Pumba was the word repeated in the songs of street singers, especially when Korea was once impoverished. They strolled around marketplaces or villages seeking food, money, or anything they could get. Pumba doesn’t have a specific meaning but is a language mechanism for keeping a rhythm. These days, the word pumba generally refers to gakseori. These performers do not beg for food or money, but do sing at events or festivals. The Pumba Festival is held in Eumseong every year. Programs offer a visit to the old days of poverty and a glimpse of the performances and lifestyles of various gakseoris. The festival participants are top performing gakseoris who entertain at marketplaces, festivals, or theaters around the nation. No wonder the festival is filled with energetic and exciting performances as well as endless laughter from the audience.