To dramatic actress Park Jung-ja, “The Sea Between Us” is a special play. She has starred in the play seven times over 18 years since its premiere in 1991, striking a chord with some 100,000 viewers so far.

The actress is now set to appear for the eighth time in the play to be presented from Tuesday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the founding of Sanwoollim Theater Company.

“When I first starred in ‘A Woman in Crisis’ at Sanwoollim, I was 44, the same age as its heroine, and I was also the same age as the heroine of 'The Sea Between Us,' 50, and felt sympathy with her as both a mother and woman when I first got to know about it,” Park said. “So when I heard that the theater, with which I have a special affinity, was going to put it on, it just naturally occurred to me that I had to play the heroine.”

She has since then performed the role seven times, and thus it would be understandable to think the role would be routine for her. When asked about it, however, she said that she could not be more nervous.

“I push myself harder not to take it easy just because I have done it before. And the fact that an actress playing the daughter has changed every time has also helped me feel different every time,” the actress said. “When I was young, I focused on giving an energetic performance, but as I get older, I feel I am becoming more natural and empathetic in my acting. So now, I am trying to comfort people and touch their hearts.”

The play unfolds from the perspective of the daughter as she reminisces about her mother’s life and writes a novel after she dies.

With her husband dead and son married, the mother lives only with her daughter, who also leaves home to be free from her mother's domineering attitude. Then the mother goes to see the sea for the first time in her 50-year life, and has a joyful time there. But she falls ill and fears for her life. Despite her mother's illness, the daughter goes travelling, leaving her alone. When the daughter comes back home, she finds the mother dead.

“I think the mother and daughter relationship is all the same throughout history. It’s even the same whether on the stage or in real life,” Park said. “As a mother, I always feel guilty and sorry to think that I am not perfect enough for my daughter.”

The play has often made Park remember her deceased mother as well. She said, “My mother watched me perform from a middle seat in the last row at Sanwoollim Theater when the play premiered. I still feel as if she is there whenever I am on the stage.”