Korea's First Theater Troupe of Marriage Immigrant Women, 'Saekdongnamu,' Established

The 'Saekdongnamu Puppet Theater Troupe,' Korea's first theater group of marriage immigrant women, has opened its doors in Gwangyang. Comprised of six women originally from countries such as China, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, the troupe was established in 2021 under the leadership of the Gwangyang City Family Center. They are currently making waves in the arts scene by showcasing their self-made puppet shows at recent 'Family Month Ceremonies,' and have become a model example of 'Visiting Multicultural Understanding' with nationwide activities for the first time in five years.

The members personally write scripts, record voices, carve puppets from sponges, and create costumes, presenting 100% original works. All eight puppet shows performed by the troupe are the result of the members' original creations. Jang Dan, originally from China and a founding member, recalled, "At first, it felt awkward, and even holding the puppets was difficult." The language barrier was also one of the biggest challenges for the early members. However, as their performances increased, they harmonized, and the quality of their puppet shows improved.

Stories that incorporate the members' real-life experiences, such as 'Mother-in-Law Showdown' which depicts the conflict between a Vietnamese daughter-in-law and her Korean mother-in-law, have resonated with audiences. Nuru Hasana from Indonesia shared, "When I first couldn't speak Korean well, I was told, 'If you can't speak Korean, you can't do puppet shows.'" Now, she serves as the troupe's idea generator with her fluent Korean.

The members stated that their self-esteem has grown through puppet shows. Jang Dan said, "Children from multicultural families can sometimes have low self-esteem because their mothers are from foreign countries. Through puppet shows, we want to show that both the children and their mothers can be confident." In the past, members who would only bow their heads silently have gradually brightened their expressions and regained confidence. They are currently collaborating with local education offices as 'Multicultural Education Instructors,' positioning marriage immigrant women not just as recipients of support, but as active contributors to the community through culture.