A creative group composed of Dongseo University Acting Department alumni has shaken up Busan's theater scene. A university-based creative network has translated into tangible results, establishing a "new production model" in the regional performing arts ecosystem.
Dongseo University announced Thursday that Artistreet, a performing arts group led by graduates of its Acting Department, swept three major awards at the 44th Busan Theater Festival, winning Best Play, Best Script and Best Acting. The group has emerged as a key player in the local theater scene, proving both artistic merit and acting prowess at once, the university said.
The significance of the achievement is heightened by the fact that the Best Play and Best Script categories produced no winners at the previous edition due to a lack of qualified candidates, meaning winners have emerged in these categories for the first time in two years. The result is interpreted as going beyond a simple award win, raising the bar for production quality.
The awards are drawing attention as a case in which the Acting Department's hands-on education and creation-focused curriculum have been validated in the field. Park Sung-jun, who won Best Script, wrote and directed the production, while Park So-yoon received the Best Acting award. Alumni across various graduating classes, including Kook Min-yong, Yang Min-woo, Kim Se-chin and Kim Jun-il, also participated, completing a cross-generational collaborative structure.
Behind the achievement lies systematic support from the university. Artistreet has maintained an industry-academia cooperation framework as a family company of the Dongseo University Acting Department, advancing its work development and production capabilities through programs such as the RISE (Regional Innovation System & Education) project's employment school and the Glocal University 30 Living Lab program. Dongseo University said the virtuous cycle connecting education, creation and the field has translated into real awards.
With this achievement, Artistreet is drawing attention as a sustainable creative model for the regional theater scene, rather than just an alumni group. The case demonstrates that university-based creative collectives can grow into key players in the regional cultural industry, and its ripple effects are expected to be considerable.
"Creation-focused curricula such as text analysis and scene studies have translated into results in the field," a Dongseo University official said. "We will further strengthen the structure that allows our graduates to sustain themselves in the regional arts ecosystem."
