Why were early pansori performances held in markets and public squares?

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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.

Early pansori performances were held in markets and public squares because these locations were the defining venues for the genre's development and identity. The term pansori itself is derived from two Korean words: pan, which means "open space," and sori, meaning "singing" or "sound."12

These open venues were central to the genre's origins as a form of entertainment for the common people, where professional entertainers known as kwangdae performed to earn their livelihood. By utilizing these public spaces, performers could reach a broad audience, integrating song, narration, and dramatic gesture to share stories that often reflected popular customs and everyday life.3412