[Mission] 80 Years of Liberation | A Photo Dialogue: Korea, In the Shadows of Pain, The Light of Dreams
2025-08-18On August 15, 2025, India marked its 79th Independence Day, while Korea celebrated the 80th anniversary of its Liberation Day, Gwangbokjeol (광복절), meaning “the day the light returned.” To honor this shared moment in history, the Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI) opened a photo exhibition titled Korea in the Shadows of Pain, The Light of Dreams. The show began on August 14 and will remain open until October 31, 2025.
Curated by documentary photographer Jung Jae-han, the exhibition draws connections between India and Korea. Both nations lived under foreign rule, both struggled, and both eventually rebuilt themselves with resilience and hope. Through the works of three photographers, visitors witness how Korea has transformed across generations.
The first gallery features Koo Wangsam. His black-and-white photographs capture the raw, uncertain years right after liberation. They aren’t polished or romanticized; instead, they serve as historical records, showing a country trying to stand again.
The mood softens in the next section with Baek Jongha’s work. His photos of rural landscapes carry warmth and poetry. They remind us that even during rapid change, some parts of life remain steady.
The final gallery belongs to Cho Kyusun. His Dancing Egret series was unforgettable. The bird becomes a symbol of Korea itself, balancing between tradition and modernization. The images are graceful, yet full of quiet tension.
The exhibition goes beyond framed photographs. A large floor map of the Korean Peninsula is covered with Polaroids taken by foreign journalists. Walking across it felt like stepping through history. Each photo came with a QR code that revealed more details, making the experience both visual and interactive.
Another piece, Silent School, Running Children, presented as a slide film in a wooden box, offered a moving look into the pressures of Korea’s education system.
For many in India, the first introduction to Korea has been through K-pop or K-dramas. This exhibition goes further back—to the pain, resilience, and dreams that shaped the Korea we see today.
As I left, one thought lingered with me: despite our different histories, Korea feels close to us. Korea in the Shadows of Pain, The Light of Dreams is not just an exhibition; it is a reminder of shared struggles, resilience, and the bonds that tie our two nations together. I especially appreciated that visitors could take home postcards of his work—a small but meaningful keepsake.
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