Created a narrated musical drama to remember the life of Udang Lee Hoe-yeong who practiced noblesse oblige... Available for viewing on Jongno Cultural Foundation YouTube from December 1 to 31
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu is producing a narrated musical drama titled 'Tongin-dong 128 Beonji,' which tells the story of the Udang Lee Hoe-young family, as part of a local historical figure discovery project, and will release it online throughout December.
Tongin-dong 128 Beonji is the registered address of the Lee Hoe-young family after liberation, who in the winter of 1910 willingly sold all their property and crossed the Yalu River with the entire family to fight for independence. When the Udang Lee Hoe-young family fled to China to continue the independence movement but returned to Joseon due to lack of funds, the place they stayed was Tongin-dong 128 Beonji in Jongno-gu.
The Lee Hoe-young family, descendants of Baeksa Lee Hang-bok, was one of the most prestigious families of the time, fitting the description of a Samhan Gapjok (a noble family of the Three Kingdoms period). They inherited large lands not only in the Myeong-dong and Namdaemun areas but also in Namyangju, making them one of the wealthiest families in Joseon.
It is a well-known story that despite being able to live comfortably during the Japanese colonial period, they sold all their property and crossed the Yalu River. The independence movement history of the Lee Hoe-young family can also be glimpsed through 'Seogando Sijonggi' (1966), written by Lee Eun-sook, the wife of Mr. Lee and a fellow independence activist, after liberation.
The newly produced narrated musical drama 'Tongin-dong 128 Beonji' is based on the story of Udang Lee Hoe-young and his wife Lee Eun-sook, portraying the life of a family who risked everything for the country's independence.
Jongno-gu and the Jongno Cultural Foundation focused on the story behind why their registered address became Tongin-dong 128 Beonji in Jongno-gu and planned this project to remember the life of Udang Lee Hoe-young, who practiced noblesse oblige. Additionally, they aimed to increase public appeal by composing it in the form of a musical drama combining narration and music.
After basic research, the work will be released on the Jongno Cultural Foundation's YouTube channel from December 1 to 31, with plans for a stage performance in the future.
A district official stated, "This work was completed based on historical facts in cooperation with the Udang Lee Hoe-young Education and Culture Foundation," adding, "We hope this work will help people remember the Lee Hoe-young family crossing the icy Yalu River in the winter of 1910. We will continue to highlight historical and cultural figures of Jongno and present various projects to honor them."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
