PHOTO BY MAGIA VALLADOLID
E. G. Lee’ s magic performance showed me how magic could convey deep emotions and create meaningful experiences for an audience. That was a turning point for me...
deep emotions and create meaningful experiences for an audience. That was a turning point for me, I made up my mind that I wanted to become a magician.
You have a very visual and unique style— who were your biggest influences in shaping your approach to magic? The magician who influenced me the most is Kim Hyun-soo. He loved classical magic and was skilled in stage, parlor, and close-up magic. He was my first mentor, and in my early twenties, I built my foundation under his guidance. Thanks to him, I developed the ability to perform in different styles. His versatility taught me that a magician should be adaptable, which became one of my core principles.
MILBOURNE CHRISTOPHER AWARD 2022
In 2008, a magic department was established in Busan, my hometown— only the second magic program in Korea at the time. I studied magic there for a year, training under Kim Hyun-soo, Casa Kim, Kim Won-il, Kim Chan-joo, and An Song-u( Yuji Yasuda). Imagine learning magic five days a week— it was an intense and immersive experience that gave me a broad and solid foundation.
As for my visual and original style, it was heavily shaped by the magicians of my generation. I started competing in magic contests at a young age, which made me almost obsessed with creating new magic. The pressure of competition pushed me to develop effects that were not just technically impressive but also visually striking. Over five to ten years, this creative drive became a defining part of who I am.
However, I’ ve always believed that magic must connect with people. No matter how visual or original a trick is, it needs a clear purpose and strong delivery. That balance— between innovation and meaningful performance—
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