Pansori is a genre of Korean musical storytelling performed by a singer accompanied by a drummer (gosu). It is characterized by expressive singing (chang), stylized speech (aniri), and gestures (momjit); it takes a few hours or longer to tell one pansori “story.” Pansori is based on the unique tunes that developed in the Namdo region after the mid-Joseon period (17th Century), and is categorized by region, such as Dongpyeonjae (Northeastern region of Jeolla Province), Seopyeonjae (Northwestern region of Jeolla Province) and Joonggojae (Gyeonggi Province and Choongcheong Province).

This traditional folk art has been designated a UNESCO Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. There are only five pansori repertories (madangs or batangs) still in existence today: Chunhyangga, Shimcheongga, Sugungga, Heungbuga, and Jeokbyeokga.

Daegu pansori does not have regional inventors, but it does boast unique characteristics and has been practiced by many master singers since long ago. Pansori cultural property holder and master singer Lee Myung-hee (designated on September 8, 1992) inherited Dongchoje pansori “Heungboga” from master singer Kim So-hee, and master singer Joo Woon-sook (designated on January 31, 2017) inherited Dongchoje pansori “Simcheongga” from master singer Lee Il-joo.