Daehangno ― Theater District in Seoul

By Lee Chin-A

(Hollym)

Upon exiting Hyehwa Subwaty Station in Seoul, there is Daehangno, the most famous theater district in the city.

Filled with big and small theater venues, and performance art-themed events, Daehangno attracts people of all ages all year long with its artistic flair and energy.

Lee Chin-A’s English-language book, “Daehangno: Theater District in Seoul” delves into the past and present of this artistic district, exploring how it has transformed itself into a “Mecca of performing arts” since the 1980s.

The author, an associate professor at Sookmyung University, explains Daehangno became a culturally and socially significant location in the 1980s, as many cultural and artistic activities, along with street politics, took place in the area by young artists and writers at the time. Because the district was the former home to Seoul National University, Daehangno had been long influenced by the youth culture and art even before the ’80s.

Lee also delves into how the area formed its solid identity as a cultural hub even after Seoul National University’s relocation to the current Gwanak campus in 1975.

The book also introduces public theaters in Daehangno, including Arts Council Korea, The ARKO Arts Theater, and Daehangno Arts Theater, claiming that these institutions played a crucial role in establishing the district as what it is today by developing modern theater.

Lee also introduces historical landmarks, including Seonggyungwan Academy, Ihwajang House, Hamchunwonji, and Mt. Naksan and Naksan Park, while explaining the historical significance of the area.

With much research and incisive analysis, the book examines Daehangno’s past and present, on top of giving a great overview of the present-day galleries, museums, and on-going festivals in the district.

The book is one of the four English-language volumes of “Contemporary Korean Arts Series,” which was published by the Arts Council of Korea (ARKO) this year.

(dyc@heraldcorp.com)