Sumerian Myth Reborn as Story of Three Generations of Korean Women

The myth of Inanna, the ancient Sumerian goddess who could be reborn only after losing everything and falling to the deepest depths, returns as the story of three generations of women who lived through the shadows of modern Korean history.

The National Theater Company of Korea said it will open "Yeokhaenggi," the grand prize winner of its 2024 original playwriting competition, on September 3 at Myeongdong Theater. Written by Kim Ju-hee and directed by Shin Jae-hoon, the play offers a modern reinterpretation of the story of Inanna and Ereshkigal from Sumerian mythology.

"Yeokhaenggi" is the first work to win the grand prize in the playwriting competition that the National Theater Company revived in 2024. Selected from among 303 entries, it reaches the stage after about two years of development, including research and staged readings.

The work's starting point is the ancient Sumerian myth "The Descent of Inanna to the Underworld." Inanna, the goddess of fertility and love, passes through seven gates as she descends into the underworld ruled by her half-sister Ereshkigal. At each gate she is stripped of one of her possessions, until she finally meets death naked, but she is revived with the help of the gods and returns to the world above.

Kim Ju-hee unfolds the myth's "descent and rebirth" into a story that revisits the wounds left by individuals, families and society. The play depicts the lives of three generations of women who have endured patriarchal violence and hardship in the workplace. Following memories passed down across generations, they trace their way back to an erased past and confront loss, loneliness and the fractures within their family. "I wanted to show how dazzlingly valuable the lives of ordinary people around us are, lives that have gone unseen," Kim said. "I hope it becomes a gentle knock that carefully taps on the audience's door."

The vast underworld of the myth is brought to the stage by set designer Park Dong-woo. Park, who worked on musicals such as "The Last Empress" and "Hero," combines lighting, sound and video to unfold the descent through the seven underground gates in three dimensions. Director Shin Jae-hoon said, "Falling behind and isolation are not the fault of the individual but deep scars left by the social system." He added, "I hope audiences can feel that a dark, damp floor is the most solid foundation for a new beginning."

After the performance ends on the 6th of next month, a talk with the audience will be held featuring playwright Kim Ju-hee, director Shin Jae-hoon and the entire cast, including Kim Si-young, Park Su-jin, Park Ok-chul, Park Eun-ho, An Yeon-je and Yoon Jin-seong. On the 11th and 12th, accessibility performances will be offered with Korean captions, audio description, mobility support and touch tours of stage models.