264, That One Star
‘264’ is a prisoner number and the pen name of Yi Won-rok, a Korean independence poet. In resistance to the Japanese colonial period, 264 was an active figure in the independence movement from his childhood, a poet striving to awaken the national spirit, and a husband seeking to keep his family together. Before his death, imprisoned and tortured, 264 escapes the pain by recalling his spiritual friend ‘S,’ whose story he begins to tell. 264 tries to look back on his life to discover the star he sought.
264, That One Star is a new Korean opera created and produced by the Daegu Opera House. The voice in poetry of the Korean independence movement during the Japanese colonial period, his real name was Yi Won-rok; his prison number, 264 (pronounced as ‘Yi Yuk-sa’ in Korean) served as his pen name. The opera portrays his life, highlighting his roles as a husband, poet, and independence activist. With the help of the Camerata Creative Opera Research Association at the Daegu Opera House, this project has progressed — from planning to concert performances — to now, 3 years down the line, reaching a full-length staged premiere, shared globally via OperaVision.
CAST
Independence Army 264 | Rho Seonghoon |
|---|---|
Poet 264 | Je Sangchul |
An Il-yang | Yi Yunkyoung |
Husband 264 (Yi Won-rok) | Lee Chungman |
S Soulmate | Kim Bora |
Yun Se-ju | Kim Myungkyu |
Sergeant Go / Brother of 264 | Lee Seungmin |
Actors | Neulhaerang Theatre Company |
Orchestra | Daegu International Opera Orchestra |
Chorus | Daegu Opera Choir |
| ... | |
Music | Kim Sungjae |
|---|---|
Text | Kim Hana |
Director | Pyo Hyunjin |
Conductor | Lee Dongsin |
Artistic director | Chung Kabgun |
Sets | Park Eunhye |
Costumes | Yoo Miyang |
Make-up | Kim Eonyoung |
Video | Jang Sooho |
Lights | Han Heesoo |
Répétiteur | Kim Minjeong |
| ... | |
Videos
STORY
Act I
A man is referred to as prisoner number 264, pronounced as ‘Yi Yuk-sa’ in Korean. He is tortured every day under Japanese colonial rule. To escape the pain, he recalls his soulmate S and reflects on his past before the death. He remembers the massive deaths of Koreans during the Kanto Massacre (1923) while studying in Japan. This tragic event ignites his strong desire for independence.
Act II
On his wedding day, the young man Yi Won-rok (264's real name) is obsessed with thoughts of independence and is not interested in marriage. When his bride, An Il-yang, confidently confronts him, he is unexpectedly attracted to her courage, and they happily marry. However, their happiness is short-lived, as Won-rok decides to join the Righteous Army and leaves for Manchuria to fight for independence.
Act III
Having joined the Righteous Army, 264 engages in independence activities alongside his comrade Yun Se-ju. During a mission, they are captured by Japanese forces and Yun Se-ju dies. 264 firmly grows in his belief in the liberation of his homeland.
Inside the Daegu Police Station, Sergeant Go tortures 264 to extract information about the independence movement. Enduring horrific pain, 264 stays defiant and does not give in. His wife, An Il-yang, comes to visit him, and realises how weak he has become from the torture, she cannot help but cry.
Act IV
As 264 reflects on his life, he senses death approaching, and his soulmate S warns him. Past egos of 264 come to bid him a cheerful farewell. He has been a poet, an independence activist, a husband and father. He wonders whether the things he has done will last like a small star. He begins to write his final poem, Wilderness. Waiting for the joy of a future independent nation, he becomes a star.
INSIGHTS
Facing my past through the life of 264
By Pyo Hyunjin, Director
Humans live with their past. Who I am today is not by chance; it’s the result of all my efforts and struggles. When I face the end of my life, I will recall my happiest moments, times of great pain, and key events that shaped me. The Korean opera 264, That One Star explores why 264 dedicated his life to being a national poet and independence activist.
One major turning point for 264 was the Kantō Massacre after the Great Kantō Earthquake in 1923. This horrific event shocked Koreans with the brutality of the colonisers who killed thousands. It highlighted the cruelty of imperialism and fueled Yuk-sa's desire for independence.
As a family man and poet, he could have lived peacefully, but he believed that protecting his country meant protecting his family. This conviction led him to join the independence army, enduring torture and imprisonment for his homeland.
His poem ‘Wilderness’ expresses his longing for independence and serves as a testament to his beliefs. I hope this opera encourages audiences to reflect on their own lives and understand how their past shapes who they are, just as 264 devoted himself to his cause.
GALLERY
