The play “Bongsunhwa” performed in Nagoya, Japan (Image provided by the Gwangju Cultural Foundation)
GWANGJU, Feb. 9 (Korea Bizwire) –A groundbreaking play titled “Bongsunhwa” that exposes the human rights abuses suffered by victims of forced labor during the Japanese occupation is set to be performed in the city of Gwangju.
The play, conceived and produced by a Japanese civic group, features Japanese citizens, including actors taking on the roles of victims like Yang Geum-deok, to bring the real-life stories to the stage.
In a statement, the Gwangju Cultural Foundation announced that the play would be staged at the Bitgoeul Citizen Culture Hall on February 24 at 3 p.m.
“Bongsunhwa” is a poignant work that dramatizes the efforts of Japanese citizens, acknowledging their country’s past as the colonial aggressor, to address the history of forced mobilization and human rights violations.
It showcases the journey of the human rights restoration movement that has strived for over 38 years towards resolving these issues and seeking compensation for the victims.
First introduced to audiences in Nagoya, Japan, in 2003, the play was performed a second time in the same city in 2022, where it was met with widespread acclaim, attracting more than 1,000 Japanese spectators.
The upcoming performance in Gwangju marks the third staging of this impactful play. This follows a partnership formed over a year ago between the Gwangju Cultural Foundation and the Nagoya Lawsuit Support Group, an organization that supports victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period.
The Nagoya Lawsuit Support Group, a Japanese civic organization established in 1998, has been actively supporting the legal battles for compensation and the restoration of rights for victims of forced labor, like Yang Geum-deok from Gwangju, who was born in 1929 in Naju, South Jeolla Province.
Since July 2007, the group has been organizing weekly protests on Fridays demanding apologies and reparations from companies accused of participating in war crimes.
The cast for the performance includes Nagoya citizens from various walks of life, including middle and high school students, college students, office workers, educators, and lawyers.
The 90-minute performance will be delivered in Japanese, with Korean subtitles displayed on large monitors positioned at the front and sides of the stage.
Admission to the play is free, with reservations available through the Gwangju Cultural Foundation’s website. Kim Yo-sung, acting CEO of the Gwangju Cultural Foundation, expressed hope that the play would “serve as a stepping stone for both Korea and Japan to heal from their painful past and seek a path towards peace and prosperity together.”
The play “Bongsunhwa” performed in Nagoya, Japan (Image provided by the Gwangju Cultural Foundation)
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
