Exhibition shows different narratives of Korea

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Sun, May 27, 2018 | 18:26

Foreign Communities

Exhibition shows different narratives of Korea

Posted : 2017-08-01 19:29

Updated : 2017-08-01 19:43

In this photo Yangbantal, an anonymous contributor appearing in the first issue of Korea Photo Review, kneels atop a crane in 2010 during construction of Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul. The magazine showcases Korea through visual storytelling. / Courtesy of Korea Photo Review

By Celeste Kriel

The first issue of Korea Photo Review, a new quarterly magazine sharing diverse stories and experiences about Korea through visual storytelling, comes out this Saturday at an event in G-15 Sonnendeck in Itaewon, Seoul, celebrating its first publication.

The exhibition of Korean and foreign contributing photographers' works weaves diverse narratives of Korea through contrasting lenses, from urban exploration to street photography.

The first issue introduces eight featured photographers and nine contributors from all over the world ― including Seoul, New York and Hong Kong. The issue, which will be available at the event, showcases both up-and-coming as well as established photographers whose works reflect life in Korea.

The magazine highlights artists with different styles of storytelling and mediums, from co-publisher Joseph Chung's guerilla-style street photography to nostalgic unedited film camera shots of abandoned buildings to crisp black-and-white images of the raw energy between protesters and riot police.

Readers can look forward to interviews with Ed Jones, AFP chief photographer for North and South Korea, and Kim Min-joo, a Seoul-born multidisciplinary artist based in New York whose recent photojournalism project covering haenyeo (Jeju's female divers) was published in the Huffington Post.

What prompted Chung and his team to start the magazine was a feeling that Korea was underrepresented in international publications.

"I talked with my friend Hon Hoang about starting a magazine where we could share a diverse range of experiences, and we made a checklist of what we would have to do in order to publish a magazine," he said.

Hoang and Chung are co-editors who wear many hats and share many responsibilities regarding design and content. However, each issue is influenced by the stories presented by the contributing artists as well.

Chung, an award-winning photographer originally from Seoul, grew up in New York and with his father, an amateur photographer, he has been taking pictures since his hands could hold a camera.

Coming back to Korea six years ago, he discovered living here as an adult he was attracted to exploring urban spaces and documenting them visually, which was how he met many of the other photographers featured in the first issue.

The editors hope for the magazine to become an outlet where photographers can share their long-term projects.

"I also hope our magazine will be good enough so that even those who are not photographers can pick up an issue," Chung said.

The launch event and exhibition takes place at G-15 Sonnendeck in Itaewon from 1:30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. Sunday. Visit facebook.com/koreaphotoreview for more.

celeste28@gmail.com