Joseon’s Youngest Idol 'Baudeogi' Life, on Stage with 4-Color Characters

National Jeongdong Theater Troupe 'Amdeok: The Origin of Ryu (流)'
Modern Reinterpretation of Namsadangnori Spirit and Aesthetics

"Amdeok is a work that modernly reinterprets the spirit and aesthetics of Namsadangnori, which was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list, through the story of 'Baudeogi,' the first female kkokdusoe (leader) of the Namsadang troupe."

'Amdeok: The Origin of Ryu (流)' Press Call. [Photo by National Jeongdong Theater]

Jung Seongsuk, CEO of the National Jeongdong Theater, stated at the press call for 'Amdeok: The Origin of Ryu (Flow)' held at the Jeongdong Theater in Seoul at 2 p.m. on the 22nd, "This is a work we have prepared for a long time with the hope of sharing the finest traditional art with people around the world."

The National Jeongdong Theater Arts Troupe has modernly interpreted six types of Namsadang troupe performances, which aimed to popularize traditional yeonhui (performing arts), through the new work 'Amdeok: The Origin of Ryu (Flow).'

According to CEO Jung, 'Amdeok' incorporates various elements of traditional yeonhui, including ▲Pungmul (nongak, traditional farmers' music) ▲Beorna (spinning a bowl) ▲Eoreum (tightrope walking) ▲Salpan (acrobatics) ▲Deotbogi (mask play) ▲Deolmi (puppet play). "This work is a performance that can advance globally. The theater is approaching its 30th anniversary in 2025, and we want to further develop and present this work on stage then. We also hope that as an excellent regional content, our people can enjoy Amdeok together anywhere."

The title 'Amdeok' is derived from the real name Kim Amdeok of Baudeogi, who was the first female kkokdusoe (leader) in the male-only Namsadang troupe.

Baudeogi was born as the daughter of a poor tenant farmer in Anseong during the late Joseon Dynasty. She lost her parents at a young age and grew up with the Namsadang troupe from around the age of five. She was able to acquire all the skills of the troupe at an early age and was said to have been popular wherever she went due to her outstanding talent. With excellent skills in seonsori (lead singing), mudong (child dancer), and tightrope walking, she was elected as the kkokdusoe and led the success of the Anseong Namsadang troupe.

In 1865, she performed upon the invitation of Heungseon Daewongun, who was so impressed by her performance that he bestowed upon her an okgwanja (a small jade ring used to thread the strings of a manggeon, a traditional headband), a decoration usually reserved for high-ranking officials. Despite her exceptional talent, Baudeogi died young at the age of 23 from tuberculosis. She is also recognized as the first figure to pioneer Korean popular culture, having received nationwide attention and love.

'Amdeok: The Origin of Ryu (流)' Press Call. [Photo by National Jeongdong Theater]

Amdeok highlights her ingenuity and artistic spirit that grew the Namsadang troupe from a local group into a nationwide folk artist collective, vividly portraying the hardships and strong vitality she endured to become an outstanding kkokdusoe.

Director Min Saerom said, "Amdeok's life resembles the stages of life that all humans face, regardless of time and place. The work focuses not on appealing to the uniqueness of female yeonhui artists but on intensely and concisely presenting the phases of one individual's growth, prompting reflection on the stages of life everyone encounters."

Choreographer Lee Hyun emphasized, "Within the flow of the work, Namsadangnori is used as an object and sometimes as a symbolic motif expressing various human appearances and inner themes. Amdeok will be a work that presents the free and dynamic spirit and aesthetics of traditional yeonhui, which permeates our lives like a great stream that changes the landscape, as a new tradition to contemporary audiences."

'Amdeok: The Origin of Ryu (流)' Press Call. [Photo by National Jeongdong Theater]

In accordance with the narrative flow, four Amdeoks will appear on stage, each highlighting different character traits. Child Amdeok will be played by child actress Lee Yuju; Singing Amdeok by gugak musician Seo Jinsil (vocalist of the gugak fusion band AUX); Tightrope-walking Amdeok by Park Jina (one of only two female eoreumsani [tightrope walkers] in Korea and a member of the Anseong City Baudeogi Pungmul Troupe); and Dancing Amdeok by Jo Haneul, a dancer from the National Jeongdong Theater Arts Troupe.

'Amdeok: The Origin of Ryu (Flow)' will be presented to audiences at the National Jeongdong Theater until the 26th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.