Namsadang is Korea’s first popular performance troupe that used to wander about markets and villages during the latter part of the Joseon Dynasty performing acrobatics, singing and dancing. The time was 1661~1720 when the Joseon Dynasty was ruled by King Sukjong. Anseong was the origin of and home to all Namsadang groups of the nation, and the hub was a village called Buldang-gol, Cheongryong-ri, Seoun-myeon, Anseong city.

Namsadang was composed of some 40~50 persons of all ages, and the head of the organization was called Kkoktusoe. Under the Kkoktusoe, there are various kinds of positions called Gon

Gambaengi-soe, Ddun-soe, Gayeol, Piri, Nagwisoe and Jeoseungpae. Members may come and join the group voluntarily; however, sometimes, parents brought their children to the troupe due to poverty or sometimes Namsadang stole some children. Performance programs were prepared under the supervision of the Kkoktusoe, while the performers were practicing their skills and arts. They traveled across the country to markets and villages performing Pungmul nori, Rope dancing, mask play, singing, puppet show and acrobatics (circus). Since they were treated as being humbler than even servants, they could do nothing but wandering about the country, making a barely living. Under such circumstances, sometimes the good-looking boys and/or girls were engaged in prostitution to make living. Then at the end of the 19th century, Baudeogi whose art skills were extremely outstanding became the Kkoktusoe at the age of only 15 and despite her being a female. After Baudeogi became the Kkoktusoe, the representative of the Anseong Namsadang troupe, she promoted the Namsadang to the highest level of a popular performance and art troupe.

It is said that when Gyeongbok-gung palace was successfully remodeled, Heungseon Daewongun granted Namsadang humbler than servants with a jade headband button, a symbol of official post equivalent to deputy minister levels (Current provincial governor) , for its distinguished performance shown to comfort the people who participating in the remodeling of Gyeongbok-gung palace. Namsadang, after its position was recognized by the Joseon Dynasty, has become a Korea’s popular art performance troupe, fully participating in various art activities. Afterwards, Namsadang was disorganized or organized repeatedly due to Japanese invasion and its policy to eradiate national culture, barely keeping it in existence.

Even after the era of Baudeogi, however, the descendents of Namsadang stubbornly attempted to pass down Namsadang in Anseong, its hub and the site living, and in areas near Seoul. Namsadang has thus been preserved and developed into today’s Namsadang. Anseong Baudeogi festival is held every year since 2001 to pay tribute to Baudeogi, the first and the last female Kkoktusoe in the Joseon Dynasty, and to bring the Namsadang culture to a level of Korea’s representative culture of the world.