전통설화의 오페라화, 그리고 젠더: 오페라 <처용> 다시보기

Abstract

“Tcheo Yong” is a traditional story from Korea that has often been used as a source of inspiration for new works of art. The opera Tcheo Yong (composed by Young Jo Lee and written by Eui-kyung Kim) was first performed in 1987, and revised in 2013. Based on the classic tale, this new interpretation has received positive reviews, melding elements of traditional Korean music and storytelling with modern operatic techniques. As social awareness of gender issues has risen particularly in light of the "MeToo" movement in 2018, consideration of the opera has begun to be reconsidered given some of its problematic elements. When the Cheoyong tale was adapted to opera, its main focus was on addressing the ‘globalization of traditional materials,’ leaving little room for consideration of gender issues. This lack of sensitivity to gender issues has made it difficult today's domestic and international audiences to fully accept the piece. This article looks at the issues in the original Cheoyong tale, discussing the critical gender issues in the story, and then critically examines how these issues are addressed in the Tcheo Yong opera. The article discusses how, in the process of dramatizing the Cheoyong tale, the dramatic structure and musical content of the opera strengthens the gender dichotomy and makes the female character object of hatred and violence.