[On Stage] '10th Anniversary of Complete Performance' Kim Jeongmin Myungchang's Lecture-Style Gugak Concert

Complete Performances of Heungboga and Jeokbyeokga for 10 Years on the 21st at Konkuk University Saecheonnyun Hall Grand Theater: Total 22 Shows
Sold Out Performances in Italy and France Following Korea

Since the 20th century, pansori performances have been rooted in the ‘Hyeopryulsa (協律社)’ style. This refers to the form performed at Hyeopryulsa, the first Western-style prototype theater, where singers presented specific favorite sections lasting about 10 to 20 minutes to the audience.

The first full pansori performance, which had previously existed only in fragments, is considered to be the five-and-a-half-hour-long complete rendition of Heungboga (興甫歌) by Park Dong-jin on September 30, 1968, at the auditorium of the National Gugak High School in Namsan, Seoul. Since then, full pansori performances have become a stage for singers to reaffirm the original meaning and value of pansori, introduce its roots to the public, and simultaneously evaluate their own skills and abilities.

Master singer Kim Jeong-min will hold a traditional Korean music concert with a lecture to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the complete performance of Pansori on the 21st.

Kim Jeong-min, a master singer and holder of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage pansori tradition, who has been performing full renditions of Heungboga and Jeokbyeokga for several years, will present a groundbreaking new gugak (traditional Korean music) performance to the public this year in celebration of the 10th anniversary of his full pansori performances.

The performance will take place on the 21st at 6:30 PM at Konkuk University’s Saecheonyeon Hall Grand Theater as a commemorative lecture-style gugak concert titled ‘Master Singer Kim Jeong-min’s 10th Anniversary of Full Pansori Performance.’

Earlier, on July 4, Master Kim Jeong-min held a lecture-style gugak concert at the Korean House in Chungmuro, Seoul, where he communicated with the audience and delivered a high-quality gugak performance, receiving great acclaim from the public.

Over the past decade, Kim has expanded the base of traditional arts and widely promoted their excellence by performing full pansori renditions 22 times domestically and internationally, breaking previous records and being registered in the Korean Guinness. This upcoming concert is expected to be a culmination of the performance know-how he has accumulated.

Kim Myungchang is the first Korean to perform a full Pansori recital in the opera capitals of Italy?Milan, Rome, Florence, Venice?and Paris, France, achieving curtain calls and sold-out shows at every performance.

From 2013 to 2021, Kim Jeong-min staged 16 full performances of Heungboga and Jeokbyeokga, creating a sensation in the gugak world with the shortest period, the most performances, and sold-out shows. He received four curtain calls during his full pansori performances in Milan, Rome, Florence, and Venice (17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th performances) ? the first Korean to do so in Italy, the birthplace of opera.

The enthusiastic response abroad continued with a sold-out full performance of Jeokbyeokga at Teatro dal Verme (with a seating capacity of 1,436), one of Italy’s three major theaters, in June last year (21st performance), and a sold-out ‘Pansori 4 Bawat 4 Daemok’ concert at the Korean Cultural Center in Paris, France, last May (22nd performance).

In Italy and France, the birthplaces of opera, Kim’s performances were likened to a monodrama flawlessly portraying multiple roles, even for foreign audiences who could not understand any of the story content. Local experts praised the performance for completely breaking down the prejudice that pansori is boring and uninteresting by uniting the singer, the sound, and the audience as one.

Kim Myungchang has been listed in the Korean Guinness for breaking the existing record by performing complete pansori concerts 22 times both domestically and internationally over the past 10 years to expand the base of traditional arts and widely promote their excellence. This performance is expected to be a concert that consolidates the performance know-how he has accumulated.

To easily spread gugak to the public, Master Kim has promoted traditional Korean music through lectures titled ‘Don’t Underestimate Our Sound’ on domestic broadcasts such as MBC, KBS, and EBS. He has also continued efforts to disseminate the excellence of pansori through lectures at various institutions including large corporations, public organizations, universities, the National Assembly, and the National Police Agency.

Notably, this performance will feature special appearances by popular trot singer Park Hyun-bin, famous for ‘Shabang Shabang’ and ‘Gondre Mandre,’ and the trot emotional duo Hooniyongi. Kim Jeong-min, who is also the CEO of the beauty company Geo & Wiz, will hold a cosmetics event one hour before the concert, offering various gifts and events to the audience.

Currently, Master Kim is filming the pansori ‘Opera Solo’ movie directed by Italian documentary filmmaker Leonardo Cignieri Lombroso. Following the performances in Italy and France, Director Leonardo will visit Korea for this concert’s filming, capturing the lecture-style gugak concert scene and the diverse reactions of the audience for the documentary film.