Saving art with art

Forces are gathering for the preservation of Casa del Agua.

In what organizers hope will become a regular event, the 1st Cultural Festival of Casa del Agua, aka The Gallery, was held at the seaside plaza adjacent to the Jungmun structure on Saturday, October 20.

The event, titled, "Sing Together: Hope from the Hills of Wind," included multiple musical performances, speeches of encouragement, poetry reading, and singing with audience participation. It concluded with attendees writing words of hope on ribbons then tied to trees in front of Casa del Agua, and a tour of the edifice.

Performing musicians, all from Jeju, donated their time and talent. They represented a wide range of genre, including classical violin, jazz ensemble, mariachi, Korean pop, classical for ocarina, and American pop on bass saxophone.

▲ Associates Ensemble Concerto, providing a classical atmosphere. Photo by Anne Hilty

▲ South Carnival, rocking the audience. Photo by Anne Hilty

The wildly popular "South Carnival," a reggae and ska band with Kang Kyoung-hwan as its frontman, performed a Mexican number to the delight of the audience.

Other performers included the Lee Jong Hyuk Jazz Band, Associates Ensemble Concerto, Lee Byung-gi: May Flowers, and Ocarina Ensemble.

Yang Jin-keon, dean of the Storytelling Department at Jeju National University, read a poem to the audience which he had written in honor of Casa del Agua. Yang recently received the prestigious Presidential Merit Award for his work on political exiles sent to Jeju during the Joseon Dynasty.

The cultural festival was organized by the Casa del Agua Preservation Committee, lead organizer Jeju Provincial Council member Lee Sunhwa. Many Jeju community members also donated their time and effort to this event, which was attended by tourists as well as locals.

▲ Ambassador Chung Dal-ho (center), director of UNITAR Cifal-Jeju, and Lee Sunhwa (right), member of Jeju Provincial Council and lead organizer of the event, among audience members. Photo by Anne Hilty

The committee, formed within Jeju Provincial Council, envisions not only the preservation of Casa del Agua in its original location for which it was designed, but also its use as a community art and performance space.

Having achieved a postponement of demolition as ordered by Governor Woo Keun Min following a press conference held by the committee on Oct. 2, members will now request a meeting with property owner Lee Booyoung as the next step in their quest to save Casa del Agua.


Dr. Hilty is a cultural health psychologist living on Jeju Island. She is a member of the Casa del Agua Preservation Committee and spoke at this event.