How did Kim So-Hee and Park Cho-Wol contribute to pansori?

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See and hear a man play a Korean buk — pansori Learn about the Korean *buk* (double-headed barrel drum) by watching and listening to a man play the type of *buk* that accompanies *pansori* narrative singing.

Kim So-Hee and Park Cho-Wol were prominent female singers who played a vital role in the evolution of pansori during the 20th century. Following the emergence of the first professional female performer, Jin Chae-Seon, these women helped expand the tradition beyond its male-dominated origins.1

Their contributions included:

Innovation: They introduced new sounds and gestures to the performance style, helping to revitalize the art form during a period of decline caused by Japanese administration and rapid Westernization.1
Institutional Growth: They established female pansori troupes, which achieved significant commercial success and helped sustain the tradition through the mid-20th century.1

While these troupes eventually faced competition from the theatrical offshoot changgeuk in the 1960s, the efforts of singers like Kim and Park were instrumental in maintaining the visibility of the genre before it was officially designated an "intangible cultural asset" by the South Korean government in 1964.1