Yi Yun-taek (Korean: 이윤택) is a poet, dramatist, and producer.[1]
Yi Yun-taek | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1952-07-09) July 9, 1952 (age 70) Busan, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea |
| Occupation |
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| Alma mater | Korea National Open University |
| Period | 1978—2018 |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | |
| Hanja | |
| Revised Romanization | I Yun-taek |
| McCune–Reischauer | I Yunt'aek |
Yi Yun-taek was born July 9, 1952 in South Korea.[2] A poet, dramatist and producer, Yi Yun-taek debuted in 1979 with Jack-O-Lantern (Dokkaebi bul) which appeared in the magazine Contemporary Poetry. As the 1970s ended Yi worked as a reporter for Busan Daily while also focusing on writing and staging plays. In 1986, Yi formed his own theatrical company called Yeonhuidan georipae in Busan and since that time has traveled around the country staging plays.[1]
According to the Korea Literature Translation Institute:
Yi has proved his talents many times over through his production of movie scenarios, TV drama scripts, dance and musical stagings, and theatrical programs for international events. He is not only able to span a broad range of artistic forms, but also brings something new and experimental to each project he undertakes. He injects Korean sentiment and unique humor into his art forms, and is thus widely known as a “cultural guerilla.”[1] While Yi’s themes generally contain something of the dark and serious, his stages teem with a vibrant energy. His plays contemplate and investigate human “lives” inching their way to their mortality. Even after a hearty laugh, the audience is always left with much to reflect on.[1]
Yi has been active as a director at the National Theatre, where he directed a musical version of Shakespeare’s The Tempest in 1999. His production of a musical entitled Dreaming at Hwaseong (Hwaseong-eseo ggum ggunda) performed at world cultural heritage sites, is but one[1] of his many continuing theatrical experimentations.
His movies have included:[3]
On February 13, 2018, several women, including former actress Kim Soo-hee and actress Hong Seon-joo, accused Yi Yun-taek of sexual harassment.[4] Yi allegedly forced many women in his theater troupe, for 18 years, to massage his genital area prior to raping them.[5] In addition, Kim Soo-hee stated that in 2005, Yi raped her and got her pregnant, for which she had an abortion.[6] Moreover, actress Hong Seon-joo alleged that Yi forcibly penetrated her private part with sticks and wooden chopsticks, saying it will help her vocalization.[7] As a result, Yi resigned from all his positions in the theater world and formally apologized to the victims.[8][9]
Four contemporary Korean plays (이윤택 희곡선)