Chunhyang, with her brown eyes and blonde hair, appears slightly unconventional yet perfectly embodies her role. She is the actress and director of ‘The Tale of Anna, Hallo Chunhyang,’ playing the lead character, Chunhyang. This interview was conducted on Jan. 22 at Yeonwoo Theater in Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, where the actual play will be held, just after she completed a rehearsal for the play’s four-night run beginning on Jan. 25.
“It might initially feel unusual to see a Westerner play Chunhyang, but we’ve become accustomed to foreigners portraying Korean characters. Shouldn’t it be just as natural for foreigners to take on Korean roles?” she questioned.
Anna Rihlmann, 31, is a German who performs under the name Yoon Anna in Korea, adopted the surname Yoon from her host family in Korea. Her passion for Korean cinema was sparked by Kim Ki-duk’s ‘3-Iron (Empty House).’ Subsequently, she studied journalism and Korean studies at the University of Tübingen, Germany. In 2014, Rihlmann moved to Korea, enrolling in the acting program at the Korea National University of Arts (K-Arts).
Rihlmann’s acting debut was in 2014 with ‘Why Do the Littlest Things Make Me Livid - Finding Kim Su-young in Me.’ Since then, she has appeared in about 15 Korean films and plays, including the Oscar-winning ‘Parasite,’ in which she played the German mom in the final party scene. Her portfolio also includes the documentary ‘Seo Seo-pyeong,’ about a German-American missionary in Korea. It plays like ‘The Nurses, Who Do Not Return Home,’ depicting the Korean nurses dispatched to Germany during the 1960s, and ‘Texas Aunt,’ exploring the realities of marriage migration.
“Having acted in Korea for nearly a decade, I’ve been part of many significant works, including ‘Parasite.’ However, my roles have predominantly been stereotypical foreign characters, like the foreign daughter-in-law and foreign mom. Despite my extensive training at K-Arts, an institution challenging even for Koreans to enter, I find the portrayal of foreigners in Korean media disappointingly stereotypical. This role limitation led me to conclude that we must write and produce our own stories.”
‘The Tale of Anna, Hallo Chunhyang’ is not a conventional adaptation of Chunhyangjeon. It’s an autobiographical story about foreign actors’ challenges and efforts in preparing for a traditional Korean play. After its initial presentation as a reading in 2022, which was well-received, it was adapted into a full production. Rihlmann plays a version of herself, German actress Anna, as Chunhyang. The role of Bangja is portrayed by Anupam Tripathi, a fellow K-Arts alumnus and a global star after his role in the Netflix drama ‘Squid Game.’ The production was collaborative, with Rihlmann and the cast working together on the script.
“As a foreign ambassador for Insa-dong, I often described Chunhyangjeon to tourists as the Korean equivalent of Romeo and Juliet. Casting a blonde woman and an Indian man in the lead roles, like in our play, highlights the satirical element. Despite their foreign appearance, audiences will see their dedication and hard work bringing Chunhyangjeon to life.”
The play includes a special segment with Rihlmann’s parents, joining via Skype from Germany. “My current challenge is the video call scene with my parents. I find myself tearing up during every rehearsal, even though there’s no crying in the script. My goal is to keep my composure on stage,” Rihlmann said.
While Rihlmann primarily identifies as an actor, she also strongly advocates for better support for foreign artists in Korea. She notes the growing number of foreign artists in Korea and the need for improved institutional support. ‘The Tale of Anna’ has a limited four-day run, constrained by budget limitations.
“I aspire to create more opportunities for foreign creators, but the support systems in Korea are not as accommodating for us as they are for Korean nationals. As a foreigner on an artist visa (E6), despite being a tax-paying resident, I don’t qualify for the same support. I’m actively working to change this disparity,” Rihlmann explained.
Rihlmann has even engaged with the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports & Tourism Committee to support better. A scene in the play reflects this, depicting foreign artists advocating for their cause in front of the National Assembly.
Leveraging her experiences and insights from her current production, Rihlmann is already planning her next steps. Her journey in Korean arts is evolving into new creative realms. “As this play concludes, I’m shifting my focus to a new project. I’m collaborating on a K-global drama with an American playwright. Featuring four foreign characters, this project will be my main focus after this play’s run.”
For those interested in experiencing this unique blend of cultures on stage, tickets for ‘The Tale of Anna, Hallo Chunhyang’ are available for booking on Interpark’s website at https://tickets.interpark.com/goods/24000107.
