Park Jeong-hee, director and artistic director of the National Theater Company, stated, “I will create works that can enter the overseas market to elevate the status of Korean theater.” Park, who took office in April, explained the direction of the theater company for the next three years at a press conference held at the Myeongdong Art Theater in Seoul on the 16th. Under the slogan of ‘Korea’s representative theater company beloved by all citizens’, Park emphasized strengthening the theater company system, diversifying the theatrical colors, and developing a repertoire considering international exchanges as key tasks.
Park mentioned, “While there have been cases where works collaborated with foreign directors have been presented abroad, there were only a few works created solely by the National Theater Company other than ‘The Orphans of Joso, The Seeds of Revenge,'” expressing his intent to actively develop new repertoires with overseas market in mind. He plans to hire an international exchange producer, explore the possibility of overseas market through international networks, and continue collaborating with foreign creative and production teams.
Park also highlighted the utilization and enhancement of the Myeongdong Art Theater, the exclusive theater for the National Theater Company. They plan to increase the number of annual productions from 5-6 to 8-10, aiming to raise the current theater operation rate in the 60% range to around 90%. Considering the theater’s location in a tourist center, they are seeking ways to attract foreign audiences. Park stated, “We will achieve the ‘Renaissance of Myeongdong Art Theater’ by improving the quality of productions and occupancy rate.”
The National Theater Company will return to the Namsan National Theater next year. It has been 15 years since the transition from a government agency to a foundation and relocation to Seogye-dong in 2010. Park mentioned, “Starting next year, we will be able to meet audiences at the National Theater,” and added that in the Haoreum Theater, they will present large-scale works based on Korean themes and forms that can acquire universal appeal, and in the Daloreum Theater, they will showcase contemporary issue-based works.
In addition to these plans, the National Theater Company will establish a new playwriting contest, diversify the recipients of artist creation support programs, and expand accessibility performances, including ‘Open Seats.’ Park, who majored in theater studies at Goethe University Frankfurt in Germany, has directed artistically acclaimed works such as ‘Cheolro,’ ‘The Maids,’ ‘Yi Young-nyeo,’ and has won numerous theater awards.