1st Generation Performance Planner and Playwright Kim Ji-il Passes Away from Pancreatic Cancer

The late Kim Ji-il. (Photo by Theater Michu)

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] Kim Ji-il (real name Kim Cheong-il), Korea's first-generation performance planner and playwright, passed away on the 7th at the age of 80.

According to the theater company Michu, he was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in March and stayed at home, but his condition worsened recently, and he passed away while receiving treatment at Wonjin Green Hospital in Guri, Gyeonggi Province.

Born in Sariwon, Hwanghae Province, he served as the head of publicity for the Yegrin Orchestra, general manager of the National Dance Company, head of the publicity planning office at the National Theater, director of Madang Cecil Theater, administrative director of the Modern Theater Company, planning director of the Seoul Municipal Theater Company, operating committee member of Theater Company Michu, and director of the Performance Culture Industry Research Institute.

He worked across various fields without limiting himself to genres such as Madangnori, musicals, total theater, Sinchanggeuk, and dance theater.

He wrote more than 20 Madangnori scripts including Simcheongjeon, Chunhyangjeon, and Hongbojeon, as well as musicals like "Making a Hero" and "Returning as Ddeunswe," total theater "Sky Woman, Earth Man," Sinchanggeuk "Cheonmyeong," "Arirang," "Plum Blossoms Blooming in the Korea Strait," and dance theater works such as "The Wind Blowing in the Heart," "Dream Dream Dream," and "The Wedding Day."

He spent most of his 50-year theater career with Son Jin-chaek, the representative of Theater Company Michu, writing scripts for many works directed by Son. His surviving family includes his wife, Kim Sang-hee.

The funeral is being held in Room 5 of the funeral hall at Wonjin Green Hospital in Guri, with the funeral procession scheduled for 6 a.m. on the 9th. The burial site is Seonyeong in Joan-myeon, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.

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