A Ten-Day Story of May 18, Play 'I Was Not in Gwangju' Opens on the 12th

Theater performance scene from 'I Was Not in Gwangju'
Photo by Geukgongjakso 'Mabangjin'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] The play "I Was Not in Gwangju," which depicts the ten days of the May 18 Democratic Uprising in 1980, will open on the 12th at Theater 1 in the National Asia Culture Center Arts Theater.

"I Was Not in Gwangju" is an original play presented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the National Asia Culture Center, and the Asia Culture Institute to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Uprising.

"I Was Not in Gwangju" starts from the main gate of Chonnam National University and faithfully recreates the ten days in Gwangju, where people fought for democratization in complete isolation. As an immersive theater performance where the audience directly participates, viewers can personally experience and feel the intense history of Gwangju in May 1980.

After a pilot performance last year, "I Was Not in Gwangju" underwent a year of development to enhance the completeness of the performance and added scenes involving audience participation to maximize immersion. Audiences can feel as if they are at the very site in Gwangju 40 years ago, breathing alongside 34 actors in a theater where the boundary between stage and seats is dissolved.

Theater performance scene from 'I Was Not in Gwangju'
Photo by Geukgongjakso 'Mabangjin'

Director Ko Sun-woong and the cast of "I Was Not in Gwangju" sincerely committed to recreating the scene of the May 18 Democratic Uprising by visiting the National May 18 Democratic Cemetery on the morning of the 10th, about a week before the 40th anniversary of the uprising, to pay their respects.

The performance will be held under strict quarantine measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including ▲ socially distanced seating ▲ thermal screening with thermal imaging cameras at the venue entrance ▲ mandatory mask-wearing ▲ and requiring audience members to fill out consent forms for the use of personal information.

Tickets for "I Was Not in Gwangju" can be purchased on the National Asia Culture Center website, with a 50% discount available for Gwangju citizens. May 18 merit recipients can receive up to two free tickets per person at the on-site box office upon presenting their merit certificate.

For more details, please check the National Asia Culture Center website and call center. The performance runs until the 18th.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.