Yoh Suk-kee

Yoh was evaluated as the first scholar to encompass both literary and theatrical aspect of Shakespeare. In 1962, he provided a translation of Hamlet for the Drama Centre first performance which is staged by the playwright Yoo Chi-jin. In 1964, Yoh founded The Shakespeare Association of Korea.

Yoh was a forerunner of theatre criticism in Korea. In 1960, with other theatricians such as Chi-jin Yoo, Yoh established Drama Center and trained young playwrights to cultivate Korean theatre. For such a contribution, he was selected as a member of National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Korea. In 1970, as a publisher and editor, Yoh published the first issue of The Drama Review which is the first technical journal of theatre in Korea. In commemoration of Yoh, the International Association of Theatre Critics-Korea bestows Yoh Suk-kee Theatre Critics Award each year.

Yoh was born in Gyeongsangbuk-do Geumleung and graduated Gimcheon highschool. He entered Tokyo University in 1939 but left the school due to student conscription in 1944. After Korean Independence in August 1945, he transferred to Seoul National University in 1946. He was appointed the English professor at Korea University since October 1953 and held position of Dean of College of Liberal Arts and Graduate School.

Yoh Suk-kee (a.k.a. Yeo Seok-ki, Korean: 여석기; 6 March 1922 – 12 June 2014) was a South Korean theatre critic and Shakespeare scholar. He is a founding member of The English Language and Literature Association of Korea (ELLAK). He was appointed the Director of Korean Culture and Arts Foundation in 1988. He received the Medal of Honour in Civil Merit in 1972 and 1987 and the Order of Cultural Merit in 1996 from the Korean government. He died on 12 June 2014.