Were he alive, (이중섭) Lee Jung-seop would turn 100 next year. The artist and his work are still at the forefront of island art, and there are a number of events planned to honor the anniversary of his birth. Mike Balfour has more.

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Lee Jung-seop (1916-1956) took refuge in Seogwipo

Following the outbreak of the Korean War, Lee Jung-seop and his family took refuge in Seogwipo where the artist painted pictures against a backdrop of the area.

There was an event to reminisce about the Korea’s representative oil painter through a screening of a 1997 video of the ceremony opening Lee Jung-seop Street.

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Lee’s family’s time in Seogwipo described as ‘happiest year’

The artist lived with his family in Seogwipo for a year. His wife described this time as the happiest year of her life.

INTERVIEW
Lee Nam-deok / Lee Jung-seop’s wife
Seogwipo was warm and beautiful even during the Korean War. We were refugees and so we were financially embarrassed, but it didn’t matter. Seogwipo is my second hometown.
< 이남덕 / 故 이중섭 화백 부인 (1997년 이중섭 거리 선포식 中) >
6.25사변 때도 이곳 서귀포는 따뜻하고 아름다운 곳이었습니다. 비록 피난민이라 경제 여건은 어려웠습니다만 저에게는 마음의 고향입니다.

Lee Jung-Seop, who lived only until age 40, was remembered by poet Jo Byeong-hwa as the elder brother imbued with the spirits of great artists.

INTERVIEW
Jo Byeong-hwa / Poet (1997)
My brother, Lee Jung-seop, rests in peace here and he will always be a twinkling star in the sky along with the spirits of other great artists.
< 故 조병화 / 시인 (1997년 이중섭 거리 선포식 中) >
형은 이곳에서 아무 걱정없이 편안히 민족의 영광으로 예술의 빛나는 영혼으로 영원불멸의 창조의 별로 떠 있으리니...

2016 marks 100 years since this well-known artist was born.

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Many special exhibits and performances planned

A number of events including special exhibits, film screenings and seminars were held this year.

During the next year, some of his paintings will be open to the public for the first time and performances including an operetta and a play about his life in Seogwipo will come to the stage.

INTERVIEW
Hong Myeong-pyo / Chair, Lee Jung-seop project committee
As the years flow on, people are forgetting the great artist and his importance. I believe we should honor and remember him.
< 홍명표 / 이중섭 탄생 100주년 기념사업추진위원장 >
도민들은 이제 세월이 흐르다 보니까 이중섭의 가치를 모르잖아요. 다시 한번 이중섭의 가치를 재인식하도록 해야 하지 않을까 생각합니다.

[REPORTER]
Mike Balfour

With the many special exhibits and performances planned for the new year, Lee Jung-seop is slowly but undeniably becoming Seogwipo’s representative cultural icon.

Mike Balfour KCTV