When did pansori begin to emerge as entertainment for common people in southern Korea?

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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.

Pansori began to emerge as a recognized form of entertainment for the common people in southern Korea during the 17th century.1

While its exact origins are often linked to shamanic songs (muga), the genre evolved significantly during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. During this time, it transformed from a performance style rooted in shamanistic chants into a vehicle for treating popular customs and everyday life. Professional entertainers known as kwangdae adopted this developing form as their livelihood, performing in open venues such as markets and public squares. Although it emerged in the 17th century, the genre did not reach its mature form until the late 18th century.231