How does a pansori drummer interact with the vocalist during a performance?

In pansori, a traditional genre of Korean narrative song, the drummer—known as a kosu—plays a vital role in supporting the vocalist, or kwangdae.1

The interaction between the two is characterized by a significant amount of improvisation throughout the performance. The drummer provides the necessary rhythmic setting for the songs using a puk (double-headed barrel drum). Beyond maintaining the beat, the drummer actively engages with the singer by marking musical phrases with specific rhythmic patterns and offering vocal interjections known as ch’uimsae. This collaborative dynamic helps sustain the hours of epic drama as the singer alternates between song, spoken narration, and dramatic gestures.21