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Korea Herald

Did Simcheong truly want to give herself up for her father? 'Pure Heart' asks

With dreamlike underwater realm, fresh emotional lens, latest Simcheong story brings new depth to beloved folktale At the prow of a boat amid crashing waves, a small girl plunges into a vast ocean. The iconic scene of Korean folktale "Simcheong" is the epitome of filial devotion: The girl casts herself into the Indangsu Sea to restore her blind father's sight. In 'Pure Heart,' the National Jeongdong Theater's latest reinterpretation of this age-old tale, Simcheong awakens after plunging into the shadowy abyss not in darkness or deep blue, but in soft pink light and waves, in a glowing, luminous undersea realm. The Dragon Queen — not the Dragon King of the original tale — gently lifts and welcomes Simcheong. Dressed in flowing robes of rose and blush and holding a lotus-shaped fan, a court of handmaidens circles her in synchronized harmony. There is no suffering here, no sorrow, no pain. Simcheong beams and leaps lightly across the stage — radiant, embraced by this new, gentle world. Directed by Jung Ku-ho and choreographed by Jeong Hye-jin — the creative team behind sold-out success 'One Dance' — 'Pure Heart' is a dance drama that strips back the traditional narrative to focus on Simcheong's emotional journey. 'We wanted the sea to feel like a place of warmth and welcome (to Simcheong). And we wanted to give her that motherly love she had long been missing," Jung said during a press conference on Thursday, adding that the Dragon Queen serves as a maternal figure for Simcheong, who lost her own mother at birth. 'We asked ourselves: How do we remake this folktale in a way that feels different and fresh?' said Jung, a fashion designer-turned-creative director known for visually striking interpretations of Korean tradition in works like 'The Banquet' and 'Scent of Ink,' both rare sold-out successes in the Korean dance scene. 'We chose to follow Simcheong's emotions closely,' he added. So rather than beginning with her childhood, the performance opens on the night before her sacrifice. On a sparse stage, Simcheong wrestles with her decision. Her inner doubts take form as a shadowy double in black, echoing her hesitation and fear. 'Even if filial duty was considered absolute in the past, would Simcheong truly have been content to give herself up?' Jung mused. 'We wanted to separate her outward actions from her inner voice — and follow that voice, too. Every scene is selected based on Simcheong's emotional perspective, with minimal storytelling.' Veteran screen actor Chae Shi-ra makes her stage dance debut as the Dragon Queen, leading a nearly 15-minute sequence of graceful, sweeping movement. Dressed in flowing pastel silks, Chae anchors the fantasy with elegance and gentleness. 'I never imagined the word 'dancer' would be attached to my name,' Chae said, laughing. 'This felt like training for a new profession. The rehearsal process was grueling — I'd call it more training than practice. Choreographer Jeong (Hye-jin) worked tirelessly to guide me.' If Act II is a dream, Act III returns to solid ground. Here, Simcheong is brought back to life and rewarded with royal marriage. The final act is a visual homage to Korean heritage, featuring costumes inspired by 1920s royal court dress and stylized interpretations of state ceremonies. 'Each act has its own tone and texture,' said choreographer Jeong. 'Because the narrative is carried almost entirely through dance, the costumes and visual language had to be expressive. In the final act, we wanted to highlight the beauty of Korean tradition, blending historical references with a modern sensibility.' 'Pure Heart' runs from Thursday to June 28 at the Jeongdong Theater, with 50 performances by two alternating casts scheduled over two months — an unprecedented run for a national performing arts company in Korea. 'We believe traditional performances can resonate with contemporary audiences — and with international visitors as well. I hope a longer run gives more people the chance to see it,' said Jeongdong Theater CEO Choung Soung-sook. hwangdh@