Poet Yi Yuk-sa's legacy celebrated in Daegu through music and opera

To commemorate the 81st anniversary of Korea's liberation, Daegu is hosting a series of events celebrating the life and work of Yi Yuk-sa, a prominent independence activist and poet during the Japanese colonial era. The city aims to bring his legacy to life through music and opera.

The Daegu Concert House is presenting the 'Yi Yuk-sa Poetry Song Festival - Steel Rainbow' on August 25th. This event, part of the 'Classic ON' series featuring local artists, will transform Yi Yuk-sa's renowned poems, including 'Green Grapes,' 'Twilight,' 'Flower,' and 'Wilderness,' into songs. Adding a personal touch, soprano Lee Young-kyu, Yi Yuk-sa's great-granddaughter, will perform, offering a direct connection to the poet's life and works.

Further honoring the poet, the Daegu Opera House is releasing its original opera, '264, That One Star,' for free on its official YouTube channel, 'Operatte,' from August 15th to 31st. This opera, which premiered at the 2024 Daegu International Opera Festival, draws inspiration from Yi Yuk-sa's prison number, '264.' It dramatizes his fervent struggle for national independence and his significant literary contributions.

Yi Yuk-sa, born in Andong, was actively involved in the independence movement in Daegu. His activism led to his imprisonment for over a year and seven months in the Daegu Prison starting in October 1927, following his involvement in the 'Jang Jin-hong Incident.' It was during this period that he used his prison number '264' as his name. He later moved to China in April 1932 to pursue armed struggle, attending the Korean Revolutionary Military Political Cadre School.