Pansori takes time. It requires time to pass and the sound to ripen so that it can genuinely resonate with life. In the documentary Sugung-The Underwater Palace, those who sing, learn, and carry on this traditional art form share their thoughts. An art of time, Pansori, passed down orally for over 500 years without written sheet music, requires catching and letting go of time above all else. Without listening to the sound of the master, one cannot properly learn Pansori, which makes the time a crucial factor. However, this very aspect of time became a reason to steal female singers' voices. Sugung-The Underwater Palace, revolves around Jung Ei-jin, the last heir of the four major pansori families. It calmly unfolds the significance of women singers raising their voices in Korean society. When she passes down Pansori “Sugungga” to her disciples, her carefulness reflects her understanding of the challenging lives they will face. In turn, the students who learn “Sugungga” show anticipation and passion for the sound they cannot let go of despite the hardships they foresee. Observing their struggles, audiences cannot help but feel a heavy heart, knowing that even many were born into families with vocal cords that drive them to pursue the sound they love, their lives are not limited to the past. [SONG Arum]