#here pihwadang

[deulleya]

"even a story written by someone like me."

the second instalment of my musical translation series — travelling back to the joseon era for a feminist tale of empowerment, dignity, and writing one's own past, present, and future.

the video is not mine, but all translations are my own.

musical: here, pihwadang (여기, 피화당)

cast: [gaeunbi] jeong inji, choi soojin, kim eehoo • [maehwa] jang boram, jeong daye • [gyehwa] baek yeeun, kwak nayoon • [huryang] cho poongrae, cho hun • [puppy] ryu chanyeol, lee chanryeol

synopsis: in the postwar landscape of late seventeenth-century joseon, the women who had been dragged away and violated by the invading qing army finally return home — to a country that shames them and families that scorn them. fleeing from the in-laws who plan to kill her to preserve their reputation, the noblewoman gaeunbi — together with her handmaiden gyehwa and the crossdressing swordswoman maehwa — seeks solace in a cave deep within the mountains. brought together by their shared trauma, the three women label their new abode "pihwadang," a place of refuge from misfortune. under the cloak of anonymity, gaeunbi writes stories that gain widespread popularity amongst the public. meanwhile, huryang writes to clear his father's name and criticise the country for its treatment of the women who returned from qing, but barely anyone pays him any attention. resolving to commission the renowned anonymous author so that his story can reach a wider audience, huryang sets off in search of the elusive writer with his loyal servant, gathering clues from gaeunbi's tale...

production: hong company (twitter / youtube)

[ this musical will be streaming online here! kim eehoo my love ]

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나 같은 사람이 쓴 이야기도 — even a story written by someone like me

kim eehoo as gaeunbi

I’m not sure Am I truly someone capable of such? The words I write Can they truly have such power?

All I did was live on, flickering faintly Like a candle burning out In a dark cave

Even a story written by someone like me Can it remain in this world? Even a story written by someone like me Can it be of comfort to someone?

I worry that If, by any chance Someone may be hurt by The words I write

I fear that The truth behind Pihwadang may come to light While writing the story of that winter

Even a story written by someone like me Can it remain in this world? Even a story written by someone like me Can it be of comfort to someone?

Still, I wish To let our stories be heard Still, I wish To let our voices be heard

Although it’s so painful I wish to avoid it And erase those memories

Even a story written by someone like me If it can remain in this world Even a story written by someone like me If it can be of comfort to someone

If it can be so

[ original korean lyrics here. ]