Yi Sang-woo explained

Yi Sang-woo
Other Names:Lee Sang-woo
Birth Date:10 October 1951
Birth Place:South Korea
Years Active:1978–present
Alma Mater:Department of Aesthetics from Seoul National University
Module:
Child:yes
Headercolor:transparent
Hangul:이상우
Rr:I Sang-u
Mr:Ri Sang-u

Yi Sang-woo (born 1951), is a South Korean film director, screenwriter and actor. Yi earned his degree in the Department of Aesthetics at Seoul National University. In 1977, he played a significant role in the establishment of the Yeonwoo Stage theater company and, in 1995, he founded the Chaimu Theater Company. Currently, he is the artistic director of Chaimu and holds a professorship at the Theater Department of Korea National University of Arts, where he was previously the director.[1]

Since 1978, Yi has directed a wide range of plays, including The Sculptor and the Detective, Unification Express, The Tale of a Thief, Pig Hunt, No Words, The Tale of Tail Cotton, Mae of Cape Jangsan, Chilsu and Mansu and Balsam Flower Water. He also worked on adaptations such as Changes, Korea Fantasy and There, as well as directed translations of plays like The Pitmen Painters, Almost, Maine, Love, Love, Love and The Cosmonaut's Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union. In addition to his theater work, he has written screenplays and directed films, including A Little Pond.

Career

Theater troupe Yeonwoo

In 1977, three alumni of the Seoul National University theater club, Yi (class of '70), Jung Han-ryong (class of '64) and Kim Kwang-rim (class of '71), worked together at the same company, OriCom after graduation. They decided to establish a theater company together and named it "Yeongwoo" (演友), which signifies "friends who love theater". The parents of the four founders were from Hamgyeong Province. Later, dental surgeon Oh Jong-woo, Lee Young-hoon, the director of the Gyeongju National Museum and Cho Woo-hyun, a professor at Inha University, joined the group. They were also alumni of the Seoul National University theater club.[2]

In 1978, He made his directorial debut with the play The Sculptor and the Detective. He has directed a wide range of plays, including The Tale of a Thief, Mae of Cape Jangsan, Chilsu and Mansu and Balsam Flower Water.

In 1987, he directed the play Chilsu and Mansu. He won a Directing Award from The 23rd Dong-A Theater Awards and The 23rd Baeksang Arts Awards.[3] [4]

Theater troupe Chaimu

In 1995, the Chaimu theater group was founded by Yi with founding members including Kim Gwang-rim, Kim Seok-man and Jung Han-ryong. The group includes notable actors such as Moon Sung-keun, Yoo Oh-sung and Song Kang-ho.[5] The troupe's name, "Chaimu", "means "dimensional movement stage".[6]

Their inaugural production, Playland, was held from September 8 to October 8 at Hakjeon Blue Theater. It is based on Adol Hugard's altered worldview, aiming to resolve racial tensions between black and white races and to heal the shattered human soul through genuine confessions between the two. Moon Sung-keun, who had been mostly active in movies and TV, took the role of Gide and returned to the theater stage after three years. Ryu Tae-ho, a young theater actor concurrently filming the movie Porn Man, portrayed the character Marty.

The strength of this group lies in the talented actors like Kang Shin-il, Lee Dae-yeon, Lee Sung-min, Choi Duk-moon and Jeon Hye-jin, who have made their mark in various fields including film and drama, showcasing their solid acting skills. They also excel in creating stage adaptations that reflect reality in a delightful manner. As a result, they have received great love and have a wide repertoire that has sustained its popularity.[7]

The five representative works of Chaimu exemplify its distinctive features. Some of these works have been performed for 25 years since their premiere, yet they continue to resonate with audiences through their diverse narratives.

Film Director debut

In 2009, Yi Sang-woo's first film as director, A Little Pond, was released. It is a historical film that exposes the massacre of civilians in Nogeun-ri during the Korean War, when American soldiers killed South Koreans who were seeking refuge. Yi Sang-woo initially planned the project as a documentary but later changed it into a feature film due to insufficient investment. The film was completed after an extensive production period of eight years, including four years of on-site research. Its most significant achievement lies in its realistic portrayal of the long-suppressed Nogeun-ri incident.[8]

Unlike typical war films, A Little Pond treats all characters as main characters without a specific protagonist. Notably, theater actors such as Moon Seong-geun, Kang Shin-il, Lee Dae-yeon and Park Gwang-jeong participated in the film out of their commitment to its significance, appearing without any guarantee. It received high praise for its authentic depiction of a hidden historical event, but it also faced criticism for its perceived lack of cinematic quality.

Filmography

Film

Year! scope="col" colspan="2"
TitleCredited as
EnglishKoreanScriptwriterDirector
1988Chil-su and Man-su칠수와 만수Yi Sang-wooPark Kwang-soo[9]
1994Out to the World세상 밖으로Yeo Kyun-Dong[10]
1995Sunset Into the Neon Lights네온 속으로 노을지다Lee Hyun-seung[11]
1998Film-making죽이는 이야기Yeo Kyun-Dong[12]
2000La Belle미인[13]
2010A Little PondKorean: 작은 연못Yi Sang-woo

Theater

Musical and Opera

Year! colspan="2" scope="col"
TitleCredited as
EnglishKoreanTranslationAdaptationPlaywrightDirector
1995Musical: "I Will Become a Star,"뮤지컬 '스타가 될꺼야'Yi Sang-wooYi Sang-woo[14]
1979Opera: Marriage결혼Yi Sang-woo Yi Sang-woo

Theater

Year! colspan="2" scope="col"
TitleCredited as
EnglishKoreanTranslationAdaptationPlaywrightDirector
1978The Sculptor and the Detective조각가와 탐정Oh Jong-wooYi Sang-woo[15]
1979Our Afterlife우리들의 저승Kim Kwang-rim Yi Sang-woo[16]
1980Ma at Jangsan Pass장산곶 매Yi Sang-woo Yi Sang-woo[17]
1981Children of Darkness어둠의 자식들Yi Sang-wooYi Sang-woo[18]
1986Chilsu and Mansu칠수와 만수Yi Sang-woo, Oh Jong-WooYi Sang-woo[19]
1989The Story of an Old Thief늙은 도둑 이야기Yi Sang-wooYi Sang-woo[20]
1990Bosunga Flower Water봉숭이 꽃물Yi Sang-wooYi Sang-woo[21]
1992Cooney Country - Wonderland쿠니 나라 - 이상한 나라Yi Sang-wooBertolt BrechtYi Sang-woo[22]
1994April 94월9일Yi Sang-wooYi Sang-woo[23]
1994Apartment's Leucistrate - Let's unify men and women아파트의 류씨스트라테 - 남녀통일합시다Yi Sang-WooAristophanesYi Sang-woo[24]
1995Playland플레이랜드Yi Sang-wooAthol FugardYi Sang-woo[25]
1996The Dwarf Shoots a Small Ball난장이가 쏘아올린 작은 공Yi Sang-wooJo Se-heeYi Sang-woo[26]
1996Be Unspoken비언소Yi Sang-wooYi Sang-woo, Park Gwang-jeong[27]
1997Peace평화 씨Yi Sang-WooAristophanesYi Sang-woo[28]
1997Fish Man물고기 남자Lee Kang-baekYi Sang-woo[29]
1998Moral thiefKorean: 도덕적 도둑Yi Sang-WooYi Sang-woo[30]
1999Unification Express통일 익스프레스Oh Tae-youngYi Sang-woo[31]
2000Korea Fantasy마르고 닳도록Lee Kang-baekYi Sang-woo[32]
2003Pig Hunting돼지 사냥Yi Sang-wooMin Bok-ki[33]
2007Change변Hwang Ji-woo, Yi Sang-wooYi Sang-woo[34]
2010The Pitmen Painters광부화가들Yi Sang-WooLee HallYi Sang-woo[35]
2010–2011Almost, Maine올모스트 메인Yi Sang-WooJohn CarianiYi Sang-woo[36]
2013Love, Love, Love러브 러브 러브Yi Sang-WooMike BartlettYi Sang-woo[37]
2014The Cosmonaut's Last Message to the Woman He Once Loved in the Former Soviet Union한때 사랑했던 여자에게 보내는 구소련 우주비행사의 마지막 메시지David GreigYi Sang-woo[38]
2016Twenty Twenty Chaimu - Tail Cotton Story스물스물 차이무 - 꼬리솜 이야기Yi Sang-WooYi Sang-Woo[39]
That place - 2016 Series theatre full (滿員) - Seongnam거기-2016 시리즈 연극 만원(滿員) - 성남Seong Su-jeongYi Sang-wooConor McPhersonYi Sang-woo[40]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultRef
198723rd Dong-A Theatre AwardsBest DirectorChilsu and Mansu[41]
23rd Baeksang Arts AwardsBest Director — Theater
1995The 1st Korea Musical AwardsPlay of the Year AwardI Will Become a Star
1998Korea Theater Association Award Best Director — TheaterMoral Thief
1999Korean Theater Association Play of the Year AwardUnification Express[42]
2000Korean Theater Association AwardBest DirectorKorea Fantasy[43]
20023rd Kim Sang-ryeol Theater AwardTheater AwardYi Sang-Woo[44]
Korea Theater Critics AssociationPlay of the Year AwardThere
Korean Theater Association AwardPlay of the Year Award

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 문화알리미. 2023-08-24 . Naver Blog.
  2. Web site: 2007-07-24 . [문화]30년 대학로 지킨 연우무대 사람들 ]. 2023-08-24 . . ko.
    - Web site: 연우무대 . 2023-08-24 . Naver . ko.
  3. Web site: 동아연극상 . 2023-08-24 . The Dong-a Ilbo.
    - Web site: 제23회 백상예술대상 . 2023-08-24 . terms.naver.com . ko.
  4. Web site: 칠수와 . 2023-08-24 . . ko.
  5. Web site: 2015-10-30 . 송강호·유오성 배출한 극단 '차이무'…20년간 버텨온 저력 . 2023-08-24 . No Cut News.
  6. Web site: 극단 차이무의 '플레이랜드' . 2023-08-24 . . ko.
  7. Web site: 공연의 모든 것 - 플레이DB . 2023-08-24 . www.playdb.co.kr.
  8. Web site: 작은연못 . 2023-08-24 . terms.naver.com . ko.
  9. Web site: 칠수와 만수 . 2023-08-24 . terms.naver.com . ko.
  10. Web site: 세상 밖으로 . 2023-08-24 . terms.naver.com . ko.
  11. Web site: 네온 속으로 노을지다 . 2023-08-24 . terms.naver.com . ko.
  12. Web site: 죽이는 이야기 . 2023-08-24 . terms.naver.com . ko.
  13. Web site: 미인 . 2023-08-24 . 다음영화 . ko.
  14. Web site: 극단 사조 '인터내셔날 에어포트' 공연 외 . 2023-08-25 . . ko.
  15. Web site: 조각가와 탐정 . The Sculptor and the Detective . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts . ko.
  16. Web site: 우리들의 저승 . Our Afterlife . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts . ko.
  17. Web site: 장산곶 매 . Ma at Jangsan Pass . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts . ko.
  18. Web site: 어둠의 자식들 . Children of Darkness . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts . ko.
  19. Web site: 1980-06-06 . 칠수와 만수(이상우) . 2023-08-24 . 다음 백과 . ko.
  20. Web site: (제1회) 동숭연극제 ; 늙은 도둑 이야기 . (The 1st) Dongsung Theatre Festival ; The Story of an Old Thief . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts . ko.
  21. Web site: 비 . Bi . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts . ko.
  22. Web site: 쿠니 나라 - 이상한 나라 . Cooney Country - Wonderland . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts . ko.
  23. Web site: 4월9일 . April 9 . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts . ko.
  24. Web site: 아파트의 류씨스트라테 - 남녀통일합시다 . Apartment's Leucistrate - Let's unify men and women . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts . ko.
  25. Web site: 플레이랜드 . Playland . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts . ko.
  26. Web site: 난장이가 쏘아올린 작은 공 . The Dwarf Shoots a Small Ball . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts. ko.
  27. Web site: 비언소 . Bi Aeonso . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts. ko.
  28. Web site: 평화 씨 . Peace . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts . ko.
  29. Web site: 극단 연극세상의 「물고기 남자」 . 2023-08-24 . 언론사 뷰.
  30. Web site: 도덕적 도둑 - '98 신춘 단막극 연속공연 . Moral Thief - '98 New Year's Day One-Act Serial Performance . 2023-02-11 . DA-arts.
  31. Web site: 가상 통일이야기 그린 연극 「통일 익스프레스」 . 2023-08-24 . 언론사 뷰.
  32. Web site: 국립극단 디지털 아카이브 — 마르고 닳도록(2000, 서울) . 2023-08-24 . archive.ntck.or.kr.
  33. Web site: 생연극시리즈 5탄, 차이무의 「돼지사냥」 . 2023-08-24 . 언론사 뷰.
  34. Web site: 정 . 순민 . 2007-08-09 . 여름 무더위 날리는 '3色 연극' . 2023-08-24 . . ko-KR.
  35. Web site: 2010-04-18 . 영화 '빌리 엘리어트' 리 홀의 신작 '광부화가들' 연극 무대 . 2023-08-24 . . ko.
  36. Web site: Lee . Young-kyung . 오늘밤, 오로라가 뜬다! 연극 '올모스트, 메인(ALMOST, MAINE)' . 2023-02-08 . Newstage . ko.
  37. Web site: 잘했군잘했어 이선균·전혜진, 연극 '러브러브러브' . 2023-02-08 . entertain.naver.com . ko.
  38. Web site: 2014-04-24 . [리뷰] 까만 밤, 반짝거리는 인간의 외로움… 연극 '한때 사랑했던 여자에게 보내는 구소련 우주비행사의 마지막 메시지' ]. 2023-08-24 . 뉴스컬처 (NEWSCULTURE) . ko.
  39. Web site: 2015-12-30 . 가슴 한 켠이 따뜻해 지는 그 겨울 풍경, 스물스물 차이무 마지막 연극 '양덕원 이야기' . 2023-08-24 . 100세시대의 동반자 브릿지경제 . ko.
  40. Web site: 2016-07-31 . 성남아트센터, 2016년 8월 공연·전시 일정 . 2023-08-24 . 분당신문.
  41. Web site: 조선일보 인물검색 모바일 . 2023-08-24 . cdb.chosun.com . ko.
  42. Web site: 임 . 형두 . 연극협회, '우수공연 베스트5' 선정 . 2023-08-24 . . ko.
  43. Web site: "2000년 연극상" 수상자 발표 . 2023-08-24 . . ko.
  44. Web site: 국립극단 디지털 아카이브 — 이상우 . 2023-08-24 . archive.ntck.or.kr.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Yi Sang-woo".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2025, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.