Zainichi playwright lingers on stories of survival
“Sumire Hair Salon,” a play by Zainichi playwright and director Jeong Ui-sin, 69, tells the story of an ethnically Korean family living in a coal-mining town in Kyushu, Japan, in the 1960s. At the center of the story is Sumi, the second of three sisters, who dreams of opening a hair salon. A series of tragedies unfolds, including a mining accident and seizures caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.…
"Sumire Hair Salon," a play penned by Zainichi playwright and director Jeong Ui-sin, 69, delves into the lives of an ethnically Korean family residing in a coal-mining town in Japan's Kyushu region during the 1960s. The narrative revolves around Sumi, the second among three sisters, who harbors aspirations of establishing a hair salon.
However, their lives are marred by a series of calamities, including a mining mishap and bouts of carbon monoxide poisoning leading to seizures. Despite the overwhelming despair, Sumi's father implores her and her husband to persevere. "Sumire Hair Salon" marks the concluding chapter of Jeong's "Zainichi trilogy," which commenced with "For Example, Like a Flower Blooming in the Field" (2007) and continued with "Yakiniku Dragon" (2008).
After an interval of fourteen years since its Japanese debut, the play is making its debut performance for Korean audiences at M Theater, Sejong Center for the Performing Arts. A recent encounter with Jeong at the Sejong Center revealed that he was born and raised in Himeji, Japan, a locality boasting a substantial Zainichi population—ethnic Koreans whose lineage extends generations within the country.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 1 other outlet
- Zainichi playwright lingers on stories of survival koreatimes.co.kr
