일제강점기 공연예술의 터, 극장

Abstract

The examination into the history of theater, the cradle of modern performing arts in the period of imperial Japan`s rule over Korea, is crucial to establishing the framework for development of modern Korean dance history. This study comes to the following conclusions: First, it is found that the historical backgrounds of modern theater establishment in Korea include historical flows from new culture of western Powers during the age of enlightenment around the late 1800`s, people`s changing cultural desires, policies to liquidate the traditional culture of original Korean nation under the rule of imperial Japan, capitalistic society`s pursuit of commercial interests, modern Korea`s national adherence to its original national culture to resist the influence of imperial Japan, and charity works for relief to people in need during hard days of modern Korea under the rule of imperial Japan. Secondly, it is found that a series of theaters followed by Hyeomryulsa had modern performing facilities and performance and ended up in establishment of a foundation for modern Korean performing culture. Hyeom-ryulsa and Wongaksa gave birth to theatrical performance for the first time in the history of Korea, and these two modern theaters were originally designed to separate performers from audience in hall, so that they established a framework for the modern form of watching modern performing arts. Gwangmudae was also a modern theater that could maintain Korean traditional arts owing to theater owner`s firm national consciousness and affection for Korean traditional plays even under a strong inflow of western civilization. In addition, Yeonheungsa, Jangansa and Danseongsa organized charity performance and supporters` associations to establish a framework of modern theater. Summing up, a space called theater - a ground of performing arts in the period of imperial Japan`s rule over Korea - played a role as guardian to protect Korean traditional plays from the influence of western culture even in hard days of imperial Japan`s rule over Korea. Furthermore, modern Korean theaters had significant influence on the introduction and development of modern new culture and western culture and arts into Korea.