Life, Achievements, and Philosophy of Pansori Master Song Sun-seop

Song Sun-seop is current holder of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Pansori, for his mastery of Pansori \textlessJeokbyeokga\textgreater. He won the president’s award in 1994’s Jeonju Daesaseup competition. Not only that, he is devoting himself to publishing written repertoires of Pansori, and also a still active Pansori performer. In this paper I will attempt to sort his Pansori philosophy, which is about his systemization of vocalization and pronunciation of Pansori, his compilation of corrected Pansori text, and his influence in choreography and improvisation of Pansori. I define Song’s approach to his art as ‘Pansori Philosophy,’ because in his performance of Pansori he transcended from being just a performer, to a Pansori philosopher. He became so as he defined the text of Pansori in the context of pre-modern and modern literature, and he continues to try to revivify Pansori as an active art form..