Pansori master of the Seopyeonje school, famous for 'Ssukdaemeori'
| Life | 1904 ~ 1961 |
| Era | 일제강점기~현대 |
| Clan | 나주 임씨 |
Im Bang-ul (1904-1961) was a pansori master of the Naju Lim clan; his real name was Im Seung-geun (林承根) and childhood name Im Jong-gyu. Born in Suseong-ri, Gonaesang-myeon, Gwangju County (now Dosan-dong, Gwangsan-gu) and raised in Songjeong-ri, his registered birth year is 1905.
He learned Chunhyangga and Heungboga from Yi Jae-hyeon at home, trained under Gong Chang-sik and Yu Seong-jun and learned Sugungga and Jeokbyeokga from the latter. In 1928 he went to Seoul and, introduced by Kim Chang-hwan, appeared on stage to great popularity.
"Ssukdaemeori" from Chunhyangga is especially famous; a story says the record sold a million copies then, but this needs verification. He received a national music prize in 1960 and was an adviser to the National Gugak Center. He died in 1961 and was given the first "gugak artist's funeral" in Korean music history.
He learned from Yi Jae-hyeon, Gong Chang-sik and Yu Seong-jun and rose with the backing of the merchant Nam Guk-il. He is said to have excelled in the danggyemyeonjo mode of the Seopyeonje school.
He recorded Chunhyangga and Simcheongga for Columbia and Victor and arranged or composed 'Honamga' and 'Sabyeolga'. 'Ssukdaemeori' became his signature piece.
He served on the Korean Independence Party's committee in 1946-47 and received a music prize in 1960. He collapsed during a January 1961 performance in Gimje and died on 7 March; the first gugak artist's funeral was held in May.
The Im Bang-ul Gugak Festival has been held in Gwangju since 1997, and Gwangju has an Im Bang-ul Boulevard.
His grave was not confirmed here.
He is recorded as having one son and three daughters.