How are the members of Handong Global University preparing for Korean unification? A professor prepared a performance looking forward to unification. He is Moonwon Lee, from the School of Communication Arts at HGU. Moonwon Lee wrote a play entitled “Anaspora.” Anaspora means 'going back, togetherness' and the play illustrates the experiences of 230,000 North Korean defectors and 3,000 separate families who became marginalized and weak in the world.

Professor Moonwon Lee created this performance and is a representative of Treat Her Company named “C Virus.” He explained the background of the script by saying, "Three years ago, accidently, one student's father, who is a pastor, delivered a sermon regarding North Korean defectors. Since then, I have had great interest in North Korean defectors. Their stories were so touching even though I do not have a separated family. Three years ago, I visited the church and had an in-depth interview with North Korean defectors. By collecting some data I wrote a draft with four inter-connected stories."

The play, “Anaspora,” consists of four different stories about the Korean diaspora. The first is the story of Lee Keundong and Kee Seokchurl who had to bury their friends at the night while gunshots were being fired. The second story is a good memory between Kim Songa and Lee Songji who love each other like sisters. The next story is a weird family story of Songji Lee, who lived with three husbands. The last is a sad American dream story of Joshua and Jessica. These two do not talk about North Korean defectors or unification. These stories are for those who cannot settle down in our society.

Professor Lee said, "I hope people will view this play from the perspective of a stranger who has no connection with the drama. I don’t want people to take the view of the North Korean defectors. This play focuses the attention of South Korean citizens toward North Korean defectors, shows the rising problems between South and North Koreans, and their sorrows. Through these dots, we are all connected. I hope that we can feel other’s tragedy or sufferings as if they were ours. “

“Anaspora” was selected as one of the top eleven works among seventy at the 2016 U Theater Festival. Based on these results, the play was performed on the stage at U Theater, Chungdamdong, Seoul in April.

 ※ Terminology

- Diaspora (Greek, Noun): Diaspora is a scattered population whose origin lies within a smaller geographic locale. Diaspora has come to refer particularly to historical mass dispersions of an involuntary nature, such as the expulsion of the Jews from Judea.

- U Theater Festival: A project led by the former Minister of Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Yoo In-chon, to revitalize small theater plays. For groups who created fresh academic attempts, the admission fees were subsidized so the audience could enjoy the play for only 10,000 won per day.

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