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N.Y. graffiti artists draw attention with “Cheer Up Korea”

June 6, 2014
The K/REATE team in front of "Cheer Up Korea," with Bang Sung-woo (left), Choi Joo-yeol, Lee Sang-in and Kim Yong-hee. (Photo courtesy of K/REATE)

The K/REATE team in front of “Cheer Up Korea,” with Bang Sung-woo (left), Choi Joo-yeol, Lee Sang-in and Kim Yong-hee. (Photo courtesy of K/REATE)

K/REATE, a group of young Korean artists based in New York City, are drawing attention for their Brooklyn street art that reads, “Cheer Up Korea” following a ferry tragedy that took the lives of hundreds.

The wall message, completed on June 1, is located at 60 Thamas St. and was created by famed graffiti artist Phetus and K/REATE.

The hope is for grieving Koreans to be able to move past the pain, Phetus said. The message is a campaign of hope and support from K/REATE to Korea.

In addition to the art, the team also collected video interviews of New Yorkers directed toward Koreans and to the victims’ families. Those videos, along with photos, will be uploaded onto the “Cheer Up Korea” website in mid-June.

“We planned this campaign because we wanted our minds to be with Korea even though our bodies are apart,” said K/REATE President Lee Sang-in.

The team of artists previously put together the “Forever Our Sisters” exhibit at Central Park on March 1, a remembrance of comfort women in World War II, as well as the 815fan project, during which 8.15 fans were given out at Times Square to celebrate Korean Independence Day.