A Study on Pak Hon-bong s Achievements on Traditional Performing Arts and Its Significance

A figure who laid the foundation for the establishment of folk music in South Korea, Pak Hon-bong (1907-1977) conducted research in various fields on the development and revival of traditional Korean folk music. While existing scholarship has stressed the importance of his life and overall achievements, more concrete research and examination have not been performed. The present study proceeds with discussions by classifying Pak’s accomplishments into four categories: 1) the creation of organizations for traditional Korean music and engagement in related activities; 2) education through the National School of Traditional Arts (present-day National Middle and High Schools of Traditional Arts) and the establishment of subordinate organs; 3) the authorship of works including the compilation of An Outline of Traditional Folk Vocal Music (Ch’ang’ak Taegang); and 4) the collection of traditional Korean folk songs and investigative research on intangible cultural heritage. Based on existing works, research, and articles, it aims at synthesizing and reexamining his activities more accurately.Pak began full-fledged musical activities in the 1940s, and they aimed at the development and revival of traditional Korean folk music. By using his position to create diverse organizations for traditional Korean music, he obtained the funds to establish the National School of Traditional Arts. Following the establishment of the National School of Traditional Arts, Pak founded a research organ called the Traditional Music Research Center within the school and modernized traditional Korean instruments, which he demonstrated with traditional Korean orchestras as well. By authoring An Outline of Traditional Folk Vocal Music for the preservation of traditional Korean folk music, he defined both p’ansori (dramatic musical storytelling) and tanga (short warm-up songs sung before p’ansori performances) as ch’angga (songs), a genre in traditional Korean folk music, and elucidated and synthesized musical theories on them. In addition, Pak possessed albums created by recording and transcribing folk songs performed by master singers throughout the nation and laid the foundation for subsequently recreating or replaying them through broadcasting stations, television, and the National School of Traditional Arts. While serving as a member of the governmental Cultural Properties Committee, he investigated and registered intangible cultural heritage across the country through the excavation and investigation of cultural heritage, and it can be said that he further highlighted the importance and value of traditional Korean folk music by recording in detail the history, forms, and characteristics when composing reports on intangible cultural heritage.Pak endeavored to establish the correct foundation of traditional Korean music by serving as the first principal of the National School of Traditional Arts and educating students. His musical activities focused on consolidating the identity of traditional national culture, and he played a considerable role as a theoretician in preserving and transmitting traditional Korean music as well. Pak’s activities to transmit traditional Korean folk music can be seen as having thus occurred on administrative, educational, and theoretical levels.