Korean Job Discussion Forums

[igotthisguitar]

Gay Marriage

A judge argues Korea should permit legal unions of gay couples.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200512/200512130029.html

A clear reflection of priorities & values. Personally i'm waiting for the day when one of these rubber-heads calls for the "legal"-i-za-tion of something a little more green, organic, and natural.

No kids, i'm not talking about any god-awful 150% proof soju either.

[riley]

huh? What's wrong with gay marriage? Let them experience the frustrtation we breeders go through.
by the way, I was expecting something more from the title.

[seoulunitarian]

this is refreshing news

[Alias]

Who would have guessed that men would be able to marry each other before smoking a little weed became legal?

[plattwaz]

Huh?

I'm confused...

I thought there were no gays in Korea?

[Ya-ta Boy]

Korea used to be 20 or more years behind everyone else. It's been my contention for a long time that they are catching up with everyone else. For good or ill.

[Hollywoodaction]

[canuckistan]

Very surprising for Korea!

What's the big deal anyways, if 2 people (and I don't care which 2 people) want to make a committment and formalize it, all the better.

[Hollywoodaction]

[igotthisguitar]

Hmmmmm ... i wonder if the timing of the judge's expressed views, latent values, & legislative "priorities" have anything to do with the release of this movie?

Joong-ang Daily, November 30th, 2005
King Yeonsan(1476~1506) and his concubine Jang Nok-su.

Nobody could live more dramatic life than theirs. Losing his mother in childhood, King Yeonsan brandished his sword to revenge his mother's murderers. Meanwhile, promoted from a slave to the king's concubine, Jang Nok-su went down in Korean history as one of the most famous femme fatal. Their dramatic life story has been made movie or drama over and over again.

However, what about adding jesters to the story? If they satirize the king and his subjects in the palace? If the story contains a slight homosexual code?

The King's Man

The theatrical play titled "Yi" shows such a shocking story. The original performance of the play was shown 5 years ago (in 2000), which threw the Korean theatrical world into an uproar and swept almost every major theatrical awards in 2001. This year, renewed "Yi" will be performed at "Theatre YONG" in the National Museum of Korea from December 6th, 2005.

In addition, the movie version of "Yi", renamed "The King's Man", will be on screen in theatres from December 29th, 2005. The Joong-ang Daily met with Kim Tae-wung(40), the director and dramatist of the play "Yi", and Yi Jun-ik(46), the director of the movie "The King's Man" to ask them what they think about jesters, satire, and history as well as what the difference between play and movie is.

A jester challenges the king
"Yi" means the honorific title used by a king to call his subject. During the reign of King Yeonsan, there lived two jesters named Gong-gil and Jang-saeng. With excellent humor and satire, the two jesters were employed by the tyrannical King Yeonsan. In particular, Gong-gil, a man with a feminine look and soul, came to be loved by the king and promoted to a high rank official. The king's concubine Jang Nok-su, blinded by jealousy, plotted to kill Gong-gil.

What is true in this provocative story? Kim Tae-wung, the director of the play, answered "Gong-gil is real." The Annual of Chosun dynasty recorded as follows: "jester Gong-gil satirized the king by saying "King and his subjects are unworthy of their titles." He is supposed to be a brave and outspoken person. However, it is not true that Gong-gil was the king's lover.

"Homosexuality was quite common among Namsadangpae (jesters) during Chosun period. Based on the fact and the king's indiscriminate sexual behaviors in real history, I created the homosexual relationship between the king and Gong-gil " said Director Kim.

On the contrary, movie "The King's Man" focuses on another jester named Jang-saeng who is a fictional character. Director Yi Jun-ik said "Jest and satire Korean jesters had are the counterparts of humor and wit Western jesters had. Korean jesters were good at pithy satire on the ruling class. To emphasize their high spirit, I needed to focus on Jang-saeng who is independent rather than Gong-gil who belongs to the king" The director added his provocative interpretation. " Jang-saeng stands up against King Yeonsan surrounding Gong-gil. He can speak anything he wants without hesitation when he walks on a tightrope, even though he is a lowly jester. At the moment, he becomes the ruler of another world."

Beyond jests and stunts
Contrary to the serious theme, "Yi" is very comical and makes audience laugh into convulsions with its traditional play within play called "Sohakjihi" which originated from the jester's farce in Koryo period. "Sohakjihi" satirized bribery and scandal of noble class, through which Koryo kings could indirectly grasp the domestic situation. It was a sort of satirical comedy.

On the contrary, the movie focuses on "tightrope walking" rather than farce. A theatrical stage can be filled with actor's words while the movie screen requires dynamic actions to draw attention. A play is performed in a closed space while a movie is evolved in an open space. That's the distinguished difference between play and movie. "The dizzying tightrope walking symbolizes the unexpected dangerous fate of the jesters." said Director Yi.

Both the play and the movie, based on the same work, are raising questions about what 'jester' or 'jest' is. What do the two directors think about it?

Director Kim said "jesters can sing an optimistic song even for a tough life. Their jest contains brightness to push the life's shadow aside"

However, Director Yi said cynically "Jest is a kind of power. Gathering a crowd generates the power. In the past, politics and economy played the role, but now the jest is doing the same thing."

Which jester will make the audience rave more?

[Satori]

Indeed, gays have the right to be as miserable as the rest of us...

[igotthisguitar]