The purpose of this study was to review the past researches of korean oral literature and suggest directions and issues preparing for the era of Korea-reunification. In order to accomplish this purpose, this paper are constructed as following three sections. First, oral literature including tradition of traditional oral literature, literal record and cultural using of oral literature and ‘new’ oral literature and the studies on that oral literature in the two divided nation-south and north korea- were examined. The main point is that the authority of academia or national institute have infuenced on alterations of oral literature. Second, the problems of oral literature studies were explaind. They have romantic perspective based on nationalism for oral literature, and as a result, they have absolutized the worth of oral literature. Under the absolutization and immoderate pride about oral literature, there is inferiority inherent to the other. Lastly, directions and some issues of oral literature researches were suggested. The conclusion is that oral literature researchers must study oral literature itself as a local culture by breaking fetters of national ideology or doctrine.