Yoh Suk-kee
Yoh Suk-kee was a South Korean theatre critic and Shakespeare scholar. He was a founding member of The English Language and Literature Association of Korea. He was appointed the Director of Korean Culture and Arts Foundation in 1988. He received the Medal of Honour in Civil Merit in 1972 and 1987, and the Order of Cultural Merit in 1996, from the Korean government. He died on 12 June 2014.
Biography
Yoh was born in Geumneung, Keishōhoku Prefecture, Korea, Empire of Japan. He graduated from Gimcheon High School. He entered Tokyo University in 1939 but left the school due to student conscription in 1944. After the liberation of Korea in August 1945, he transferred to Seoul National University in 1946. He was appointed the English professor at Korea University since October 1953 and held position of Dean of College of Liberal Arts and Graduate School.Theater criticism
Yoh was a forerunner of theatre criticism in Korea. In 1960, with other theatricians, such as Chi-jin Yoo, Yoh established Drama Center and trained young playwrights to cultivate Korean theatre. For such a contribution, he was selected as a member of National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Korea. In 1970, as a publisher and editor, Yoh published the first issue of The Drama Review, the first technical journal of theatre in Korea. In commemoration of Yoh, the International Association of Theatre Critics-Korea bestows Yoh Suk-kee Theatre Critics Award each year.Shakespeare studies
Yoh was evaluated as the first scholar to encompass both literary and theatrical aspect of Shakespeare. In 1962, he provided a translation of Hamlet for the Drama Centre first performance which is staged by the playwright Yoo Chi-jin. In 1964, Yoh founded The Shakespeare Association of Korea.Publications
History of English Literature 20th Century Literature Contemporary Theatre The Reality of Korean Theatre Hallucination and Reality Comparative Studies of the East-West Theatres Essay Shakespeare Selections Cinemania Journey with Hamlet, Encounter with Lear My Lectures on Hamlet- ''Yoh Suk-kee: My Life, My Studies, My Theatre''
Honours and positions
- 1962 Director of Drama Centre
- 1966 Jury Member of Asia Film Festival
- 1969–1971 President of The English Language and Literature Association of Korea
- 1970–1980 Publisher of Theatre Criticism
- 1972 Medal of Honour in Civil Merit
- 1975–1984 Chair of International Theatre Institute of Korea
- 1982 Director of International Cultural Foundation
- 1982–1984 Chair of The Shakespeare Association of Korea
- 1983 Jury Member of Manila International Film Festival
- 1984 Chief Director of Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange
- 1985 Dong-Rang Award of Theatre
- 1987 Order of Civil Merit
- 1987–1991 President of International Association of Theatre Critics Korea
- 1988–1991 Director of Korea Arts & Culture Education Service
- 1992–1994 Chair of Korea Broadcasting Commission
- 1996 Order of Cultural Merit