The Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean
Human Rights [NKHR] will be hosting its second kkotjebi art exhibition
sponsored by the Ministry of Security and Public Administration titled, “Kkotjebi
in Bloom: North Korean Children’s Flight to Freedom” in Busan from November 4th
– 14th. NKHR hosted the same exhibition this past August at “gallery IS” in the Insadong District of Seoul.
The exhibition hosted in August was the
first of its kind to focus exclusively on the kkotjebi [homeless children in North
Korea whom beg for food around public markets]. Kkotjebi literally means
“flower swallow’ in Korean. As swallows fly around looking for food and warm
areas where flowers blossom, these helpless children cannot help but do the
same.
Defector artists and authors whose work
features at the exhibition will discuss the stories behind
them each day of the event from its opening until November 9th, on which
date the gallery will be temporarily closed. The show will recommence on November 10th
without any special events but open for viewing until its conclusion on
November 14th.
The purpose of the event will be to help
spread knowledge on the current situation of human rights violations regarding the kkotjebi in North Korea. While the event will be held in Korean, there
will also be an English interpreter. Any proceeds from exhibition will be used
support the work of bringing refugees safely to South Korea from third
countries.
The art exhibition will be open to the
public between the hours of 10:00 – 22:00. The event will be taking place at
Space Um located at [Hyejun Bldg. 2F], 106 Myeongnyun-ro, Dongnae-gu, Busan,
South Korea. For more information on the event or other related inquiries,
please contact Space Um at 051-557-3369. The Facebook event page can be found
here [Korean language only].
