The exterior of Modu Art Theater in Seodaemun-gu District, Seoul (Photo by Modu Art Theater)

On October 24, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism opened Korea's first performing arts venue dedicated to showcasing artists with disabilities: the Modu Art Theater in Seoul. The theater will be an incubator for disabled artists, providing them space to create, nurture and exchange activities among their peers.

Dignitaries, including Culture Minister Yu In Chon; Bae Eun-ju, a representative of the Federation of Disability Culture and Arts Association; disabled artists; and leaders and officials from national and public performance halls attended the opening ceremony that marked a significant milestone in promoting inclusivity in the arts.

The Modu Art Theater will foster a conducive environment for disabled artists and technical staff, eliminating physical constraints and ensuring accessibility at every stage of the creative process for performances and in operational services, albeit belatedly.

The theater complies with the aim of creating a society characterized by “warm companionship” and universal happiness – a national agenda item that President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration identified as crucial.

With a focus on accessibility and diversity, the theater addresses spatial concerns by eliminating floor height discrepancies and creating a flat front plane to facilitate unrestricted movement for individuals with mobility issues. Elevators provide access to all floors, which are equipped with facilities catering to diverse needs.

Culture Minister Yu In Chon, center, and 150 individuals attend the opening ceremony for the Modu Art Theater at Seodaemun-gu District in Seoul on October 24. (Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

The theater’s 50-seat auditorium has heightened accessibility as it is equipped with adjustable seating for wheelchair users and the means to create barrier-free stages. There are also creative studio practice rooms for smaller-scale performances and showcases. In addition, the route from the dressing rooms to the control booth is wheelchair-accessible.

Provisions have also been made so that individuals with various challenges such as visual or hearing impairments, or developmental and learning disabilities, can all enjoy the creative works featured.

Two pieces – “In the Darkness, Landscape” (December 15-16) and “The Blue Butterflies in the Woods” (December 22-25) – will be staged in December.

Reservations are required to secure tickets or tour the theater. Priority and discounted rates will be extended to individuals and groups with disabilities.

"We expect that other performance venues will benchmark the Modu Art Theater’s development and operating plans, so society will come to have inclusive views of disabilities and non-disabilities,” said Culture Minister Yu.