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REVIEW Musical 'Death Note' returns with new faces, sharper moral edge
Actor Lim Jung-mo performs as Ryuk, the fictional god of death, in a scene from the musical "Death Note." Courtesy of OD Company
By Pyo Kyung-min
Ten years after its premiere in Korea, the musical version of "Death Note" still remains one of the most eerily relevant stage works. Currently back at D-Cube Link Art Center in southwestern Seoul, the production transforms a simple "what if" into a haunting reflection on justice, morality and the unspoken human temptation to play god.
Adapted from the acclaimed Japanese manga and anime of the same name, the production has remained a steady fixture in Korea's musical theater scene. Since its 2015 debut, the musical has continued to draw strong ticket sales under OD Company, which took over production in 2022.
The story closely mirrors the original manga, following Light Yagami, a brilliant yet disillusioned high school student who discovers the Death Note, a supernatural notebook that kills anyone whose name is written in it. Convinced he can rid the world of evil, Light begins executing violent criminals with a flick of his pen, only to be challenged by L, a young detective whose intellect rivals his own.
What stands out most in the current 10th-anniversary run is a bold shift in its leading cast. Longtime "Death Note" headliners Hong Kwang-ho and Kim Jun-su, who defined the roles of Light and L in earlier seasons, have passed their parts to a rotating lineup — actors Zo Hyung-gyun, Lim Kyu-hyung and Kim Min-seok of duo Melomance as Light; and Kim Sung-kyu of K-pop boy band Infinite, B1A4 member Sandeul and Tang Jun-sang as L.
Sandeul of K-pop boy band B1A4 plays L in a scene from the musical "Death Note." Courtesy of OD Company
At the Oct. 29 performance attended by this reporter, Zo delivered a poised, confident turn, his distinct voice and measured intensity grounding the production. That afternoon, L was portrayed by Kim Sung-kyu, who captured the detective's trademark slouch and quiet eccentricity with a fresh, human touch. His stage command was apparently still developing, but his polished vocal control, honed through years as Infinite's main vocalist, suggested notable growth ahead as the run continues.
Among the supporting cast, actor Yang Seung-ri stood out as Ryuk, the "shinigami," or the god of death, whose ghoulish humor and unpredictable energy dominated every scene. Yang's towering frame, combined with grotesque body movements onstage, injected a jolt of life in the show's darker stretches.
Lee Young-mi, playing the other shinigami Rem, contrasted him beautifully with her elegant composure and soaring vocals, giving the story emotional weight.
Visually, the production's design remains one of its greatest triumphs. A tilted stage and sweeping LED projections transformed minimal set pieces into vivid worlds, from a Shibuya-style scramble crossing to an animated idol concert.
In particular, the tennis match scene between Light and L, rendered through 360-degree LED shifts, is an ingenious blend of light and illusion, turning a simple narrative exchange into creative kinetic tension.
Actor Zo Hyung-kyun performs as protagonist Light Yagami in a scene from the musical "Death Note." Courtesy of OD Company
At 160 minutes, the musical condenses the vast original into a tight narrative, sometimes at the cost of character development for first-time viewers. Yet the production compensates with a sharpened focus on the story's central and most important question: how easily righteousness can become tyranny when morality is left in human hands.
The show runs at D-Cube Link Art Center in Seoul's Guro District through May 10, 2026.