The Photographs of Kang Woon-Gu

Abstract

In the time that has passed since Kang Woon-gu’s photographs of rural Korea were taken, Korea’s landscape has gone through a period of accelerated and dramatic change³. This shift from a largely agricultural existence to an increasingly urban industrial economy makes these photographs even more powerful today. Kang Woon-gu has documented ordinary moments of Korean agricultural life, and one can see in the photographs the intimate relationship that the people have with the ancient Korean landscape. They make one acutely aware of how the people co-exist with and have a deep respect for the land where they live. The mountains seem like guardians watching over the Korean people- time witnesses to the life that has been played out in front of them for thousands of years.