Ever since I saw a Shakespearean play at Daehakro, which is like the Broadway of Korea, I have been fascinated by drama. Our school is very small, so we did not have a drama club, and in my junior year I started one and invited students from both the high school and middle school levels. I wrote, directed, and acted in a play called I’ll Be There.
High school years in Korea are very difficult, as education is highly valued in a Confucian society like Korea and students face strong pressure to enter good universities. Many parents are also known for pushing their children academically. I am fortunate that my parents are not like that, but we still have disagreements. My play explores these challenges and shows how parents and students can work through them together.
Scene 1
Evening shadows fill the living room as the front door creaks open.
Daughter: I’m home.
She drops her backpack by the door, slips off her shoes, and collapses onto the sofa, immediately engrossed in her phone.
Mom (entering from the kitchen, wearing an apron and holding a ladle): Welcome back, Minji. I made kimchi stew for you. And how was your test today?
Daughter (without looking up): Not hungry. And the test was okay.
Mom: Just “okay”? Can you tell me more? Did you do well?
Daughter: Mom, can we stop talking about the test?
Mom: Why can’t you just tell me. I don’t understand. You always ignore me when I ask about school. I’ve invested a lot of money in your education, so I’d like to know how you’re really doing.
Daughter: Money, money, money! Money isn’t everything, Mom. Can’t you just trust that I’m doing my best?
Mom: Trust? When you won’t share anything with me? I’m your mother… I care about your future.
Daughter: And I’m your daughter, not an investment. Please, can we not do this right now?
She continues scrolling on her phone. Mom watches her with a mix of concern and frustration.
Dog: Woof!
The sound of the front door opening diverts their attention.
Dad (entering cheerfully): Hey, family! Did anyone miss me?
Mom and Daughter (in unison, loudly): No!
Dad: Oops, is everything okay?
Daughter: Just great.
Dad: Well… So, what’s for dinner?
Mom: Kimchi stew. But it seems our daughter isn’t hungry.
Daughter gets up and heads toward the door.
Mom: Hey, where are you going?
Daughter: Out. Meeting friends. Don’t wait up.
She exits swiftly before anyone can respond. Mom stares at the door dumbfounded and sighs deeply.
Scene 2
Mom and Dad sit at the dining table. Mom serves the kimchi stew into bowls.
Dad: What’s wrong with Minji? What did you do to her?
Mom: Why do you think it’s my fault? I just asked about her test.
Dad, ignoring Mom, pets the dog
Dog (cutely): Bow wow, bow wow.
Dad: Smells delicious! (He takes a spoonful and pauses.) Wait, is there any beef in here?
Mom: Come on, you know beef prices have shot up. Too expensive. We need to save money for Minji’s after-school academy fees.
Dad: Are the academy fees that expensive?
Mom: Good education doesn’t come cheap, especially good English academies.
Dad: Is that so? Well, no more English academy fees. Let’s have beef in the kimchi stew.
Mom: What? You’re amazing. What’s more important: our daughter’s future or beef in our stew?
Dad (mumbling): Oh, mannnnnnnnn.
Scene 3
At a cozy café, the Daughter sits with her two friends, sipping drinks.
Daughter: I’m so fed up with my mom. She just doesn’t get me.
Friend 1: Same here. She thinks all I do is waste time on my phone. She has no idea how stressed I am. I can’t just study all day long.
Friend 2: My mom keeps comparing me to when she was my age, like how responsible she was. It’s so unfair.
Daughter: They act like they’ve never been teenagers. We’re under so much pressure already.
Friend 1: Exactly! Just because we’re on our phones doesn’t mean we’re not working hard in our own way.
Friend 2: I wish they would try to understand instead of just lecturing us.
Daughter: Maybe we’re expecting too much. Or maybe… they just forgot what it was like.
They all sigh, contemplating.
Scene 4
Feeling restless after the café, the Daughter decides to visit her grandmother. She arrives at Grandma’s cozy house, knocking softly.
Daughter: Grandma, it’s me!
Grandma: Minji! What a lovely surprise. Come in, dear.
They embrace warmly.
Daughter: I was nearby and thought I’d stop by.
Grandma: Perfect timing. Your aunt is here too. We’re just about to have some tea and snacks.
They settle in the living room, a spread of fruit and cookies before them.
Grandma: So, how’s everything?
Daughter: Honestly, not great. Mom and I aren’t seeing eye to eye. She keeps pushing me about school and doesn’t understand me at all.
Grandma (smiling knowingly): Ah, the classic mother-daughter tango.
Daughter: Did Mom ever… I don’t know, did you have problems with her when she was my age?
Grandma: Oh, your mother was crazy when she was your age! You know she was a part of the X-generation, always into something new. Always rebelling against parents, teachers, and society.
Daughter: Really? Mom did that?
Grandma: It’s her generation that ruined the Korean language, making up all sorts of slang, like “daebak,” “jjang,” “dangeun,” and “wanjeon capyiya.” Drove me crazy! And she was always listening to her SONY Walkman CD player. We had so many fights over that, because she would ignore me when she was listening to the CD player.
Aunt: Don’t forget her secret diary club! Your mom and her friends passed around a notebook, writing all their thoughts, particularly about their parents.
Grandma: Oh yes! She once wrote, “Mom just doesn’t get it. She nags me constantly. It’s so frustrating!”
Daughter (laughing): No way! Mom wrote that?
Aunt: Also, here’s some photographic evidence of her crazy teenage years.
She hands over an old photo album. The Daughter flips through, eyes widening.
Daughter (while looking at a photo of her mom with bright orange 90s hair, oversized rapper clothes, and a beanie with ‘Seo Taiji’ written on it): Is this… Mom?
Grandma: Yes, that’s your mom.
Daughter: I can’t believe it. She always seems so… proper and serious.
Grandma: Time changes us all, dear. Your mom was once a young girl trying to find her place, just like you.
Daughter: I guess we have more in common than I thought.
Scene 5
Later that evening at home, the family gathers in the living room. The TV is on, but everyone’s attention is elsewhere. The Daughter enters, looking contemplative.
Dad: Hey, Minji. Back so late?
Daughter: Yeah, I was at Grandma’s.
Mom: You went to see Grandma? You should have told me.
Daughter: I needed some space to think.
An awkward pause.
Dad: Anyone want some fruit.
Mom and Daughter (again in unison, loudly): No!
Daughter: Mom, can we talk?
Mom: What’s on your mind?
Daughter: I learned some interesting things about you today.
Mom: Oh?
Daughter: Grandma and Auntie told me about your teenage years—the music, the slang, the secret diaries. And I saw a photo of you with crazy hair and a beanie with “Seo Taiji” written on it.
Mom’s eyes widen slightly.
Mom: I had forgotten about those days…
Daughter: I don’t know, it seemed you were a lot like… me.
Mom (smiles softly): Um… I suppose… I was.
Daughter: It’s funny. I always thought you wouldn’t understand what I’m going through, but maybe you do.
Mom: Well, I remember how challenging those years were. All those fights with your grandma. I guess I forgot to put myself in your shoes.
Daughter: It’s not all your fault. I didn’t consider how worried you must be about me. I know you do everything for me because you love me.
Mom: Yes, Minji, I just want the best for you. But I realize I need to trust you more.
Daughter: And I need to communicate better. Can we try to understand each other from now on?
Mom: I’d like that very much.
They share a heartfelt smile, and then hug.
Dad: This calls for a celebration. Ice cream, anyone?
Mom and Daughter (again in unison, loudly): Yes!
Everyone laughs.
Dog: Woof woof!
Daughter: Even our dog agrees!
They all chuckle, the atmosphere lighter.
End of Play