Musical 'Gwangju' Directed by Go Seon-ung: "I Thought We Absolutely Had to Stand Up Again"

Musical 'Gwangju' Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement Opens on the 9th

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] "I thought a lot about the idea that we must stand up no matter what. Instead of continuously falling down and hurting, I wanted to show people standing up, singing, dancing, and loving."

Ko Seon-ung, the director of the musical 'Gwangju,' which opens on October 9 at the Hongik University Daehangno Art Center Grand Theater, said he tried to depict the overcoming of the pain of the May 18 Democratic Movement through 'Gwangju.' 'Gwangju' is a work created jointly by the Gwangju Cultural Foundation, the production company Live, and the theater troupe Mabangjin to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement.

Director Ko previously directed the play 'On a Clear Day,' which portrayed the 30-year life journey of a man and woman caught up in the May 18 Democratic Movement. 'On a Clear Day' won the Best Play and Best Director awards at the 2011 Korea Theater Awards.

At the 'Gwangju' showcase held on the 29th of last month at the Hongik University Daehangno Art Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Director Ko explained that although both 'On a Clear Day' and 'Gwangju' are based on the May 18 Democratic Movement, their directorial approaches differ.

"When directing 'On a Clear Day,' my heart was deeply moved by the pain of lovers who could not unite amid the turmoil. When directing 'Gwangju,' I thought a lot about the necessity of standing up no matter what."

After the showcase, at a press conference, Director Ko repeatedly emphasized the phrase 'singing, dancing, and loving,' which is used as a subtitle for 'Gwangju.' He also expressed concerns about whether his directorial intentions might be misunderstood.

"I feel a great deal of pressure. My heart races and I feel scared. However, because my heart and the thoughts and attitudes of my comrades are very healthy, I believe that even if we sing, dance, and love like this, the audience will love it enough. I think those who have directly experienced or witnessed the pain of Gwangju will also understand and accept the intentions behind our attempts and thoughts. I prepared with such a cautious heart."

The cast and crew of the musical 'Gwangju' are taking a commemorative photo after finishing the showcase.

Director Ko explained that 'Gwangju' is not a story that verifies facts but a work that tries to approach the essence of the May 18 Democratic Movement through fictional facts.

"'Gwangju' is a fictionalized work based on the facts of the May 18 Democratic Movement. The character Yoon I-geon in the play is inspired by martyr Yoon Sang-won but is not a perfect recreation of him. The work contains fictional facts that move between truth and fiction within the situation of Gwangju, aiming to approach the truth that Gwangju holds. Rather than verifying facts, if you infer the situation at that time, you will find it easier to understand the musical."

Additionally, Director Ko said, "I hope it feels like a story very close to us." "Even those who are somewhat afraid of this work or burdened by painful memories should boldly come and watch it. You will be able to emotionally appreciate the stories of those who stood on the pain of Gwangju within the aesthetics of musical theater. Especially, the actors' energy is so good that it lifts your mood the moment you watch."

'Gwangju' was planned not only to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement but also as part of the '2019 March for the Beloved Popularization and Globalization Project.' The musical ends with the 'March for the Beloved,' which is symbolic of the May 18 Democratic Movement. Composer Kim Jong-ryul, who composed 'March for the Beloved,' also participated in the showcase.

Kim Jong-ryul expressed his hope that 'March for the Beloved' would be known worldwide and showed his support for the musical 'Gwangju.'

"'March for the Beloved' was composed over 40 years ago. Even now, there are regrettable points. 'March for the Beloved' has already been sung across Asia as Korea's first Hallyu for 20 to 30 years. Through the musical 'Gwangju,' I hope 'March for the Beloved' will be sung not only as a song yearning for Korean democracy but also across Asia and beyond, helping all those dedicated to democracy worldwide. I hope this musical becomes an opportunity for 'March for the Beloved' to reach the world, and I support this musical."

Live will release a showcase on Naver TV at 7 p.m. on the 2nd, where actors perform key scenes of the work to orchestral music, and the production team explains the meaning of the work.

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