Cha Bumseok

Cha Bumseok was a Korean playwright and director.

Biography

He was born in 1924 in Mokpo. Before the Liberation, he worked as a teacher and recruited by force to join the Japanese military. After Korea became independent, he went to a college in 1946 and organized an on-campus community named “Theater Art Study Group” to start his career in the theater field. He debuted as playwright with Milju that was selected as a runner-up for the Chosun Ilbo New Writer's Contest in 1955, and the following year, Kwihyang was selected for the Chosun Ilbo New Writer's Contest in 1956. With a view to popularizing plays, he founded a troupe, “Sanha,” in 1963, playing a role as the president of the theater, playwright and director. Since 1965, he has taught at universities as a professor. He served as the president of the National Academy of Arts of Republic of Korea and the president of the Korea Culture and Arts Education Service. He died of cancer at the age of 82 in 2006.

Writing

Cha Bumseok is well known for his realistic representation succeeding Yoo Chijin. He is a post-war writer who went through the Korean War in his twenties and reflected social issues in his works.
For him, the writer's consciousness of depicting reality truthfully through a realistic representation was the key to his works. He critically dealt with social issues in Korea after the war until he founded the troupe “Sanha” in 1963. The most representative works are Bulmoji and Sanbul. Wasteland depicts the unstable society right after the war in the form of conflicts between the older and the younger generations and their collapse. Burning Mountain describes the violence of the war combined with people's desire. It is a story about a young man who loses his hope because of the Korean War as opposed to the lustful desires around him. It describes the devastating reality of the national division and ideological conflicts.
After he founded the theater company to popularize plays in 1963, his plays were transformed from critically exposing social conflicts to exploring national sentiment and inner world of people. One of his major works, Hakiyeo, sarangilera, clearly shows this transformation. The story is based on a myth about Samhakdo, where three girls became cranes and turned into three islands after they failed in their love. This work deals with Korea's traditional ideas and emotion as well as exploring ideal values people try to seek such as truth, beauty, virtue, wisdom, justice and righteousness.

Works

Complete Works
《차범석 전집》 1–8, 태학사, 2018 / Cha Beomseok jeonjip 1–8, Taehaksa, 2018
Collection of Plays
《껍질이 째지는 아픔 없이는》, 정신사, 1960 / KKeopjili jjaejineun apeum eopsineun, Jeongsinsa, 1960
《대리인》, 선명문화사, 1969 / Daeriin, Seonmyeongmunhwasa, 1969.
《환상여행》, 어문각, 1975 / Hwansangyeohaeng, Eomungak, 1975.
《학이여, 사랑일레라》, 어문각, 1982 / Hakiyeo, sarangilera, Eomungak, 1982.
《식민지의 아침》, 학고방, 1992 / Sikminjieui achim, Hankkobang, 1992.
《통곡의 땅》, 가람기획, 2000 / Tongkokeui ttang, Karam, 2000.
《옥단어!》, 푸른사상, 2003 / Okdaneo!, Pureunsasang, 2003.
Review
《동시대의 연극인식》, 범우사, 1987 / Dongsideaeui yeongeukinsik, Beomusa, 1987.
《한국소극장연극사》, 연극과 인간, 2004 / Hankuksogeukjangyeonkeuksa, Yeonkeukkwa Ingan, 2004
Collection of Essays
《거부하는 몸짓으로 사랑했노라》, 범우사, 1984 / Geobuhaneun momjiseuro saranghaetnora, Beomusa, 1984.
《목포행 완행열차의 추억》, 융성출판사, 1994 / Mokpohaeng wanhaengyeolchaeui chueok, Yungseong, 1994.
Autobiography
《예술가의 삶》, 혜화당, 1993 / Yesulgaeui sam, Hyehwadang, 1993.
《떠도는 산하》, 형제문화, 1998 / Ddeodoneun sanha, Hyeongjemunhwa, 1998.

Works in Translation

≪산불≫, 오늘의 한국 문학, 1999 / “Burning Mountain” in Korean Literature Today, Winter 1999, The Korean Center International P.E.N, 1999.
≪산불≫, 1962 /“Burning Mountain” in Modern Korean Drama, Columbia University Press, 2009.
≪산불≫, THÉÂTRE CORÉEN CONTEMPORAIN, Imago, 2006.

Awards

1956: New Writer's Contest with Returning Home
1962: Mokpo Culture Award
1970: Korea Culture and Arts Award
1981: Korea Theater Festival
1982: National Academy of Arts Award
1983: Dongrang Theater Award
1991: Korean Literature Award
1993: Lee Haerang Theater Award
1997: Seoul Culture Award
2005: Samil Prize