Sadangphae is a civil art organization in the period of the feudal Joson dynasty (1392–1910) which specialized in singing and dancing with urban and rural communities as its arena of activity. The word sadangphae originated from the meaning “group of kwangdae .” In olden times there was no word paeu (actor in English) in Korea, so the entertainers were called kwangdae . Hence, sadangpae was an organization of those entertainers, and the dance performed by them was called sadang dance.
It can be said that sadangpae was formed between 15th and 16th century when the feudal culture was developing.
Its heyday was between 17th and 18th century, and the sphere of its activity covered the rural villages and towns in Phyongan, Hwanghae, Kyonggi, Chungchon, Kyongsang and Jolla provinces.
Entering the 19th century the activities of new famous phansori (a long epic song) singers emerged, and the Japanese imperialists, who occupied the country militarily in the early 20th century, started to crack down the folk events and group gatherings. This made sadangpae wander around rural areas and live on penny donated by peasants. Most of its members were artistes of farmer origin or their descendants who had gathered to seek a way to make a living amid poverty and hardships. So they suffered all sorts and humiliation and maltreatment from the feudal rulers.
As men and women lived together in one group, its internal regulation jungbop was so strict that the one who violated it was forced to be driven out of the organization. Songs and dances performed by sadangpae mainly dealt ideological feelings and aspiration of the working farmers and revealed the corruption and incompetence of the feudal rulers and the vulnerability of the feudal society.
The group made contribution to developing song and dance into one of the theatrical art based on popular songs and dances, and played some positive roles in the development of the country’s national culture and traditional virtue and excellent custom.
More From Naenara (En)
Modern rural dwellings are springing up one after another in Kangwon Province of the DPRK amid the everyday news reports of
January 26, 2026
Modern rural dwellings are springing up one after another in Kangwon Province of the DPRK amid the everyday news reports of
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a congratulatory message to To Lam, general secretary of
January 26, 2026
Kim Jong Un , general secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, sent a congratulatory message to To Lam, general secretary of
One day in December 2016, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un gave field guidance at the Wonsan Army-People Power Station in Kangwon
January 26, 2026
One day in December 2016, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un gave field guidance at the Wonsan Army-People Power Station in Kangwon
One day in December last year, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un attended the inauguration ceremony of the regional-industry
January 26, 2026
One day in December last year, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un attended the inauguration ceremony of the regional-industry
The Workers’ Party of Korea held several important meetings after its Eighth Congress. Not a few of them discussed the issues
January 26, 2026
The Workers’ Party of Korea held several important meetings after its Eighth Congress. Not a few of them discussed the issues
Sariwon Ri Kye Sun University of Education has been newly built in North Hwanghae Province. The university has school buildings,
January 25, 2026
Sariwon Ri Kye Sun University of Education has been newly built in North Hwanghae Province. The university has school buildings,
The Farm Machine Institute has been successfully built as a central base for leading the comprehensive mechanization of
January 25, 2026
The Farm Machine Institute has been successfully built as a central base for leading the comprehensive mechanization of
New historical relics have recently been discovered in the area of Mt Paektu, the ancestral mountain of the Korean people. They
January 25, 2026
New historical relics have recently been discovered in the area of Mt Paektu, the ancestral mountain of the Korean people. They
Thanks to the benevolence of the Workers’ Party of Korea, fairyland-like villages embodying the idea of people-first
January 25, 2026
Thanks to the benevolence of the Workers’ Party of Korea, fairyland-like villages embodying the idea of people-first
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm under construction on January 2. All the young
January 25, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm under construction on January 2. All the young
The traditional taffy-making practice is on the DPRK’s national intangible cultural heritage list.Korean ancestors found out that
January 25, 2026
The traditional taffy-making practice is on the DPRK’s national intangible cultural heritage list.Korean ancestors found out that
The entire Party, all the people and the whole army are accelerating their revolutionary advance towards the historic Ninth
January 24, 2026
The entire Party, all the people and the whole army are accelerating their revolutionary advance towards the historic Ninth
New villages were wonderfully built at the Township Farm in Yonsan County and the Sonam Farm in Sinphyong County, North Hwanghae
January 24, 2026
New villages were wonderfully built at the Township Farm in Yonsan County and the Sonam Farm in Sinphyong County, North Hwanghae
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said in the speech at the New Year 2026 celebration that he will never exchange for anything
January 24, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un said in the speech at the New Year 2026 celebration that he will never exchange for anything
A solar power plant was newly built in Kim Hyong Gwon County, Ryanggang Province, with the help of a technical team from the
January 24, 2026
A solar power plant was newly built in Kim Hyong Gwon County, Ryanggang Province, with the help of a technical team from the
The 2026 National Schoolchildren’s Games opened with due ceremony at the Samjiyon Schoolchildren’s Palace in Samjiyon City on Janu
January 24, 2026
The 2026 National Schoolchildren’s Games opened with due ceremony at the Samjiyon Schoolchildren’s Palace in Samjiyon City on Janu
The area of Yombunjin renowned as a scenic spot on the east coast of the DPRK is presenting new scenery of regional development.
January 24, 2026
The area of Yombunjin renowned as a scenic spot on the east coast of the DPRK is presenting new scenery of regional development.
in Sonjuk-dong, Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK was established in the later period of the Koryo dynasty (918-1392) and rebuilt
January 24, 2026
in Sonjuk-dong, Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK was established in the later period of the Koryo dynasty (918-1392) and rebuilt
In November last year the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Hoeyang Army-People Power Station built by the people of
January 23, 2026
In November last year the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Hoeyang Army-People Power Station built by the people of
Working people in Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK have remodelled the finishing materials factory in their locality. The
January 23, 2026
Working people in Kaesong Municipality of the DPRK have remodelled the finishing materials factory in their locality. The
More Articles
