The Tale of Wang Seogae
울산광역시 중구 성안1길 101
Every winter, a new theatrical work arrives in Ulsan, and this year’s stage belongs to The Tale of Wang Seogae.
Quiet yet powerful, this play follows one man’s lifelong search for truth, inviting the audience to reflect on dignity, normalcy, and how easily we judge others.
A Winter Stage in Ulsan
Every winter, new theatrical art comes to Ulsan.
This year’s performance, The Tale of Wang Seogae, presents a poignant story of a man searching for truth.
Set between Manchuria in the 1930s and Japan in the 1950s, the play quietly unfolds across turbulent historical moments.
Selected for the Ulsan Cultural Tourism Foundation’s 2025 Arts Creation Support Project, the work returned to the stage this year, following its presentation last year.
The Beginning of the Search
In 1932, Wang Seogae lives in Manchuria, making a living by hunting hawks.
His life collapses when his family is killed during an attack by the Kwantung Army.
After the war, he moves to Japan, changes his name to Wang Genjo, and runs a small shop in Yokohama’s Chinatown.
A Single Question, Twenty-One Years Later
One ordinary day, Wang Genjo goes to deliver goods to Ichigo, a long-time business partner.
As enka music plays, he listens to Ichigo’s familiar complaints about cigarettes and tea.
Just as he prepares to leave, a single remark stops him.
“That box looks old.”
With that comment, Wang Genjo finally asks a question he has held inside for 21 years.
He sets out to find the five people who once visited his village, determined to hear their answers.
An Ordinary Man at the Edge of Society
The play follows Wang Seogae’s life and relationships as someone positioned on the margins of society.
Rather than relying on dramatic events, the story allows the audience to focus closely on each word and gesture.
Wang Seogae is not portrayed as extraordinary.
He is shown as an ordinary person, someone who could exist anywhere.
Through his life, the play quietly reveals how easily people are judged, labeled, and defined.
Quiet Storytelling That Lingers
The narrative does not feel explanatory or preachy.
Instead, it unfolds calmly, making it easy to follow while leaving space for thought.
There are no overwhelming emotional surges or flashy scenes.
Yet after the curtain falls, the story continues to resonate.
Words such as “dignity” and “normalcy” naturally return to mind, asking to be reconsidered.
For Those Who Enjoy Everyday Stories
If you enjoy stories about everyday people and quiet lives, this work feels deeply relatable.
It does not aim for loud laughter or tears.
Instead, it gently settles into the audience’s thoughts.
For those seeking a play that stays with you long after it ends, The Tale of Wang Seogae is well worth experiencing.
A Winter Tradition by Dapda
Every winter, the theater company Dapda presents historical plays that quietly conclude the year.
Through these works, Dapda has formed a distinct theatrical identity in Ulsan.
The urgency and sincerity felt in their historical storytelling create a tension that somehow warms the body during cold winters.
There is much anticipation for the powerful performances Dapda will continue to bring in the years ahead.
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Source : https://blog.naver.com/ulsan_nuri/224111345868
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