Korean Theater

Ch'angguk is a Korean folk opera. The term Changguk is composed of two words, Ch'ang() and guk(). The former refers to 'song', a special type of song called pansori. And the latter refers to 'play' or 'drama'. Therefore Ch'angguk could be called a pansori drama. Pansori is a traditional Korean folk music and to perform pansori on the stage as a form of drama is a distinguishing characteristic of Korean culture. In other words, Changguk is a musical drama rooted in a musical tradition of Korea. In this respect, it can be compared to the JapaneseKabuki or the Chinese Peking opera. One can be qualified as a singer(an actor) in Changguk only when he masters pansori through special practice. The number of main characters in Changguk consisting of heroes(heroines) and supporting actors(actresses) is about 20-30, although the exact number varies drama by drama. It is also possible for more supporting casts to participate in a drama, depending on its nature. Music is played by a Korean classical music orchestra consisting of 30-50 members playing traditional Korean musical instruments. It may be that there are many dancing crews needed, if required by the composition of the drama. The works most frequently performed are Chunhayng-ga, Simchong-ga, Hungbo-ga, Sugung-ga, and so on, which are passed down from generation to generation as pansori. Sometimes on might adapt a popular Korean classical novel for Changguk or create an original story for it. The most popular of these is the first type, that is, to perform already existing pansori work. There are two reasons for this. First, these works are within the stream of a deep rooted musical tradition which evokes musical sympathy. Secondly, they have secured a lot of readers, having been widely circulated as classical novels. This is why the Korean National Theater has selected these four works(Chunhayng-ga, Simchongga, Hungbo-ga, Sugung-ga) in translating into Changguk for the purpose of introducing Changguk to the world. The following are some of the examples: Sugungga - based on the story of the Dragon King of the Southern Sea, a terrapin, and a wily rabbit. This story is believed to have stemmed from a tale about a terrapin and a rabbit in the early period of the Silla Dynasty. The theme of this story is the relationship of subject to king. Simcheongga - a story about a girl Sim Cheong, and her father, Sim Hak-Gyu, who is called SimBongsa (Sim the Blind) by everyone. Sim-Bongsa is blind and to be cared for totally by his daughter Sim Cheong. The story is filled with sadness, though humor enters occasionally to give balance. Heungbuga - about a story of Heungbu who was a poor but good man with many children. Jeokbyeokga - this story is a retelling of the Chinese historical legend of the Battle of Red Cliffs.

Chunhyangga - tells the story of love between Chunhyang, the daughter of a kisaeng entertainer, and Yi Mongryong, the son of a magistrate. After the two are illegally married, Mongryong goes to Seoul and a corrupt local magistrate attempts to force Chunhyang to be his concubine. She refused and is faced with death, but is rescued at the last minute by Mongryong returning in his new role as a secret royal inspector.
Hypyul-sa was the first modern theatre of Korea, supported by the Korean Empire from 1902 until its closing. Before 1902, Korean theatre took the forms of outdoor performance and folk theatre. In that year of 1902, the Hypyul-sa was established as the first modern indoor theatre in Korea. Later, with strong financial support, it overpowered other private theatres and exercised great influence on other theatres. As the theatre began to evolve from outdoor to indoor, the style of theatre was also transformed. That change was necessary because the style of outdoor theatre was limited spatially, especially when it came into an enclosed space. As the modern theatre grew new types of theatre had come to Korea from its near countries. A new genre of melodrama, shinpa in Korea was influenced by the Japanese shinpa. During the period of Colonial rule, the Japanese government brought shinpa to Korea under the name of the "new play." The "new play" was the opposite of the "old play," and it aimed for enlightening and educating people. Those influences from Japan brought Korean people into indirect contact with Western culture and triggered a sensational change in history of theatre in Korea.
Nicole T. Asucro