INTERVIEW Life on tightrope for two decades

Park Ji-na performs jultagi, traditional tightrope walking, in this undated photo. Courtesy of Korean Traditional Performing Arts Foundation

Park Ji-na speaks about life as tightrope walker

By Anna J. Park

Park Ji-na, 30, has spent nearly two decades three meters off the ground on the tightrope. She is one of Korea's two female practitioners of “jultagi,” traditional tightrope walking, with more than a decade of experience. Park says she still finds her job fascinating.

“There's so much charm in what I do. First I like it because it's very unique and people normally don't do it,” Park said during a recent Korea Times interview. “Second, I feel great whenever I jump on the tightrope and complete the performance. Spectators enjoy and love my performance,” she added.

Jultagi was designated as Korea's Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 58, and is the nation's only intangible cultural asset that is of an acrobatic nature. Tightrope walking has over 1,000 years of history, and it was once very popular among the public, particularly during the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom.

Park Ji-na jumps on the tightrope. Musicians sitting on the floor play their instruments. Courtesy of Korean Traditional Performing Arts Foundation

This traditional performing arts genre is different from tightrope walking of other countries, as it is accompanied by musicians on the ground and storytelling by the tightrope performer to entertain viewers. This storytelling element is what Park likes very much, too.

“Because of the storytelling element, it is easy to communicate with viewers. They often approach me during or after the performances to encourage me to perform better. Once my performance is over, some come up and tell me they enjoyed it very much. Their encouraging words help me continue to go up on the tightrope, even during those hard times,” Park said.

“Because of these storytelling and musical elements, jultagi is not just about technique. It is an art.”

In hopes of further improving her musical and storytelling capabilities, she studied traditional Korean music at university.

“As I said, jultagi is an art; it is a theatric and musical performance. That's why I majored in traditional Korean music, in order to perform the tightrope walking better,” Park said.

“I've never thought of doing anything else in life. I still don't. This is me, and this is what I can do the best.”

Park Ji-na speaks to viewers on the tightrope. Storytelling is an important part of jultagi performance. Courtesy of Korean Traditional Performing Arts Foundation

She entered into the world of jultagi when she was 11. Previously, she had been learning traditional Korean music and performances since age eight as part of after-school activities, and her instructor often tagged her for traditional Korean performances. She was fascinated with jultagi upon seeing it in person for the first time. That's when she decided to do it herself.

“Since a young age, I have been very determined. If there's something I want, I have to do it,” Park said with a smile.

Since then, she began practicing every day after school. During summer and winter vacations, she devoted her time to learning the techniques day in and day out. It took three years for her to persuade her parents, who were strongly against it, to approve of her decision.

“Now my parents are my strong supporters. They try to come to every performance, unless it is held at a place too far away. But since it is a dangerous performance, I can sense that they sometimes cannot watch me directly. They get even more nervous than me, when I don't look very well,” she said.

So far, she hasn't yet suffered much injury. But she says it's not always easy to walk on the thin rope, even though she has been doing it for the last two decades.

“It is really scary when my condition isn't good enough or when there is a strong wind, because they can affect my performance. When it's very windy, I learned to do more storytelling, and quickly walk over the tightrope when the wind dies down. So when the weather is not good, I cannot fully show my abilities,” Park said.

Park Ji-na performs traditional Korean tightrope walking. Courtesy of Korean Traditional Performing Arts Foundation

Now she is a member of a municipal traditional performing arts troupe, based in the city of Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. Her troupe has a long historic origin, tracing back to Joseon's Anseong “namsadang pungmul nori,” or traditional Korean folk performing entertainment traditions preserved in the Anseong area. It consists of six acts, including tightrope walking, mask dance drama, dish spinning and farmers' music. It used to be an all-male performance group in the past, and it is still rare for female performers to join the troupe.

“Currently, there are about 30 members in the troupe, and only four of them are female,” Park explained.

The traditional performing arts group presents shows at Anseong Namsadang Performance Hall every weekend from March to November.

In addition to her regular performances, she will be joining this year's Traditional Korean Performing Arts Festival, which marks its 13th installment. Organized by the Korean Traditional Performing Arts Foundation, the annual festival will take place this weekend at Oil Tank Culture Park, located in western Seoul

Park Ji-na shows her skill of lying down on the tightrope during her performance. Korean Traditional Performing Arts Foundation

She hopes her performances on the tightrope provide comfort and courage to viewers.

“We often say life is like tightrope walking itself. My hope is that, by watching my performances on the rope, viewers can reflect on their own lives. I hope to convey a message of courage and consolation for them, no matter how small they are,” she said.