HOMETOWN BOSAN




Tour Home Town Bosan proposes a new way of looking at the history and identity of Dongducheon. Bosan-dong in Dongducheon is a representative U.S. military base town in Korea, symbolizing the history of Korean comfort women for the U.S. military and the starting point of anti-American movements due to brutal crimes committed by U.S. soldiers. Since the beginning of the Iraq War in 2002, the reduction of U.S. troops in Dongducheon has led to an influx of many foreign migrant workers into Bosan-dong. Currently, Dongducheon is home to many African and Asian immigrants, with the Nigerian Igbo people forming a unique Igbo Town in Bosan-dong, which is rare even on an international scale.

Space AfroAsia, through this tour, provides a platform to view and experience the past and present of Dongducheon from the perspectives of artists and locals, while also offering a space for discussion. This tour goes beyond a simple historical exploration and delves deeply into the multifaceted social and cultural changes of Dongducheon through artistic expression. Participants will receive QR codes to access post-rock music composed by Rainbow99, reflecting the historical significance of various locations in Dongducheon. As they arrive at each site, such as Bosan Station and Tteokgeori, they will listen to the music, which conveys the historical context and emotions of these places vividly.

In front of the 1000-year-old tree, symbolizing Dongducheon's ecological environment, Dongducheon poet Yongkuk Chung will recite poetry. At the IPOB Hall, participants will engage in lectures and discussions about the history of Igbo immigration and the massacres occurring in their homeland. This part of the tour provides deep insights into the connection between the past and the present.

Lastly, participants will watch performances by African musicians who play Afrobeat and Highlife music in their home country but work as factory laborers in Korea. These performances not only offer a musical experience but also highlight the cultural identity and real-life struggles of immigrants through art.

This tour is held three times a year, and participants are not allowed to take photos or videos. This restriction ensures that participants fully immerse themselves in the moment, enhancing the artistic uniqueness and engagement of the tour. Especially when visiting military facilities, the no-photo policy prevents local residents from becoming subjects of the tour.