SEOUL, March 12 (Korea Bizwire) — A group of 150 theater workers demonstrated on Jongro streets to stop the shutdown of a small theater that has been in operation for the past 28 years.
Daehangno Theater is the third-oldest small stage theater in Daehangno, the street famous for performance art in Korea, and is facing closure due to soaring rental costs. The protest group marched on the street with a Korean traditional bier, mourning the imminent loss of the theater.
The theater-building’s owner has recently raised the monthly rent to 4.4 million won (US$ 3,880) from 3.4 million won (US$ 3,000). A representative of Daehangno Theater, Jung Jae-Jin, said that the amount of the raise represents a critical blow to the small stage theater’s operation. Jung also said that 140 other small theaters in Daehangno are suffering from similar difficulties.
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