[INTERVIEW] Young performer hopes to revive popularity of magic in Korea

Magician Eden Choi performs tricks onstage for "The Art of Manipulation" at the Expo Centre Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates during the second week of November. Courtesy of Sharjah Book Authority

After enthralling spectators in UAE, Eden Choi is ready for tours in Japan, Spain

By Park Han-sol

SHARJAH, United Arab Emirates ― A constellation of balls, playing cards, metal canes and rings change colors and multiply in mere seconds at the deft gesticulations of a young magician.

Without uttering a single word, the black-clad performer continues to wield the tools of his trade against the rhythmic music echoing through a neon-lit theater, captivating the eyes of children and adults alike at the Expo Centre Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Eden Choi, or Ye-chan Choi, was the only Korean performer invited to this year's Sharjah International Book Fair (SIBF), the largest event of its kind in the Middle East. The fair has long branded itself as a family-friendly expo by hosting entertainment programs in addition to publishing-related sessions.

His half-hour one-man show, titled "The Art of Manipulation," was staged twice a day from Nov. 6 to 8, drawing a room full of 40 to 50 spectators each time.

Manipulation is considered one of the eight main categories of magic performance, alongside stage illusion, mentalism and comedy magic. "It heavily revolves around sleight of hand without relying on specially built devices or equipment," the 22-year-old told The Korea Times a day before his Middle Eastern debut.

"Nowadays, when so many secrets behind magic tricks have become public knowledge, I think the effect-heavy performances run the risk of failing to appeal to general audiences as much as they used to. But a show that centers on a series of purely dexterous hand movements can still amaze spectators ― like juggling, in a way."

In fact, the young entertainer competed in the FISM World Championship of Magic 2022 in Quebec, Canada, four months ago, taking second place in its manipulation category.

The triennial magic convention, dubbed the "Olympics for Magicians," is hosted by the International Federation of Magic Societies (FISM), one of the most-recognized bodies in magic circles. Some 150 top performers worldwide, after being selected via regional games, compete for the championship.

Eden Choi presents his set at the World Championship of Magic during the Quebec FISM 2022, held from July 25 to 30 in Canada. He took second place in the championship's manipulation category, followed by fellow Korean Park Jun-woo who came out on top. Courtesy of FISM

Choi began dreaming about enchanting others with his nifty tricks when he was in fifth grade. A loner in school, he showed off his crude magic skills to a classmate, and suddenly found himself instantly surrounded by a swarm of curious eyes.

"And that's when I thought, 'If I made this my job, could I be recognized beyond the classroom and wherever I go?'" he recalled.

For several years, his parents' disapproval was unavoidable. The magic performing industry in Korea remained a harsh environment for those wishing for a sustainable career ― except for a few mega-popular icons like Lee Eun-gyeol and Choi Hyun-woo.

But in 2014 at the age of 14, he entered the junior competition at the Ulsan International Magic Convention and ended up in first place. Following four consecutive years of wins, he was able to win the full support of his family.

Since the early 2000s, Korean magicians have been getting more and more recognition on the international stage. The FISM World Championship of Magic, held every three years, has seen five to seven Koreans taking home top prizes each time since its 2012 edition.

When asked about the growing strengths of the country's magic scene despite the unfavorable environment and treatment, Choi noted that such conditions are precisely what makes Korean magicians strive for perfection.

"I think Korea still generally lacks the culture of enjoying magic as it is. There is that dominant trend shared among spectators, who try to uncover the secrets behind tricks to bust the performer," he said.

"Working within that environment, Korean magicians need to force themselves to be as perfect as possible to satisfy the nitpicking skeptics."

Eden Choi performs his act, titled "The Art of Manipulation," which was held twice a day from Nov. 6 to 8 at the Expo Centre Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Courtesy of Eden Choi

But the entertainer hopes to bring a fundamental shift to the Korean public's view toward magic, recalling how he was treated when he was invited to present his routines at local and university festivals.

Some events refused to provide a green room for him ― an absolute necessity for a magician and his tools ― while doing so for other more in-demand dance troupes. Choi had no other choice but to head to a bathroom stall to prepare for his performance.

At one university festival, he was bombarded with hate comments when the host organization unveiled the performer lineup on social media.

"I remember the comments like, 'If you're planning to invite a magician, call my friend onstage instead,' or 'I'm not going to react if he's going to show the lame tricks we all know,'" he said. The host eventually called off his performance altogether.

"Although I was getting certain recognition among magicians and industry insiders, I was devastated to learn that this was the environment I had to work in."

Then the pandemic that put a total stop to live, in-person entertainment of all kinds. Over the last three years, Choi has had to watch a flood of his fellow magicians give up on their already precarious careers.

But the frustration also pushed him to pursue a new dream. "I want to show more diverse sides and values of magic through different channels," he added.

One way he plans to do this is by branching out onto YouTube.

While he has 1.2 million followers on TikTok and 45,000 on Instagram, Choi is working to produce videos in a longer form to better cater to a wider range of fans.

He is also looking to build his name through international tours before resuming his full-fledged activities in Korea.

Following his performance in the UAE, Choi is already busying himself with preparations for a lineup of several tours ― including Japan in December and Spain early next year.