This article explores the philosophy of life contained in Lee Ae-ju’s dance and its theory from a critical perspective. I first discussed the planning intentions of the three works of Lee Ae-ju’s Creative Dance Ttangkkeut, Nanumgut bap, and Balloon Flower, as well as the view of life of her dance. Secondly, the traditional dances of Seungmu, Salpurichum, and Taepyeongchum were explained, and Lee Ae-ju's artistic life and dance worldview were examined. Finally, the meaning and nature of the Lee Ae-ju’s dance, intended to be expressed across traditional and creative dances, were identified and the philosophy of life within it was explored.

An artist who has contributed significantly to the prosperity and development of Korean dance; an innovator who has steered her craft toward opening doors to a new world of creative positivity, Lee Ae-ju was such an artist. While traditional dance of the past and modern forms of creative dance have often been in conflict, Lee’s nationally designated dance has spread its wings defying a century of creative ideology. By adding excitement and style to the rhythm, her art has sublimated dance into a form that embraces rebirth with joy. Through her dance, she gave new life to the creative spark of her field and helped instilling hope for both freedom of expression and democratization.

Based on the concept of "différence" proposed by Deleuze, the purpose of this study is to explore the philosophy of ‘creation and extinction’ in Korean creative dance through an analysis of Cha Soo jung's piece 淸, Open the Blue Sea(2021). Applying Deleuze’s notion of différence to this piece, the sea in 淸, Open the Blue Sea is not the place of death, but of life, and courage for life. Consequently, this study discovers the potential of expanded interpretation of dance as a space for humanities and thoughts by examining its association with the concept of différence, which re-generates the true meaning of life through death. Further, it is essential to examine the possibilities of expression within Korean creative dance by analyzing how dance art elements are connected in the work 淸, Open the Blue Sea to symbolize the place of Cheong's death and the sea through a reinterpretation of Korean classical literature.