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About KOTE

KOTE, located at the end of Pimatgol Tavern Village at the entrance of Insadong, opened its doors on March 1, 2020, commemorating the March 1st Independence Movement Day. Just as rivers refine their flow to find the most beautiful course, from January 2024, KOTE continues its cultural voyage centered around the single space of the Haebong Building.


The site of the Haebong Building was once home to Yeonheungsa (1907), one of Korea's first private theaters. In 1922, the Joseon Theater, where the inaugural performance of the Towolhoe (a legendary theater group) took place opened on the same plot. This historic space has been a junction of old and new cultures and a haven open to all for over 100 years. KOTE continues that tradition, opening an artistic stage without borders that embodies KOTE’s core value of 'free exchange'.


The name KOTE is a blend of the Korean word for flower (kkot) and the English word 'courtyard', signifying a flower blooming in a courtyard of the boundaries.  KOTE contains the meaning of "blooming flowers instead of building walls at boundaries."

HIGHLIGHTS

INFORMATION

Insadong KOTE, located at the end of Pimatgol Tavern Village at the entrance of Insadong, opened its doors on March 1, 2020, commemorating the March 1st Independence Movement Day. Just as rivers refine their flow to find the most beautiful course, from January 2024, KOTE continues its cultural voyage centered around the single space of the Haebong Building.

The site of the Haebong Building was once home to Yeonheungsa (1907), one of Korea's first private theaters. In 1922, the Joseon Theater, where the inaugural performance of the Towolhoe (a legendary theater group) took place opened on the same plot. This historic space has been a junction of old and new cultures and a haven open to all for over 100 years. KOTE continues that tradition, opening an artistic stage without borders that embodies KOTE’s core value of 'free exchange'.

The name KOTE is a blend of the Korean word for flower (kkot) and the English word 'courtyard', signifying a flower blooming in a courtyard of the boundaries.  KOTE contains the meaning of "blooming flowers instead of building walls at boundaries."

코트 선언문

KOTE Manifesto

인사동과 피맛골이 만나는 이 곳에선 절하지 말라.

문화 정체성을 존중하고 수호하는 선구자한테가 아니라면

대신 동료 서울 시민들과 세계 시민들을 위하여 잔을 들라.

탐색하라, 연결하라, 영감이 되라, 삶에 생명을 더하라.

젊든 나이 들었든, 어디서 왔든, 어떤 일을 하든, 서로에게서 배우라.

다양성은 우리를 더 강하게 할지니, 개인으로도 공동체로도.

질문이 무엇이든 답은 사랑이고,

서로에 대한 존중이 길이며, 진실된 커다란 미소가 비결이다.

Here at the crossroads of Insadong and Pimatgol, don't bow.

Except to visionaries who respect and defend cultural identities.

And raise your glass to fellow Seoulites and citizens of the world.

Explore, connect, inspire, add life to life. Whether old or young,

whatever your origin or walk of life, learn from each other.

Diversity makes humans stronger as individuals and as communities.

Whatever the question, love is the answer,

mutual respect the way, and a big genuine smile the secret.

A ce croisement d'Insadong et de Pimatgol, ne vous inclinez

devant personne, sauf devant des visionaires qui respectent

et défendent les identités culturelles.

Et levez vos verres aux concitoyens de Séoul et du monde.

Explorez, connectez, inspirez, ajoutez de la vie à la vie.

Que vous soyez jeune ou vieux, d'cic ou d'ailleurs, quels que soient

vos parcours, apprenez les uns des autres:

La diversité nous rend meilleurs en tant qu'individus

comme en tant que communautés .

Quelle que soit la question, l'amour est la réponse ,

le respect mutuel est le chemin, un large et sincère  sourire est le secret.

HIGHLIGHTS

2019

19.3 Quilt Exhibition ʻSeumida’

19.4 Sweet Soap Bubbles

19.4.25 ABC News- Durihana Internatio-nal School: North Korean children meet artists

19.11 Borderline Art, Tattoo_Tatist Exhibition 

19.11.19 NETKAL Korea Lecture (Helie Lee)














2020

22.1 FRZM Movement : Remembering March 1st 

20.6-7 Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition : Future School Summer Studio 

20.11 Seoul Cultural Foundation ʻArt Therapy & Adult Craft Exhibition 

20.11.27-12.6 Ballantine's Single Malt Pop-Up 

20.12 Ministry of SMEs and Startups : Local Festa












2021

21.5.1 French Community Pop-up Village 

21.5.  Culture Shift : NFT 21.7. KOTE JAM MARKET : Flea Market 

21.8- Marche Farmers Market 

21.8 Diaspora Dialog: Let's Join Hands at the Border 

21.8 Korea-Dutch Diplomatic Relations 60th Anniversary Documentary Film Festival 

21.10.21-24 Belgian Festival











2022

21.21.12.-22.2 KOTE Community Exhibition 'Flowers Bloom at Every Boundary'

22.3.-7.Côte d'Or

(Four Play, Video Forum)

22.3.18 Minerva University QUINQUATRIA Festival

22.4.23 The Strange Film Festival

22.5 - Lecture at the Royal Asiatic Society (RAS)

22.10.25-11.13 MIVA Metaverse Showcase

22.11.26 GO VEGAN FESTIVAL 

22.12 Ahn Eunmi Company : Eunmi Pong Festival







2023

23.3.1-5 KOTE Potlock Festival

23.3.18 Francophonie Food Festival French Embassy

23.5.7 Joseph Jeon Director Wedding

23.8.10-13 Artificial Intelligence Historical Drama

Paphos 2.0

23.9.5-6 Prada Mode: Multiple and Parallel

23.9.19 2023 Fashion Week Finale Exhibition

: John&3"21 24s/s Fashion Show

23.9.21-27 50th Anniversary of Korea-

Finland Diplomatic Relations

23.9- TEDXSeoul Women, Artists for

Climate : TEDxSeoul X SPRINTS

23.12 2023 House Dance Future - Overaiz

2024

24.4.6 Doodle Fest 

24.5.4-5.19 ‘The Secret Sublime’ Ran Hwang Salon Exhibition 

24.6.16-7.8 The hechyeomoyeo 6 

24.6.29 Sheen:Seoul x Hechyeomoyeo Hanbok Fashion Show 

24.8.8-8.22 Shared Campus: Seoul

24.9.3-9.7 KOTE Art Festival 2024: 'Words from the Wind'

24.10.12-10.29 'Body - Flesh' Kwon Hyuk-su Solo Exhibition 














2019

19.3   Quilt Exhibition ʻSeumida'

19.4   Sweet Soap Bubbles

19.4.25   ABC News- Durihana Internatio-nal School: North Korean children meet artists

19.11   Borderline Art, Tattoo_Tatist Exhibition 

19.11.19   NETKAL Korea Lecture (Helie Lee  )

2020

22.1  FRZM Movement: Remembering March 1st 

20.6-7  Venice Biennale International Architecture Exhibition: Future School Summer Studio 

20.11  Seoul Cultural Foundation ʻArt Therapy & Adult Craft Exhibition 

20.11.27-12.6  Ballantine's Single Malt Pop-Up 

20.12  Ministry of SMEs and Startups: Local Festa

2021

21.5.1 French Community Pop-up Village 

21.5.  Culture Shift : NFT 21.7. KOTE JAM MARKET : Flea Market 

21.8- Marche Farmers Market 

21.8 Diaspora Dialog: Let's Join Hands at the Border 

21.8 Korea-Dutch Diplomatic Relations 60th Anniversary Documentary Film Festival 

21.10.21-24 Belgian Festival

2022

21.21.12.-22.2 KOTE Community Exhibition 'Flowers Bloom at Every Boundary'

22.3.-7.Côte d'Or (Four Play, Video Forum)

22.3.18 Minerva University QUINQUATRIA Festival

22.4.23 The Strange Film Festival

22.5 - Lecture at the Royal Asiatic Society (RAS)

22.10.25-11.13 MIVA Metaverse Showcase

22.11.26 GO VEGAN FESTIVAL 

22.12 Ahn Eunmi Company : Eunmi Pong Festival

2023

23.3.1-5 KOTE Potlock Festival

23.3.18 Francophonie Food Festival French Embassy

23.5.7 Joseph Jeon Director Wedding

23.8.10-13 Artificial Intelligence Historical Drama Paphos 2.0

23.9.5-6 Prada Mode: Multiple and Parallel

23.9.19 2023 Fashion Week Finale Exhibition: John&3"21 24s/s Fashion Show

23.9.21-27 50th Anniversary of Korea-Finland Diplomatic Relations

23.9- TEDXSeoul Women, Artists forClimate : TEDxSeoul X SPRINTS

23.12 2023 House Dance Future - Overaiz

2024

24.4.6 Doodle Fest 

24.5.4-5.19 ‘The Secret Sublime’ Ran Hwang Salon Exhibition 

24.6.16-7.8 Hechyeomoyeo 6 

24.6.29 Sheen:Seoul x Hechyeomoyeo Hanbok Fashion Show 

24.8.8-8.22 Shared Campus: Seoul

24.9.3-9.7 KOTE Art Fest 2024: 'Words from the Wind' 

SITE HISTORY

Pimatgol: 'The Alley to Avoid Horses'During the Joseon period around 600 years ago, commoners were forced to bow every time a nobleman on a horse was riding down the road, and wait there until he had passed. To avoid this, Pimatgol was formed. This narrow alleyway on either side of the main thoroughfare was a place where no one had to bow. It became the back alley of culture. Due to gentrification, Pi Mat Gol has completely vanished. The place where KOTE is located was once a Pi Mat Gol tavern, and we are devoted to remembering the approachable sincerity of the alleyway.

The Joseon Theater: A foothold of culture 1922-1936Opened in 1922, the Joseon Theater was one of a few cinemas at the time that screened foreign movies. Although it was originally permitted as a movie theater, the stage was widened during construction to allow for theater performances to be held. Dance and jazz performances were held in between movie screenings and theater performances, and Joseon Theater became an important space for actors, directors, cinematographers, and more. The Haebong Building stands on the site where Yeonheungsa, one of the first private theaters in Korea, was established in 1907. Managed by a French owner, Yeonheungsa was a theater initially frequented by the nobility and aristocrats, serving as a cradle for traditional performances and melodramas.

Towolhoe (토월회)The Birth of the Modern Theater Movement in Korea The Joseon Theater was also the site of the first performance of Towolhoe, a trailblazing group in the Korean New Theater Movement. Towolhoe viewed theater as a comprehensive art form, advancing a theatricality that encompassed the audience, actors, and plays.

SITE HISTORY

Pi Mat Gol (피맛골)

‘The Alley to Avoid Horses’

During the Joseon period around 600 years ago, commoners were forced to bow every time a nobleman on a horse was riding down the road, and wait there until he had passed. To avoid this, Pimatgol was formed. This narrow alleyway on either side of the main thoroughfare was a place where no one had to bow. It became the back alley of culture. Due to gentrification, Pi Mat Gol has completely vanished. The place where KOTE is located was once a Pi Mat Gol tavern, and we are devoted to remembering the approachable sincerity of the alleyway.

JOSEON THEATER 

A foothold of culture 1922-1936 

Opened in 1922, the Joseon Theater was one of a few cinemas at the time that screened foreign movies. Although it was originally permitted as a movie theater, the stage was widened during construction to allow for theater performances to be held. Dance and jazz performances were held in between movie screenings and theater performances, and Joseon Theater became an important space for actors, directors, cinematographers, and more. 

Decades earlier, one of the first private theaters in Korea, Yeonheungsa, was established on the same Haebong Building site (1907). Managed by a French owner , Yeonheungsa was a theater initially frequented by the nobility and aristocrats, serving as a cradle for traditional performances and melodramas.

TOWOLHOE (토월회) 

The Birth of the Modern Theater Movement in Korea

The Joseon Theater was also the site of the first performance of Towolhoe, a trailblazing group in the  Korean New Theater Movement. Towolhoe viewed theater as a comprehensive art form, advancing a theatricality that encompassed the audience, actors, and plays.

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