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How did the film Seopyeonje increase interest in 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.

The 1993 film Seopyeonje, directed by Im Kwon-Taek, played a significant role in revitalizing the pansori tradition. By depicting the lives of two pansori singers in the 1950s, the film brought the genre to a wider audience, helping to stimulate both domestic and international interest in this traditional Korean art form.12

This cinematic portrayal was part of a broader resurgence of interest in pansori that began in the 1970s, following the South Korean government's decision to designate the genre as an "intangible cultural asset" in 1964 to prevent its total collapse. Along with the film Chunhyang (2000), Seopyeonje helped foster a renewed appreciation for local identity and traditional culture, effectively bridging the gap between historical performance practices and modern popular awareness.12