1 April – 1 May 2025 DONGPO, meaning brethren, comrades or people of the same ancestry is a Korean term which embraces the broad category of the Korean diaspora whilst emphasising links among various overseas groups around the world. This project began with documenting the largest North and South Korean community in Europe (New Malden, London). As a Korean-born, British-raised individual, it is an investigation into the complexities of dual identity: how personal histories of Koreans intersect with the broader history of England, the UK, and the West. The next step is to return to my birthplace, South Korea, to explore how memory, displacement, and belonging are expressed in the homeland. I will work in both new urban and old rural settings, tracing my family’s paths across the peninsula while engaging with the legacies of the Japanese occupation, military dictatorships, and rapid post-war development. The scholarship will help fund travel, film, and local guides. My approach will be slow, embedded, and collaborative, building trust to create compelling images. I will combine scenes of new and old spaces, intimate portraits and quiet details of daily life, echoing the tone and rhythm of my London work while allowing new textures to surface in Korea. Goals: Produce at least 30 new photographs. Create a short publication/zine combining UK and Korea chapters. Research and visit Korean photographers. Connect with Korean curators. Visit Korean photography galleries.
