Gwi Sung Yoon—A scholar and an artist
There is a Korean saying that goes—“When a person is born, send him to Seoul. When a horse is born, send it to Jeju Island.” When Korean visiting scholar, Gwi Sung Yoon was 15, his family took those words to heart and Mr. Yoon left his country-side hometown in Jullanamdo Province for the dynamic city of Seoul where he entered high school. A few years later, his mother, his eldest brother and 4 cousins moved to Seoul. “Seoul is where everyone dreams to go,” Mr. Yoon said.
For Koreans, high school years are difficult and challenging as students prepare to take university entrance exams. The days are long and the work is hard. “In high school, we carried a lunch box and a dinner box everyday,” Mr. Yoon said.
Mr. Yoon began his career with the Seoul City government when he was only 18 years old — much earlier than many of his colleagues because he had to work for his big family. His first job was in the Dong Office and now 35 years later, Gwi Sung Yoon is an Administrative Director of the Sejong Cultural Center for Performing Arts in Seoul. He has held that position for one year and four months. Prior to that, Mr. Yoon was the Deputy Director of the Urban Planning Division for Seoul City Government.
Mr. Yoon was always eager to study, however he was too busy at work, so he got a BA in 1976 and his MA in 1991. In addition, he had a special experience when he volunteered as a night middle school teacher for about 10 years.
In 1997, while surfing the Seoul City Government Internet site, an advertisement for an art program caught his attention. The decision to enroll in the program opened up the creative world of oil painting. Now, when in Korea, Mr. Yoon spends every Thursday night from 7 to 10 p.m. practicing his craft with a professional artist and about 60 other painters from the Gu-Office. “In elementary school, we had one hour of art per week.,” Mr. Yoon said. In the sixth grade, Mr. Yoon represented his school at a crayon competition with his drawing of Yoo Dal Mountain. “The mountain is very rocky and has good scenery to paint,” he said. “Maybe I had a hidden talent for drawing.”
In 2000, Mr. Yoon received an honorable mention in the National Official Art competition with his painting titled, “Have a Dream.” Then in 2002, he received a silver medal for his oil painting, “Have a Dream II.” He also served as the president of the Seoul City Government oil painting circle. The circle has had an annual exhibition in the Seoul art gallery since 1995. The 2002 event was attended by the mayor of Seoul, over 200 guests and about 60 artists including Mr. Yoon. His silver medal art work hung in the hallway of the Seoul City Government building for one year.
“I titled the paintings Have a Dream because the people who live in the poor villages on the hillsides always have a dream to have their own apartments,” he said. Mr. Yoon says that when he returns to Seoul he will continue his Thursday night painting classes. “I bought an easel, brushes and some oil paints here in Columbia, but I haven’t yet painted anything. But I’m hoping to get something painted for the Asian Affairs Center before I leave.”
Before coming to Columbia, Mr. Yoon said he looked at several different areas in the U.S., but Columbia came highly recommended. He doesn’t at all regret his choice. “It is a very good place—it is restful and peaceful and I am thankful that Seoul City government gave me this great opportunity.”
General Bio:
Family: Wife; Ewha Kim, Sons; Sangyeon and Sungho
Current Position in Korea: Director of Planning Division for Sejong Cultural Center for the Performing Arts.
Origin of name : In English, the Chinese characters for Gwi Sung mean noble star. Many Koreans use from Chinese characters for their names. Mr. Yoon’s father, who was a teacher of Chinese characters, chose the name. “I think he was hoping I’d become an important person,” Mr. Yoon said.
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