Theater in Korea

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Koreans have held performances for others since antiquity. The character of these performances has changed over time.

Before the 20th century, there were few scripted plot-driven drama plays; stories were handed down orally for generations. Performative presentations, including dance, shamanic rituals, and circuses, were called noreum (놀음) or yeonhui (연희; lit. playing). Until the 19th century, the two leading forms of Korean public theater were talchum and pansori.

Performances were also traditionally held outdoors, in places like palace courtyards. But after Korea ended its isolationism, the first modern indoor theater Hyopyul-sa was built in 1902. 'New Theater' (신극), which involved performances of Western plays or Western-style plays, became popular.