A powerful theatrical production examining the struggles of Korean Japanese families caught between historical conflicts has returned to the stage, offering audiences a deeply personal look at the Zainichi Korean experience. 'Yakiniku Dragon,' currently showing at the Seoul Arts Center, tells the story of Kim Yong-gil, a Zainichi Korean who lost his left arm during the Pacific War and his first wife in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953.
Set in a impoverished shantytown alongside railway tracks in Japan's Kansai region during the 1970s, the play centers on Yong-gil's life of displacement and survival. The term Zainichi refers to Koreans and their descendants who have lived in Japan for generations, many of whom arrived either voluntarily or by force during Japan's colonial rule of Korea. With no home left to return to after the devastation of war, Yong-gil's existence is forever shaped by historical forces beyond his control.
The protagonist runs a small yakiniku restaurant with his second wife and their children, using the grilled meat business as both their means of survival and a window into the daily prejudice and poverty they face. According to Korean Japanese playwright and director Chong Wishing, who created the work, yakiniku restaurants held special significance for the Zainichi Korean community. 'Today, many Japanese people enjoy yakiniku,' Chong explained during a November meeting with Korean reporters. 'But back then, it was seen as a place for poor laborers or Zainichi Koreans.'
Chong's motivation for creating the play stems from a desire to preserve disappearing histories. 'I wanted to record the lives of Zainichi Koreans before they disappear,' he said. 'A yakiniku restaurant, usually run by Koreans, has long been a symbolic space for our community.' The production first premiered in 2008 as a collaborative effort between the Seoul Arts Center and Japan's New National Theatre, earning major theater awards in both countries.
The character of Yong-gil represents more than just a struggling father – he embodies the survivor of Korea's modern upheavals, including its wars, division, and the Jeju Uprising that left his hometown completely destroyed. As Chong describes him, Yong-gil becomes 'a man forced to stay,' with his fate determined by historical forces far beyond his personal control. The playwright drew heavily from his own family experiences, with many of Yong-gil's lines coming directly from his father's actual words.
'The neighborhood in the play is the one I grew up in,' Chong revealed. 'There's a line: We packed everything to go back to Korea, but my daughter caught a cold and we couldn't get on the boat. That really happened. Much of Yong-gil's dialogue comes from things my father actually said.' This personal connection adds authenticity to the fictional narrative, grounding the characters' experiences in real historical memory.
After its initial success and a 2011 revival, 'Yakiniku Dragon' has returned this year to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan diplomatic relations. The current production follows successful runs in Tokyo during October before moving to Seoul in November, demonstrating the play's continued relevance across both nations.
Fourteen years after its premiere, director Chong believes that the fundamental challenges facing Zainichi Koreans remain largely unchanged. 'Cultural exchanges between Korea and Japan have increased, but the history and struggles of Zainichi Koreans feel increasingly forgotten,' he observed. 'This play comes from a desire to bring that unseen history to light.'
One of the production's most distinctive elements is its immersive preshow experience, which takes place both before the curtain rises and during intermission. Actors and musicians move throughout the theater aisles, performing traditional janggu drums and accordion music while the authentic smell of sizzling meat fills the air, creating a multisensory experience for the audience.
'Theater, to me, is like a ritual,' Chong explained, describing his approach to engaging audiences. 'I remember my mother preparing dishes from dawn on the day of family ancestral rites. I wanted to share that same sense of care, of welcoming the audience with music, food and a shared moment.' This philosophy extends beyond mere entertainment to create a communal experience that honors cultural memory.
What gives 'Yakiniku Dragon' its lasting impact is its honest portrayal of life in all its complexity, capturing both moments of warmth and profound sorrow. As Chong puts it, 'Life runs on two rails, one comic, one tragic, and they're constantly switching. That's what I try to capture on stage.' This balanced approach allows the production to honor the resilience of Zainichi Korean families while acknowledging the very real hardships they have endured across generations.
