“Just stay still. Mom will do everything for you.”
“A marathon? How can you even think of doing something so dangerous?”
At a small theater in Michuho-gu, Incheon on Nov. 7, 2024, eight visually impaired actors and one sighted actor took the stage. There were no lights or elaborate set designs—only a few chairs and simple props. The original play “Ms. Kkot-bun’s Journey to Independence” by the theater troupe “Hope 5mm” tells the story of Kkot-bun, a visually impaired woman who has lived her life like a delicate flower in a greenhouse, sheltered by her family. Determined to break free from their overprotection, she embarks on a journey to run a marathon.
The audience was captivated by the authenticity of the performance, which blended personal acting, narration reminiscent of a human documentary, and live background music. Kkot-bun struggles with her coach, Yang-bong, a retired marathoner, as they clash over their differing approaches to life. However, through teamwork, Kkot-bun ultimately completes the marathon and exclaims:
“Let’s show the world that even with disabilities, we can stand on our own. Fighting! Fighting! Fighting!”
At the Michuhol Haksan Culture Center in Incheon, key members of Hope 5mm met with ChosunBiz for an interview. The troupe evolved from a visually impaired arts group called “Manyang,” which was established through a collaboration between the Haksan Culture Center and the Incheon Welfare Center for the Blind. Since its inception as Manyang, Hope 5mm has produced seven original plays and one video performance.
Despite the unexpected heavy snowfall on the day of the interview, five members—actors Ahn Ji-suk, Kim Gwang-yeol, Lee Geum-hee, Park Seong-min, and director Oh Ji-na—gathered to share their passion for theater.
Lee Geum-hee, a visually impaired actress in her mid-50s, has had blurred vision due to amblyopia since childhood and lost her sight entirely after turning twenty. She enjoys watching dramas by carefully “listening,” deeply appreciating them by tapping into multiple senses other than sight.
“I pay close attention to how characters speak and interact while watching TV series,” she said. “I’ve always been drawn to intense villain roles, like King Sukjong’s consort Jang Hee-bin, rather than Queen Inhyeon.”
Lee first connected with director Oh Ji-na in 2017 by participating in a drama class at a center for the visually impaired, contributing to one production each year. This was her first time playing a non-villain role.
“Even though I can’t see the audience, I can feel their presence as if they are watching me,” Lee said. “I pick up on their breathing and reactions, which keeps me on edge.”
Park Seong-min, born in 1997, is said to “lower the average age of the troupe,” according to fellow members. Despite his young age, he brings lively energy with his sharp sense of humor. At 17, he developed encephalitis due to an unknown cause, leaving him with complete blindness (Grade 1) and a severe physical disability (Grade 1). In “Ms. Kkot-bun’s Journey to Independence,” he plays a social worker.
During the interview, Park also revealed an unexpected ambition. “I love watching variety shows,” he said. “If I ever get the chance to meet an MBC entertainment producer, I plan to share a groundbreaking show idea I’ve been thinking about for a long time.”
Kim Gwang-yeol, another actor in his 50s, was always drawn to the energy of live theater. “When I heard that Oh Ji-na would be directing, I kept asking until she finally let me join,” he joked.
Kim is gradually losing his sight due to glaucoma, something he never anticipated.“‘I never imagined I’d go blind,” he confessed. “Even while training at a massage therapy school, I often wondered if I truly belonged there.”
He felt the power of theater. Kim said, “This play has given me courage by showing that people with disabilities can stand on their own.” He continued, “Many people think visually impaired individuals can’t do anything. I often get asked, ‘Can you really do that? Can you walk around by yourself?’ I want to show that we can cook well, do all of that, and more.”
Ahn Ji-sook, the only non-disabled member of the troupe, shared her deep emotions, recalling her first-ever performance. “For the first time in my life, I felt pure joy and exhilaration,” she said proudly.
She came to Incheon as an activity assistant for her nephew, Park Seong-min. A naturally reserved person, she had no prior interest in theater. But after taking on a role, she gained confidence. “Thanks to director Oh, my pronunciation improved, and I now have a pleasant voice by speaking slowly,” Ahn said.
Director Oh Ji-na has been involved in disability-related activities since 2004 and has been directing the visually impaired theater troupe for the past nine years.
Oh expressed immense pride in her actors, explaining that their enthusiasm is remarkable. She said, “Geum-hee memorized her entire script perfectly in just a week and even created a braille script for narration,” adding, “She also acts as a disciplinarian for the group, keeping everyone on track.” Oh added, “Gwang-yeol juggles his studies at a massage therapy school while also managing our finances as the troupe’s treasurer.”
She explained, “Visually impaired individuals actually suffer the most wounds from their families, as they have the strongest prejudice that ‘visually impaired people cannot do anything alone.”
In the epilogue of the play, a line says, “While some take everyday life and rights for granted, others must fight for them.” Director Oh added, “I hope for a future where a comfortable daily life is naturally given to people with disabilities.”
The name of the troupe, Hope 5mm, is derived from their 2023 play of the same title, “Hope, 5mm.” It was inspired by a visually impaired individual who described their vision as being like “seeing through a 5mm gap.” Hope 5mm is expanding its reach, including a performance at an invited stage in Sejong City.
“Disbanding a troupe is easy, but starting one is really difficult. Since Hope 5mm has come this far with great effort, I hope we gain more recognition and find more opportunities to perform.”
The passion of these actors was strong enough to melt the winter snow covering the streets.