Gwangju Gwonbeon: Inheriting the Legacy of Korean Traditional Performing Arts

Narrative

Gwangju Gwonbeon (Institute for Female Professional Entertainers) originated from the Association of Gwangju Female Entertainers and served as both a gathering place for traditional artists and an art school in the Gwangju area. This institute made significant contributions to the cultivation and preservation of Korean traditional arts such as pansori and dance, with impacts that resonate to this day. Pansori master Bak Dong-sil (1897-1968) nurtured many successors, including Gong Dae-il (1911-1990), Han Ae-sun (1924-2014), and Bak Song-hui (1927-2017), ensuring the continuation of traditional arts for future generations. Another esteemed pansori master, Kim So-hui (1917-1995), married geomungo instructor Bak Seok-gi (1899-1952), and their daughter Bak Yun-cho (1944-) also emerged as a prominent pansori master. Bak Yun-cho further honed her skills by learning traditional dance from Yi Mae-bang (1925-2015), showcasing talent in both fields. The legacy of Gwangju Gwonbeon lives on through the Gwangju National Center for Korean Traditional Performing Arts, which later evolved into the Gwangju Municipal Changgeuk Company, maintaining its status as a hub of traditional arts. These institutions not only preserve pansori and Korean dance but also modernize and sustain various traditional arts, playing a key role as cultural assets of the region.