︎︎︎No More Children in My Motherland

The project addresses the concerning disappearance of children in South Korea, amidst declining birth rates and societal challenges.

In my country, South Korea, a pressing crisis is unfolding: the disappearance of children. The elementary school I attended is now on the brink of closure due to a drastic decline in student enrollment, which has halved since my time there. Our birth rate is falling more rapidly than in other OECD countries, making it a critical issue. It's alarming how our government and society are not addressing this problem with the urgency it deserves. Amid rampant inflation, soaring housing prices, and increasing marital breakdowns, this issue only becomes more dire.

Walking through the streets, I encounter numerous playgrounds, mere minutes apart, in my city near Seoul. Yet, these spaces are eerily void of children. This stark reality inspired my project, No More Children in My Motherland. Capturing images of deserted playgrounds was hauntingly effortless; devoid of their intended users, these vibrant structures stood like functionless sculptures. What were once symbols of hope have become visual representations of a dystopian reality, a sorrowful landscape alarmingly close to my reality.

The creative process of this project mirrored a game of hide-and-seek: myself, the photographer, in search of the elusive subjects - the children. This quest began at a playground just 200 feet from my home and expanded to the southernmost island. Over the course of years, encounters with children were a rarity. If no effective solutions are implemented, South Korea faces a risk of fading into obscurity. My project represents a personal crusade to report on and halt this impending disaster.

Award #1 POY Asia︎︎︎
Pictures Of the Year Asia

This project won Issue Reporting Picture Story genre as a finalist.

Award #2 BIFA︎︎︎
Budapest International Foto Awards

This project won Silver Prize in Film / Analog / Fine Arts.

Award #3 TIFA︎︎︎
Tokyo International Foto Awards

This project won Silver Prize in Film / Analog / Fine Arts.

Fair #1 ASYAAF︎︎︎
Asian Students and Young Artists Art Festival

This project participated on ASYAAF ‘24, which is one of the biggest art fairs in Seoul held by Chosunilbo (Korean Newspaper Company).