Ttaeng Kkang, 2022

*“Youth Only Seen in Death: The Reality of Youth Suicide and Isolation.”

South Korea has held the highest suicide rate among OECD countries for 13 consecutive years, with figures exceeding double the OECD average. In addition, we rank first in depression rates, last in youth happiness indices, and at the bottom for children’s life satisfaction. These alarming statistics reflect a broader crisis in mental health. Adding to this, the number of young people dying alone in isolated spaces continues to rise—a silent tragedy that too often goes unnoticed.

This performance traces the remnants of young lives lost to understand why and what drives us into isolation. It invites the audience to join us in exploring these questions, creating a shared space to confront the systemic pressures and emotional burdens that push so many into solitude.

Through this fleeting, one-time gathering of individuals, we aim to challenge the rigid, invisible barriers that stifle young lives. With this performance, we hope to create small but meaningful cracks in these structures, offering glimpses of connection and the possibility of change.*

This performance, created by a young artist from Korea, explores pressing social issues such as suicide, low birth rates, regional extinction, and capitalism, tracing their roots to Korea’s unstable and distorted education system. It invites the audience to discuss and explore potential solutions together.

Drawing parallels between the gun violence epidemic in the United States and flaws in Korea’s education system, the performance examines how the ideology of “meritocracy” has taken root in Korean society. Through the language of theater, the performers express their findings and engage the audience in dialogue, highlighting the connections between societal structures and youth struggles.

Developed over six months of extensive research, the project involved interviews with experts, youth organization representatives, and socially withdrawn individuals. These interactions provided invaluable insights, enabling the performance to authentically reflect the realities of marginalized groups. By blending diverse voices, the collaborative process added depth to the production.

The performance seeks to transform societal challenges into opportunities for collective reflection and action, using theater as a medium to foster empathy and broaden understanding.

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