뉴스레터

[From left] Photographer Kim Jung-man introduces his
works to Lee Hong-koo(former Prime Minister
of Korea), Kim Hak-joon(NAHF President),
Ju Chul-ki(Senior Secretary for Foreign Affairs
and National Security), Rhee Sang-woo(former
Hallym University President).

Photographer Kim Jung-man's photo exhibition on Dokdo, '1-96 Dokdo-ri Ulleung-eup Ulleung-gun Gyeongsangbuk-do Korea,' has been completed successfully.

Held from July 29 to August 11, 2014 at the main exhibition hall (B1) of the Sejong Museum of Fine Art, the exhibition was visited by about 9,500 citizens and students. They enjoyed and were fascinated by the breathtaking scenic beauty of our land Dokdo as captured by Kim's passionate camera.

Since Dokdo started to accept visitors in 2005, the number of Korean people visiting the island has been rising gradually, having passed the 100,000 mark last year. But many visitors miss the beautiful scenery of Dokdo because the time they are allowed to stay on the island is limited. To capture the beauty of Dokdo for the world to see and put the images to wide use, the Northeast Asian History Foundation commissioned photographer Kim Jung-man to take pictures of the 'Four Seasons of Dokdo.'

Accepting the NAHF's request, Kim Jung-man set about taking pictures of Dokdo with cooperation from the NAHF, the Korea Coast Guard, and the Office of Ulleung-gun. Out of about 20,000 pictures of Dokdo taken over a two-year period, from 2012 to 2013, he handpicked fifty-five for this exhibition. No longer in commercial photography since 2008, Kim Jung-man didn't receive any fee for his work on Dokdo. Furthermore, he donated the entire collection of works chosen for the exhibition to the Northeast Asian History Foundation so that they would be made available for not only the Korean people but other people around the world to feel and appreciate the beauty of our land Dokdo.

At the press meeting on the opening day of the exhibition, Kim Jung-man spoke about the purpose of taking pictures of Dokdo and exhibiting them: "It is as clear as day that Dokdo is our territory, and to let Dokdo speak for itself, instead of anyone else raising voice to make that claim on its behalf, I focused on delivering the island's voice and feelings as they are." That's why, he went on to explain, he decided to use the official address of Dokdo, 1-96 Dokdo-ri Ulleung-eup Ulleung-gun Gyeongsangbuk-do Korea, as the title of the exhibition. He also said: "Just to be given the chance to take pictures of Dokdo is a great honor for me as an artist. But it's too bad that they advised me not to do it during winter because of safety concerns. I really want to take pictures of the winter of Dokdo and complete the Four Seasons of Dokdo someday."

9,500 Visitors and Counting as the Exhibition Plans to Tour in More Locations at Home and Abroad

The opening ceremony, held at 3 p.m. on July 28, 2014, was attended by about 100 guests, including former Prime Minister of Korea Lee Hong-koo, Senior Secretary for Foreign Affairs and National Security Ju Chul-ki, Professor Emeritus at Seoul National University Shin Yong-ha, and Chair of the Advisory Committee for the NAHF Samuel Lee. For the ceremony, Tenor Kim Jae-woo sang the national anthem, and there was also wonderful singing and performance by mezzo-soprano Shin Hyeon-seon and Ensemble La Mer et L'lle (Artists for Dokdo Love). Immediately before the opening, poet Hwang Ji-woo expressed his appreciation of Kim's pictures in his poem "Island on its own."

NAHF President Kim Hakjoon said: "The NAHF will use Kim Jung-man's works as the representative public content emblematic of Dokdo and the Republic of Korea, and, if requested by local organizations or institutions, help the exhibition tour around the country and the world."