Harsh life at work

For more than ten years after graduating from high school in her hometown Gwangju, Jeong-Ok spent everyday nothing special or exciting. In 1988 when the whole attentions were gathered in Seoul because of the Seoul Olympics, she took courage to leave for Seoul. And she registered in an apparel private institute. At that time, she was 31 years old, which was a bit belated to learn something. After completing its one-year curriculum, she found a job in a large apparel company called ‘Tom Boy’ with a recommendation from the institute. She performed more works by working harder than others. Once a designer completed a design, the pattern should be made and passed to the sewing room where fabrics were cut and sewn.

From the moment of entering the company at the age of 32 to the moment of regular retirement at the age of 55, she had to endure such an unutterably-harsh life at work. When others worked overtime at night once, she did it 2-3 times. There was discrimination in promotion. All the bosses regarded the disabled as uncomfortable.

Turning point of life

After retirement, there was a company that tried to scout her, but she refused the proposal because she decided to do what she would really like to do. First of all, she looked for a place where she could do volunteer activities. Through a local newspaper, she accidentally learnt about Soulum Art Center that was providing art education for the disabled. Thus, she immediately visited the place, interviewed with the manager, and then registered in it on that day. Even though she initially visited the place for volunteer activities, it was so much fun to draw paintings based on some kind of her longing for paintings. The change she experiences after starting art is that she feels happy. She even feels like ‘How come I have a great luck like this?’.

About three years after attending the studio, she was told to get ready for applying for a contest. When she submitted her work for the first time to the National Literary Awards and Art Exhibition of the Disabled one year later, she won the Encouragement Award, which was such a great deal to her.

After that, she continuously applied for many contests like the art exhibitions of the disabled and general art exhibitions. Regardless of failing or winning, she just enjoyed the preparation process itself. If possible, she also diligently participated in group exhibitions.

Now, she is painter Lee Jeong-Ok

Five years ago, she held her first private exhibition in Insa-dong. The previous colleagues who visited the exhibition hall praised her by saying that she was changed to such a humane person.

Thinking back, she always raised her guard against people. Jeong-Ok who has the level 4 of physical disability as she was suffering from polio at the age of 1, could walk, but lost her balance even when she was slightly touched by a passerby. When she was an elementary school student, her classmates passed her to blow her down on purpose. When she was quietly sitting down in her classroom, they pulled her hair and then ran away. In the 1960s which was different from now, children sometimes threw stones at her. For this reason, she paid close attention to everything just like a hedgehog by raising her guard against people. But painter Lee Jeong-Ok was filled with love for human.

In 2021, Lee Jeong-Ok won the Grand Prize in the 31st National Literary Awards and Art Exhibition of the Disabled.

It was the outcome in ten years after initially visiting the Soulum Art Center.

The themes of works by Lee Jeong-Ok are not profound, but representing love based on common materials. According to her explanation of her prize-winning work ‘The Secret Garden’, she just wanted to give laughs through simple, but funny expressions by using harmonious, but individual colors, in order to comfort depressed people who were enduring the COVID-19 pandemic.

She spoke with emphasis that she felt the happiest as an artist when viewing people who were happily smiling at her works, and she would become a guiding star, so other disabled artists would not need to go through the same difficulties and trials & errors she experienced.

Lee Jeong-Ok

Prize-winning experiences/

2021 The Grand Prize in the National Literary Awards and Art Exhibition of the Disabled

2021 The Excellence Award in the Gyeonggi-do Art Contest of the Disabled

2021 Won a prize in the Na Hye-Seok Art Contest

2018 Won a prize in the JW Awards

2012 Won a prize in the Korea Environment Art Contest

Private exhibition/Four times

Group exhibition/

2022 “Shiny & Beautiful” for visiting the National Assembly & many others