The “Rediscovery of Korean Modern Drama” series ─ Winner of the Dong-A Theater awards with a seat occupancy ratio of 90%

After giving an extraordinary impression and sense of enjoyment to its viewers by discovering unfound gems in the world of Korean drama, the “Rediscovery of the Modern Drama” series is back with playwriter Lee Yong Chan’s “A Family” which was the first-prize winner of the First NTC Korea’s Multi-Act Drama Competition. A father, who has lived an eventful life, and his children, who resent him and long for him at the same time, push through each day in the name of the family. Jongdal, who has long become timid due to his father’s extremely high expectations, and his family are struck by a mysterious murder. Who could be the murderer? The audience will be overwhelmed by the suffering and pain of the modern Korean history which are reflected in the stressful life of this family, as well as by the old and fun memories of barely making home before curfew.

“If this play had not been shown on stage at this very time, it would have been lost forever.” - The Kyunghyang Shinmun

Writer Lee Yong Chan, who gave birth to several popular TV dramas including <Hanjungnok>, caused a major sensation in his times by integrating the cinematic technique “flashback” into plays for the first time. The late Lee Hae Rang, who was an actor and a director, has celebrated the emergence of this new writer by saying, “His sophisticated dramaturgy of developing a new scene is so exceptional that it can even be said that the works are by no means of a rookie.” NTC Korea’s seasonal members Lee Ki Don and Kim Jeong Ho, who have attracted attention on <The Comedy of Errors> and <The Mud Hut>, will star as Jongdal and the father respectively in 2017 NTC Korea’s <A Family> to portray the father and son’s love-hate relationship.

Synopsis

Kicheol, who has gained extreme wealth and power due to his business endeavors before the nation’s liberation from Japan, strives to raise his children Jongdal, Jongsu and Aeri to be the most successful figures in Korea. His first son Jongdal, in particular, is never allowed to do anything without the father’s permission, all the while being forced to be the successor of his father’s business. After the liberation, however, the family rapidly goes downhill as Kicheol jumps into the world of politics and is even urged by Im Bong Wu, a nasty loan shark, to pay the debt. But one day, the case of Im Bong Wu's death after falling down the stairs of a bar is revealed…

Writer Lee Yong Chan

A native of Seoul, Korea, Playwright Lee Yong Chan attended Kyunggi High School and graduated from Yeonsei University as a philosophy major. His official debut as a playwright was in 1956 with <A Family>, which won the first place in NTC Korea’s Multi Act Drama Competition. Lee was one of the representative rising playwrights in the 50’s who presented works that portray the collapse of the traditional values and the rise of the new values due to the Korean War. While his start was plays, today, he is recognized as one of the first generations of Korea’s TV drama writers as he actively expanded the scope of his work to TV dramas and movie scenarios.

Director Koo Tae Hwan

- Representative of Drama Company Soo

- Professor of Performing Arts Studies at Incheon National University

With his exquisite directing skills, which successfully satisfy both artistic values and public taste in all his works, Koo has recently emerged as one of the preeminent directors. Koo always contemplates what things may only be possible on the stage and he tries to present new perspectives to the audience. It will be worth looking forward to the rediscovery of another modern drama <A Family> by Koo’s unique style.