The Manhae Arts Festival, commemorating the centenary of the poetry collection's publication, will be held Sept. 19 at Simujang in Seongbuk-dong, featuring traditional dance performances and a new changgeuk production honoring Han Yong-un's spirit of love, hope and resistance.
Seongbuk-gu and the Seongbuk Cultural Center will jointly hold the Manhae Arts Festival — titled "Remembering Manhae: A Song of Longing" — on Sept. 19 at Simujang, the historic residence of independence activist and poet Han Yong-un in Seongbuk-dong, Seoul, to mark the 100th anniversary of the publication of his poetry collection "Nim-ui Chimmuk" ("The Silence of the Beloved").
Han Yong-un lived at Simujang from 1933 until his death in 1944, continuing his independence activism without yielding to Japanese colonial rule. He personally presided over the funeral of fellow independence fighter Kim Dong-sam, who died in Gyeongseong Prison, and kept the flame of national consciousness alive through essays in the Buddhist journal "Bulgyo" and novels including "Heukpung" and "Baengmyeong."
Seongbuk-gu and the Seongbuk Cultural Center have held an annual commemorative arts festival at Simujang, where Han spent his final years, to honor his legacy. This year's edition, marking the centenary of "Nim-ui Chimmuk," is designed to give today's audiences a space to reflect on the themes of love, hope and resistance woven through the collection.
The festival opens with performances by the Intangible Heritage Association — a "salpuri," a traditional shamanistic dance to honor Han's spirit, followed by a "taepyeongmu," a court dance performed as a prayer for the peace and well-being of the nation.
Theater company Yeamori will then stage the world premiere of an original changgeuk production, "A Song of Longing." The title draws on the word "girun," which appears in the preface of "Nim-ui Chimmuk" and carries the meaning of longing or yearning. The production tells the story of Han Yong-un across past and present, conveying the beliefs he upheld throughout his life and the love and hope he directed toward his "nim" — the beloved.
"On the 100th anniversary of 'Nim-ui Chimmuk,' I hope this will be a meaningful occasion to reflect on the love, hope and spirit of resistance that Han Yong-un conveyed, right here at Simujang where he lived," Seongbuk-gu District Mayor Lee Seung-ro said.
Attendance requires advance online registration. For further details, contact the Seongbuk Cultural Center.
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