Musical to Bring Hong Gil-dong to Life
By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter
The story of Hong Gil-dong, Korea’s version of Robin Hood, written by Heo Gyun during the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), has inspired a slew of films, dramas, animations and even online games.
He was the hero of the novel and at the same time a real person who was born and lived in Jangseong County, South Jeolla Province, according to historical records.
Now, the tale will be adapted into a musical, titled simply “Hong Gil-dong,” co-produced by the county and the Seoul Symphony Orchestra.
Starring idol group Super Junior members, Ye-sung and Sung-min in the lead role, the musical will portray the chivalrous figure who helped the needy by stealing from the rich and punishing corrupt officials.
But the piece will highlight the human side of his suffering in trying to create an equal world for the poor Joseon people.
“It is the first musical to be financed by a municipal government.
We hope the musical will be a human story about Jangseong’s man and shed fresh light on the figure not as a tyrant but as a hero. Also, we hope the musical will help raise people’s awareness about his hometown,” Lee Cheong, the county mayor, said in a press conference.
Unlike other novel-inspired works, the musical is based on historical research conducted in 1997 by Seol Seong-gyeong, a professor at Yonsei University.
According to his research, the novel was inspired by a real figure who lived during the reign of King Yeonsan. Hong was born as a bright son of a nobleman and his concubine in the mid-15th century. But the Confucian state forbade sons of concubines from attaining government positions.
Out of anger at the rigid social hierarchy blocking any opportunity for success, he decided to organize “Hwalbindang,” a group made up of discouraged people who had been treated poorly by the government. He was captured by government troops but managed to escape and went to Japan.
At a cost of some 2.5 billion won, the musical consists of 16 scenes in two acts with a mixture of dialects to give a realistic portrayal of the regional background.
The production has 50 actors, dancers and singers.
“This is my second musical after ‘Namhansanseong,’ which was also an epic. But I feel relieved because I found something in common between Hong Gil-dong and me. Also, I am practicing martial arts for the musical will have flamboyant action scenes I have never performed before,” said Yesung.
Sung-min, who will alternate playing the role, said that it will be a great opportunity for him to perform a bigger role.
“The title role seems to be much harder than the work I did before. In ‘Akilla,’ I had almost no lines but this time, I have to do much more dialogue. But I am doing fine with the help of other senior actors,” he said.
The county government said the musical will target global markets such as China, Japan and the United States after being staged in Seoul.
The show will be on stage from Feb. 18 to April 18 at Woori Financial Art Hall, Olympic Park. For more information, call (02) 523-3935.