Waves from Busan
Presented by Busan Cultural Foundation, City of Busan & Korean Cultural Center New York
Wednesday, December 10, 2025, 6:00 PM
Venue: Korean Cultural Center New York
(122 E 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016)
Admission: FREE (Pre-registration is Required)
* RSVP and seating are on a first-come, first-served basis.
Waves from Busan is an international performing arts initiative organized by the City of Busan and the Busan Foundation for Culture, in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center New York.
The program is produced and managed by the Busan Performing Arts Market (BPAM) Secretariat, introducing Busan’s creative performing arts scene to New York and fostering professional cooperation between the two cities.
BPAM (Busan Performing Arts Market) is an annual international performing arts market held in Busan, featuring full-length performances, showcases, pitch sessions, meetings, and networking programs across all genres. Each year, it brings together professionals from around 35 countries, including approximately 450 delegates and an audience of over 60,000 people, serving as a key international platform that connects artists and institutions across the global performing arts community.
Located on the southeastern coast of South Korea, Busan is the country’s second-largest city, with a population of over 3 million people. Known for its vibrant port, international film festival, and growing creative industries, Busan is emerging as a leading cultural hub in East Asia.
◆ PROGRAM
#1: Mr. Nobody: The Wanpan Edition of Sledgehammer Mr. Baek’s Journal by SEEAHT PROJECT
About the Work
This one-person play follows demolition worker Go Yun-ho as he reflects on life and death through the story of an old house about to be torn down and the final days of Mr. Baek. With only a dining table onstage, the space transforms—from a home awaiting demolition, to a room filled with debris, and finally back to a single table after collapse. Using light, shadow, objects, and spatial composition, the work creates a poetic cycle of endings and beginnings. Its minimalist, flexible staging makes it ideal for touring.
Genre: Theater
Performers: Eunju Lee, Chi Oun Oh
Age Recommendation: 12+
Social Media:
• Homepage – https://sites.google.com/view/15seconds/%ED%99%88
• Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/see.aht_project
About the Company
SEEAHT PROJECT is a theatre collective that turns personal narratives into socially resonant performances. Beginning with interviews and research, the group invites audiences to explore identity, memory, and new ways of understanding life.
#2: Paradise by Contemporary Dance Company JAYU
About the Work
Paradise begins with a simple yet profound question: “Where is the true paradise my body longs for?” The performance examines how we listen to our bodies, respect them, and find rest amidst daily pressure. Rest is portrayed not just as physical recovery but as liberation, healing, and restoration. The piece offers a broader, more compassionate understanding of rest for modern audiences who struggle to find moments of stillness.
Genre: Dance
Performers: Sunhee An, Eonju Lee, Hyelee Lee, Hyebin Choi, Dayoung Kim
Age Recommendation: All Ages
Social Media:
• Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/dancecompany_jayu
About the Company
Founded in 1995 in Busan, Contemporary Dance Company JAYU is known for its steady creative practice and diverse seasonal productions. Drawing inspiration from nature and the local environment, the company presents both indoor and outdoor performances while exploring new artistic forms and contributing to the national dance landscape.
3: Life Is But A Dream by ICONTACT
About the Work
Blending “Tradition” and “Transformation,” this hybrid performance combines Korean mask dance (talchum), pansori, shamanic rhythms, trance music, EDM, and hip hop. Set in a mechanized, monotonous city, the story follows a protagonist who slips into a dream in search of their true self. Talchum spirits emerge, drums intensify, and a new space opens—where folk movement intertwines with hip hop, and gugak merges with electronic soundscapes. The journey shifts from numbness to breath, from isolation to community, concluding with a participatory finale where audiences join in a shared celebration.
Genre: Theater
Performers: Sieun Yu, Hyeongseok Choi, Moongchang Yang, Jeongwoo Seo, Seungmin Yang
Age Recommendation: All Ages
Social Media:
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/icontact_kr/
• Instagram https://www.instagram.com/tr_edition_kr/
About the Company
ICONTACT is a youth performing arts organization based in Busan, creating works across theater, musicals, immersive experiences, traditional arts, and cross-genre pieces. Guided by themes of resistance and contemporary relevance, the company builds innovative hybrid forms that communicate with global audiences.