Dongchoon, Korea’s oldest circus, is marking its centennial this year—proudly! Founded in 1925, it has charted a difficult course for the performing arts. This beautiful and historic institution is a testament to resilience, creativity, and tradition. Its legacy lives on, winning the hearts of audiences worldwide, even as it remains the only performance circus in the South Korean landscape.
Dongchoon was originally established more than a century ago. In the 60s, it hit its heyday touring throughout South Korea – enchanting crowds with wild animals and an impressive array of performances. After three very successful decades, the circus started going broke. Then a major typhoon struck and severely damaged the facility, forcing its sale. In 1978, Park Sae-hwan stepped into the leadership of Dongchoon, hoping to maintain that history.
At its height, Dongchoon hired more than 200 creative painters, dancers, acrobats and makeup artists. They exhibited a plethora of cutting-edge acts that entranced festival-goers. Today, though, it’s the only remaining circus left in South Korea, having outlasted its fellow competitive peers who have shuttered their tents. Park, who is 80 years old now, is still working to ensure that Dongchoon’s legacy continues.
Today, Dongchoon operates out of a big top in a seaside tourist zone in Ansan, just south of Seoul. The circus pulls in a few hundred viewers on weekdays, and up to 2,000 viewers on weekends. The circus became hugely popular, but it lost its way – or rather, it changed composition completely. Now, all 35 of these acrobats are Chinese nationals, as most South Koreans view circus employment as too risky and under-compensated.
Across recent years, Dongchoon officials have turned their focus to acrobat performances. They have decided to shy away from the more extreme stunts that could put their actors’ lives at stake. Park Sae-hwan has an acute awareness of the circus’ responsibility.
“As I recall the hardship that I’ve gone through, I think I’ve done something significant,” – Park Sae-hwan
He knows that as long as Dongchoon continues, so does the hope for circus arts’ survival in South Korea.
“But I also feel heavy responsibility because if Dongchoon stops, our country’s circus, one genre in our performing arts, will disappear. That’s the problem,” – Park Sae-hwan
The legacy that Dongchoon has gifted is made alive with Heo Jeong Joo’s performance as she stresses that the circus used to hold historical importance. He says that’s because it took in a lot of old-school musicians and performers who actually came before its official founding in 1925. He thinks that history so deep and so rich deserves to be celebrated.
“Its foundation exceeds 100 years. In a historical perspective, I think it should be designated as an intangible cultural asset,” – Heo Jeong Joo
Park sees this as the tip of the iceberg. He hopes his school for circus arts will train Korean talent that can be showcased at home. He just purchased land in Ansan to further his ambition. This decision reflects his deep desire to be a long-term steward of circus arts in the area.
This is what Xing Jiangtao, one of Dongchoon’s current performers, would like to see from the circus’s future.
“Now, it’s the only circus in South Korea, and I hope we will create good circus performances to show to spectators so that we can help Dongchoon exist for another 100 years,” – Xing Jiangtao
Dongchoon’s sustained success underscores the extent to which it has become a valuable outlet of entertainment and escape. Beyond this, it plays an important role as a public cultural institution in South Korea.
Sim Chung-yong, an industry expert, looking back on Dongchoon’s lasting contributions to the performing arts.
“It was a very impressive and meaningful circus,” – Sim Chung-yong
