Actor and Writer Jeong Eun-hye: "Hugs Are the Power and Love That Break Down Boundaries"

[Asia Economy Reporter Seo Mideum] “Everyone’s face is pretty, so why do they say they are ugly and tell them to change their face? Who would call themselves ugly?”

This is a quote from the book Ms. Eunhye’s Hug. The author is writer Jeong Eunhye. She is a person with developmental disabilities who gained great attention by appearing in the drama Our Blues. The world looked at her with prejudiced eyes, but she removes those prejudices and views the world differently. She emphasizes that everyone has their own charm and “value of existence.” Eunhye, who especially loves hugging, embraces many people and, beyond that, embraces the world. She says, “I like hugging people. When I hug someone, I feel warm. When I’m warm, I feel good. A hug is love.”

At the publication press conference for Ms. Eunhye’s Hug held on the 24th at Gallery Topo House in Insadong, writer Jeong Eunhye and her mother, writer Jang Chahyeonsil, attended together. Topo House is also the venue for Eunhye’s solo exhibition Hug Exhibition. They planned to hold an exhibition once a year, and while considering this year’s theme, they noticed many photos of Eunhye hugging and decided to focus on hugs. Jang Chahyeonsil said, “A hug is a gesture that breaks down boundaries between people. Usually, (people with disabilities) hesitate even to hold one hand, but Eunhye has none of that. She has the power to break down others’ boundaries.”

Eunhye is “uneducated.” In her childhood, she was sent to a regular school to adapt to a society that viewed her as abnormal, but she couldn’t adjust and moved through small schools, rural branch schools, and alternative schools, experiencing difficult times. Around the age of 20, when she locked herself in a “cave” (her room), she showed symptoms of tic disorder and schizophrenia. Additionally, she suffered from obsessive-compulsive disorder caused by the harsh stares she received from strangers unfamiliar with people with disabilities while commuting by subway. That period was “a time when the family’s happiness or misfortune depended on Eunhye” (Jang Chahyeonsil).

Eunhye’s transformation into a writer began in 2013 when she started cleaning at her mother’s art academy. It was a job she took to earn pocket money, but she discovered her talent when she started drawing because “I was jealous that the kids drew so well.” From 2016, when she ran a caricature booth at Munhori River Market, she changed remarkably. By “existing as the complete Eunhye,” her tic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder disappeared. She made eye contact with about 4,000 people while drawing caricatures. “The mental illness caused by people’s stares was healed by other people’s stares.”

Sometimes, people complained that the caricatures were too ugly. Jang Chahyeonsil, who majored in art, initially tried to teach conventional art rules but soon gave up and accepted Eunhye’s style. Although it didn’t meet the standards of entrance exam art, in some ways it was superior. Eunhye herself says, “There are no mistakes in my drawings. I have never been wrong.”

Some might say Eunhye is a special case, but that’s not necessarily true. It is true that she had an environment where she could draw, but in fact, “most people with Down syndrome have artistic talent.” This is why Jang Chahyeonsil has been gathering about twenty people with developmental disabilities since 2018 to engage in artistic activities. Those who once drew “unique pictures” on the back of calendars or children’s sketchbooks are now creating artworks.

After appearing in the drama Our Blues, Eunhye’s life changed dramatically. More precisely, Eunhye remained the same, but the world changed. The world’s gaze toward Eunhye softened to the point of “wondering if the world has gone crazy” (Jang Chahyeonsil). The drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo also played a part. Jang Chahyeonsil said, “The character Woo Young-woo helped bring people with disabilities closer to the public. It’s a precious opportunity because it starts from that interest.”

As a writer who communicates with the world by publishing books and holding exhibitions, Eunhye prioritizes her mother. Her mother says, “I used to have desires to succeed in work and life, but I gave that up a long time ago,” and adds, “Now I just wash Eunhye’s brushes and fill her water container, and I like that.” However, as a mother, she hopes she is not Eunhye’s first priority. She says, “Eunhye, at 33, should have a world she leads on her own. I think I should step aside,” and “I think that will be possible when our Korean social welfare improves.”

Jeong Eunhye’s solo exhibition Hug Exhibition is being held at Gallery Topo House in Insadong until the 30th of this month.

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