Park also works as an artistic director at Seensee Company, a Seoul-based theater firm dedicated to plays and musicals. The 52-year-old producer is renowned for producing Korean musicals that can cater to international tastes.

Not only did he adapt Korean plays into musicals such as “Forest Fire,” but also brought in a number of big-name musicals that won international acclaim. Among them are Broadway hit musicals such as “Mamma Mia!” “Rent,” “Urinetown,” “Batboy,” “Hairspray” and “Last Five Years.”

“I focused on a show that can bring out the Korean culture and appeal to international viewers,” he said. “I also wanted to highlight that the event is for young people. Unlike the Olympics, the Universiade is an event where young people gather to compete.”

Besides creating a perfect mix for the local and international audience at the ceremony, Park added that he wanted to put on a show that set Korea apart from previous host nations -- China of the 2011 Shenzhen Universiade and Russia of the 2013 Kazan Universiade.

“It gives me a burden if you compare (Gwangju) to the Chinese or Russian event based on the event’s scale. But what is important is how to showcase Korea’s unique features, not how big our budget is,” said Park.

“Rather than putting on a flamboyant show, our team focused on delivering a strong message to the viewers and leaving them with lingering impression. I believe our efforts will pay off and hope the event will come down in history as one of the most creative and compelling.”

Park was selected as chief director for the event’s opening and closing ceremonies in 2013. The Gwangju Universiade Organizing Committee selected him from some 20 candidates.

Acknowledging the gravity of his work, Park vowed to emphasize the spirit of Gwangju, the birthplace of Korea’s democratic movement where citizens rose up against the authoritarian military regime.

“What makes Gwangju today is people. What makes Gwangju the birthplace of Korean democracy and human rights is their respect for humanity and living things. I think these are what Gwangju stands for and what I wanted to share with people at the opening ceremony,” Park said.

With 11 days to go, it is too early to tell how the closing ceremony will look. Park, however, gave a sneak preview: The closing ceremony will feature K-pop stars and renowned Korean artists.

“The closing ceremony will be something like a concert. Along with K-pop stars and other artists, athletes, volunteers and all the attendees will join in and enjoy the event,” said Park.

“Considering that the opening ceremony was an occasion for young people to realize that they are the light of future, the closing ceremony will make them share the light with one another,” Park added.

By Yeo Jun-suk (jasonyeo@heraldcorp.com)