Performance photo (left) and poster (right) of the play 'No Winner' that won the Baeksang Theater Award
On April 28, at the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards held at Paradise City, Doosan Arts Center of Doosan Yonkang Foundation won the ‘Baeksang Theater Award’ for the play <No Winners> (planned and produced by Doosan Arts Center, written by Yang-gu Lee/directed by Yeon-ju Lee).
The Baeksang Arts Awards is the most prestigious comprehensive arts award in Korea, which began in 1965 and is the only comprehensive arts award in Korea that awards production staff and performers of TV, film, and theater that were aired, screened, or performed in the past year. The theater category awards the ‘Baeksang Theater Award (Best Work)’, ‘Young Theater Award’, and ‘Acting Award’. The theater category was discontinued in 2001, but resumed in 2019 after 18 years. Since the resumption of the awards, Doosan Arts Center of Doosan Yonkang Foundation has been listed as the first production venue to receive the award.
The play <No Winner> met the audience last year with the theme of ‘fairness’ as part of the Doosan Art Center’s integrated planning program, Doosan Humanities Theater. The play tells the story of the people who created the Constitution and established the government of the Republic of Korea, with the process of the Constitutional Assembly, which was formed through a separate election in South Korea on May 10, 1948, declaring the government of the Republic of Korea. It asked the audience questions about what we take for granted as ‘justice’ or ‘fairness’ today.
At the awards ceremony, Doosan Art Center producer Kim Yo-an said, “I was very happy when I first heard the news of my nomination, and I am honored to have won an award. It was quite a difficult process to prepare this work since 2020, dealing with the unfamiliar topics of the vulnerable rights of workers and the Constitution, as well as the sharp issue of ‘fairness’ at the time.” He added, “I would like to thank the creative team for their support with the Doosan Yonkang Foundation, and I will continue to think about the sustainability of theater and theater, and strive to look after and comfort the marginalized.”
In the theater category of the 59th Baeksang Arts Awards, playwright Jin Joo, a Doosan Art Center-supported creator (DAC Artist), was nominated for the ‘Young Theater Award’, and actors Ha Ji-eun (Welkin) and Choi Ho-young (transfer student) who appeared in Doosan Art Center-planned and produced plays were nominated for the ‘Acting Award’.
Doosan Yonkang Foundation Doosan Art Center opened its doors in 2007 to commemorate the 111th anniversary of Doosan’s founding. It presents various performances and exhibitions at Yeongang Hall, Space111, and Doosan Gallery, and discovers and fosters young artists who are actively working in their respective genres, including musicals, theater, music, dance, and art. In addition, it operates various educational programs ranging from culture and arts to humanities. Every year, it meets the audience with a total of 40 programs including performances, exhibitions, and education, and has been recognized for its contributions in the cultural and artistic world by winning the Dong-A Theater Award ‘Special Award’ in 2019, the Korea Theater Award ‘Arts and Culture Sponsorship Award’ in 2013, the Korea Digital Management Innovation Award Content Award (Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award), and the Mecenat Award ‘Creativity Award’ in 2011.