Invitation to afterlife
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/ Courtesy of Seoul Performing Arts Company
‘Along with the Gods’ depicts Korean folk gods of netherworld
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Everyone wonders what happens after death. In traditional Korean funeral procedure, there is the 49th Day Rite, which is held 49 days after death, as the deceased goes through trials in the netherworld for 48 days before the process of reincarnation.
But what exactly happens during the afterlife trials? In the musical "Along with the Gods," an average office worker, Kim Ja-hong, faces three guardians from the underworld soon after he dies and the guardians take the subway to get to the netherworld.
Based on cartoonist Joo Ho-min’s web-based cartoon series, "Along with the Gods," the Seoul Performing Arts Company has made an attempt to deliver the tale of the Korean netherworld on stage.
Joo took inspiration from the 49 days of trials and wrote "Along with the Gods," which consists of three parts ― the Afterlife, the Present and the Legend. The musical adapted the first part, the Afterlife, only. The key to its popularity comes from its lively, witty characters based on extensive research of Korean myth and folktales.
The plot follows Kim's seven trials in the underworld, criss-crossing with the three guardians chasing a runaway soul.
Arriving at Chogunmun, the first gate of the underworld, Kim is greeted by his lawyer, Jin Gi-han, who will defend him at each hell. Jin, an honors graduate of Ksitigarbha School of Law, decides to become a public defender for dead souls and Kim is his first client.
The netherworld described in the musical is much like this world
there is search engine "Joogle," coffee shop "Hellbucks” and Internet shopping site “G-ok Market,” as well as corrupt officials and people blinded by money.
Together Kim and Jin go through a variety of hells
the Hell of Knife Mountain, which punishes sins related to public morals; the Hell of Burning Fire, which punishes those who steal other people's assets; the Hell of Cold and Ice, which imprisons those who are undutiful to their parents; and the Hell of Malicious Tongues, where those who used bad language or wrote hateful comments on the Internet are punished.
While Kim and Jin pass through the hells and trials, the three guardian warriors trace a missing soul, who turns out to have suffered an accidental death in the military. After catching the soul on the loose, the guardians listen to his story and give him a chance to say goodbye to his mother.
The set symbolizes the concept of reincarnation through a large wheel-shaped structure set diagonally on the stage. The round structure is covered with newspapers, which represent everything happening in this world
from accidents and corruption cases to obituaries.
A large LED screen is installed on the stage floor, providing cartoon-style special effects. Matched with the actors' movements, the floor screen helps the audience enjoy the visual spectacles of the underworld guardians’ ability.
Kim Da-hyun and Park Young-su alternate in the role of lawyer Jin Gi-han. Song Yong-jin and Cho Poong-are play Gang-rim and Kim Do-vin and Jung Dong-hwa plays Kim Ja-hong.
"Along with the Gods" runs through Sunday. Tickets cost from 40,000 to 80,000 won. For more information, visit www.spac.or.kr or call 02-523-0984.