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How did South Korea’s 1964 intangible cultural asset designation help revive 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.

By the 1960s, the traditional Korean musical genre of pansori faced a severe decline, struggling to maintain its audience against the popularity of changgeuk and other modern influences. The tradition was on the verge of complete collapse when the South Korean government officially designated it an “intangible cultural asset” in 1964.12

This government intervention served as a vital act of resuscitation for the art form. By providing official recognition, the designation helped foster a resurgence of both scholarly and practical interest in pansori beginning in the 1970s. This revival was further supported by a growing public awareness of local identity and traditional culture. The institutional support provided by this status helped stabilize the tradition, eventually paving the way for broader domestic appreciation and international interest, which were later bolstered by films such as Seopyeonje and Chunhyang.1