Malchukgori, Banpo, the legal district and the Sampoong Department Store collapse feature in the production, set to run Nov. 28-29 at Daehangno
The history of Seocho and the lives of its residents are being brought back to life through an original theatrical production.
Seoul's Seocho-gu announced Friday that the Seocho Theater Association will stage "Seocho Note," an original play drawn from the district's history and the stories of its residents, at Sky Theater in Daehangno on Nov. 28 and 29.
The production was conceived to develop the history and everyday lives of Seocho into a cultural work rooted in the district's own identity. Members of the Seocho Theater Association gathered historical memories and residents' stories from across the neighborhood and wove them into a theatrical narrative. The play was also selected for the 7th Seoul Theater 25 Festival.
At the center of the work stands a single juniper tree that has witnessed Seocho's transformation over the decades. Through the tree as a unifying symbol, the play explores the enduring bonds of family, attachment to one's home and hope for the future — all set against the backdrop of the city's development and growth.
The Malchukgori section portrays the desire to protect one's land and family, while the Banpo segment captures the longing for a sunlit room of one's own. The neighborhood that gave way to the legal district prompts reflection on fairness and human warmth, and the 1995 Sampoong Department Store collapse is revisited through the memories of those who shared in the grief and stood by one another.
Stories from different eras and places are woven together through the juniper tree. The production is particularly meaningful, organizers say, for recovering the voices and traces of residents that might otherwise be forgotten amid the city's drive for development and growth.
Audiences are expected to use the play as an occasion to look back on Seocho's past and present, and to reflect on the communal values and shared memories the district has preserved together.
The play will run three times in total — at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Nov. 28, and at 3 p.m. on Nov. 29. Advance reservations are open to Seocho-gu residents via text message, with free admission of up to four tickets per person.
Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said cultural content that captures a community's history and the lives of its residents "is a precious asset that shapes local identity and binds a community together," adding that he hopes the play will give residents "a fresh encounter with the story of Seocho and a chance to deepen their affection and pride in the district."
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