BBC World Service airs first work by Korean to win International Radio Playwriting Competition

Television

Published: 01 Jul. 2024, 16:17

BBC World Service airs first work by Korean to win International Radio Playwriting Competition

Kwon Hyuk-in poses for the cameras in an interview with JoongAng Ilbo on June 17. [JOONGANG ILBO]

BBC World Service aired radio play "Steady Eyes," the first work by a Korean writer to win the British broadcaster's 2023 International Radio Playwriting Competition, last month.

Written by Korean writer Kwon Hyuk-in, who goes by her English name Hyukin Michaela Kwon, "Steady Eyes" won the English as a Second Language category at the 2023 International Radio Playwriting Competition in October last year. The competition is organized by the BBC World Service and the British Council.

The BBC International Radio Playwriting Competition is held biennially and marked its 28th event last year. Kwon is the first Korean writer to win the competition.

"Steady Eyes" is a family drama exploring the conflicts of three generations of women, reflecting on how historical events like the Japanese occupation and the Korean War continue to indirectly impact individual lives within a family. The play delves into themes such as the absence of motherhood and generational trauma, with a sci-fi element — an extraterrestrial threat to humanity.

Kwon, left, producing her work in the BBC Radio Drama studio in London with Gemma Jenkins [MEDIA REVOLUTION]

"I have dreamed of working in the film industry and have written in various languages such as English, Japanese and Chinese for the past 10 years,” said Kwon in an interview with JoongAng Ilbo on June 17. “I have consistently submitted to the same competition since 2015, and after eight years, I finally won.”

"I have been interested in how Western media depicts people of color since my time studying abroad," said Kwon, "This interest has made me more dedicated to translating our [Korean] stories into English. I aspire to become a full-time writer who encompasses various cultures."

Kwon graduated from the School of Film, TV and Multimedia at the Korea National University of Arts (K-Arts). She later earned two master's degrees, one in Global Media and Communications from the London School of Economics and Political Science and another in Communication and Media Studies from Fudan University.

During her time at K-Arts, Kwon was selected as the Korean representative scriptwriter and director for the ASEAN-ROK Independent Cinema Project. She produced the short film "The Rice Thief" (2010) for the project, which was screened at the 2010 Busan International Film Festival.

Kwon is currently working on her first full-length novel and publishes an essay series in English on her blog, The Ultimate Assignment.

BY KIM MIN-YOUNG [kim.minyoung5@joongang.co.kr]