The US Ambassador to Korea, Kathleen Stephens really continues to do a good job in regards to reaching out to the Korean public and really appears to enjoy her job:

As I relearn the changed face of Seoul, I’m rediscovering areas like Daehakro (대학로), always a place filled with young energy and creativity. It’s a great place for a meal and a movie: I saw “Old Partner (워낭소리)”, or “The Cow Bell” there. In March, I helped kick off Seoul’s enthusiastic celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, also in Daehakro. It was only recently, however, that I learned Daehakro is also the scene of a thriving small theater culture, what Americans would call “off-Broadway”, small, even tiny theaters brimming with talented, risk-taking performances. As with “off-Broadway” in the U.S., I’ve discovered in Daehakro that you never know what you’re going to see! In Daehakro, there are almost 200 small theaters. So far I’ve seen only two plays, and both have been superb.

The first play was Jjamppong (짬뽕). Of course, I know the word jjamppong (spicy noodle soup); it has long been my favorite Chinese noodle dish. The play is set in a Chinese restaurant, but it’s about a lot more than food. “Jjamppong” is set in Gwangju in May 1980, and shows the lives of ordinary people caught up in the turmoil and tragedy of the Gwangju Uprising. So, yes, aspects of the play are upsetting, serious, and very sad, and at the same time the actors (and the playwright) create characters of humanity and humor. The play gave my Korean language skills a workout. But even when I couldn’t follow the dialogue, I could understand the story, thanks to the compelling physical and non-verbal skills of the actors.  [Cafe USA]

You can read more about the Ambassador’s trips to Daehakro at the link.