Gwangcheon-dong, Mr.Kim
Gwangju is known as a key city of democracy in Korea. Kim Hwan-gyung, a young media artist, begins to live in a typical slum, Gwangcheon-dong. The residents share stories about the lives of the early urban poor, the first Gwangju democracy movement, and concerns about rapid redevelopment. Gwangcheon-dong is scheduled to be demolished and disappear entirely by 2024.
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Not long away from the center of Gwangju, an isolated village exists like an island among the concrete jungle. Gwangcheon-dong is a slum area in Gwangju that retains the urban landscape of the 1970s, where coal heating is still in use and everyone washes their laundry in public areas. Gwangcheon-dong, Mr. Kim is an archive project of media artist Kim Hwangyeong while living in Gwangcheon-dong for two years, until the buildings were demolished. The hardware of Gwangcheon-dong, as people may say "Is there such a place in the world these days?" soon transfers into software, filled with the story of the people who were living there. Built in 1966 with the construction of a large industrial complex, there are stories of the lives as workers in the early city, the young people who jumped into Night School Movement, then all finally ignited toward May 18th Gwangju Democratization Movement. As the director’s quote states, “There is no village that is alright to disappear”. (CHUN Jinsu)
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KBC⎜pdh1@ikbc.co.kr
PARK Donghee
KIM Hwangyeong
