recordings of his performances from the 1970s will also be played.

Park Bong-sul, from Gurye, Jeollanam-do, was a master singer who maintained the lineage of authentic Dongpyeonje Pansori through exchanges with the Song Man-gap family, a local master family. This performance will feature numerous singers, including Kim Il-gu, a Pansori holder who directly learned from him and established his own family. It will showcase the master’s artistic world and the intergenerational transmission of Jeokbyeokga.

All performances are free of charge. For more details, please refer to the Heritage Center’s website.