South Korea risks losing its last circus heritage

In South Korea, the Dongchoon Circus Troupe, which is over a century old, stands as the last remaining circus in the country. This significant establishment has faced numerous challenges due to the shifting landscape of entertainment, especially as television became a staple in South Korean homes during the 1960s and beyond. As households acquired TVs, public interest in traditional circus performances dwindled, leading to the gradual closure of rival circuses across the nation. Over the decades, many performers transitioned to television and film, leaving a void in live circus acts. The Dongchoon Circus, led by Park Sae-hwan since 1978, used to feature a diverse array of performances, including animal acts, acrobatics, singing, and comedy. At its peak, the circus boasted a team of over 200 artists and staff. However, as societal values shifted and animal rights movements gained traction, the circus world faced even more restrictions, prompting Dongchoon to remove animal acts from their shows. Notably, Park, who joined the circus in 1963 as a performer, expressed deep concern for the future of Dongchoon, stating that its closure would mean the end of an era for the circus arts in South Korea. Since 2011, Dongchoon has been performing under a big top at a tourist area in Ansan, south of Seoul. The head of the circus is intent on preserving this vital aspect of cultural heritage, as he fears it is at a breaking point. Park envisions establishing a circus school in Ansan to foster South Korean talent, counteracting the trend where Chinese artists currently comprise the majority of the troupe. The hope is to revitalize interest in circus performances and train new artists to continue the traditions that are at risk of vanishing completely. As a direct result of changing entertainment preferences, alongside the influence of digital media and other competitive forms of leisure, audiences have significantly diminished. Without a concerted effort to nurture and promote the captivating world of circuses, both Dongchoon and the essence of circus performances in South Korea risk being forgotten. While thousands of spectators still gather to cheer for the remaining acts at Dongchoon, the fading legacy of this unique performance art presents a pressing question of cultural preservation. With decades of experiences to draw from, Park Sae-hwan and his acrobats strive to ensure that their performances resonate and captivate just like they once did. Their endeavors are made all the more poignant given the realities of modern entertainment, where the circus is no longer a dominant form of amusement. Thus, the fate of Dongchoon remains precarious as it battles against the forces threatening to erase a significant cultural landmark from the South Korean landscape.