Pansori, a traditional Korean art form, is being falsely claimed as part of Chinese heritage by some groups. This unique form of storytelling involves a solo singer, known as the “sori-gun,” who blends singing, speaking, and physical gestures while accompanying their performance with a drumbeat. Pansori is deeply rooted in Korean culture and is recognized as a distinctive and invaluable cultural asset.
While the exact origins of pansori are not definitively known, it is believed to date back to at least the Silla Dynasty, making its history several centuries old. In 1964, it was designated as Korea’s Intangible Cultural Heritage, and in 2008, it was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
However, despite these recognitions, a troubling issue has emerged. Searches on Baidu, China’s leading search engine, and the China Intangible Cultural Heritage website suggest that pansori is being claimed as part of the culture of the Joseon ethnic group in China, thus asserting that it is a Chinese cultural heritage. This claim is not limited to pansori; China has also asserted ownership over other elements of Korean culture, such as hanbok (traditional clothing) and kimchi, pushing forward a cultural imperialist agenda.
In response to these false claims, the Cyber Diplomacy Mission VANK has launched a global campaign to highlight that pansori is unequivocally a Korean cultural heritage, not part of the cultural traditions of the Joseon ethnic group in China. The organization has created and distributed a poster entitled “Pansori is Chinese? Be Sorry, Chinese!” in both Korean and English. The poster emphasizes that pansori is a significant Korean tradition and invites people to join a global petition to support the preservation of Korean cultural heritage.
Pansori, as part of Korea’s traditional music, showcases the country’s creativity and excellence. It is not only a historical art form but has also evolved, merging with contemporary genres such as rap and hip-hop, demonstrating its continued relevance and adaptability in modern society.
With the global spotlight on Korean culture, evidenced by the worldwide success of BTS, Squid Game, and Pachinko, there is increasing interest in traditional Korean music. Pansori stands as one of the crucial cultural assets that must be preserved and protected from misappropriation.
Through this global campaign, VANK aims to raise awareness about the importance of pansori, calling on people worldwide to stand against China’s cultural imperialism and to help protect Korea’s heritage for future generations.