Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
From 'Frozen' to K-musicals: What’s coming to Korean stages in 2026
Mone Kamishiraishi as Chihiro in a scene from the Japanese musical "Spirited Away" / Courtesy of Johan Person
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Korea’s theater scene is set for another eventful year in 2026, from blockbuster imports to ambitious original works aiming for international success. Here’s a look at some of the key titles that are expected to shape the season.
Global hits land in Seoul
The year opens with CJ ENM bringing the stage adaptation of “Spirited Away” to Seoul, premiering Jan. 7 at the Seoul Arts Center. Based on Hayao Miyazaki’s animated film, the play follows Chihiro as she stumbles into a fantastical world of spirits and must find her way back. The show debuted in Tokyo in 2022, later traveling to London’s West End and Shanghai, and arrives in Korea as a touring production featuring Japanese performers. Two well-known actors share the title role: Mone Kamishiraishi, the Japan Academy Film Prize winner who originated the stage role, and Rina Kawaei, formerly of AKB48. The Seoul production runs through March 22.
Another major international arrival is “Lempicka,” a new Broadway musical based on the life of the iconic Art Deco painter Tamara de Lempicka, at NOL Theater COEX Woori Bank Hall from March 21 to June 21. In a market long dominated by male-driven narratives, “Lempicka” distinguishes itself by putting a woman artist’s desire and survival at the center. A buzz is already building around the powerhouse lineup of prominent actors such as Tamara and her muse Rafaela.
The classic “Billy Elliot,” produced by Seensee Company, returns for the first time in five years. The story of a boy from a mining town finding his dream through ballet will be performed from April 12 to July 26 at Blue Square in Yongsan District, Seoul, with four young aspiring actors cast as Billy and one of Korea’s original Billy Lim Sunu, now a principal at the Universal Ballet Company, taking on the role of adult Billy, completing the role’s emotional arc.
A poster for the musical "Frozen" / Courtesy of S&CO
In July, Broadway musical “Hell’s Kitchen,” inspired by the early life and music of Alicia Keys, lands in Korea at GS Arts Center in southern Seoul. Set in the Manhattan neighborhood, the show draws on some 20 chart-topping hits — including “If I Ain’t Got You” — with street-dance-driven choreography.
The biggest bet of the year comes in August with “Frozen” at Charlotte Theater. The global Disney sensation will bring Elsa, Anna and a snowy fantasy world to life on stage, the show is designed to appeal across generations and expected to become a major family draw this summer. After its Seoul run, the production is scheduled to travel to Busan’s Dream Theater in 2027.
“Choir of Man,” comes to NOL Theater Daehangno in September. The uplifting show, set in a British pub called The Jungle, weaves pop music with the stories of nine men’s lives and has already become a hit from Edinburgh to Sydney, Chicago and London’s West End.
The year-end lineup leans into big spectacles. “SIX,” a modern pop concert-style musical reimagining of Henry VIII’s six wives, is set for December, alongside a Korean-language production of “The Phantom of the Opera,” opening at Blue Square. Other well-known crowd-pleasers such as “Rebecca” and “Chicago” also return.
Cast of the Korean musical "Arang" pose for a photo during a press conference at Hwaseong Arts Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Yonhap
Korean originals gain momentum
Korean original shows also step forward throughout the year. January marks the return of the Arko Selection, an annual new-work showcase backed by the Arts Council Korea. With expectations rising for K-musicals that travel — fueled by the momentum around the Tony-winning success of “Maybe Happy Ending” and smaller but meaningful signals such as a London concert staging of “Swag Age” and Korean musical showcases in New York — this year’s reflects an ecosystem where readings and showcases are increasingly treated as launchpads for full commercial runs.
New titles expected to meet audiences include “James Byron Dean,” “Green,” “The Glory and Tragedy of High School Librarian A” (translated title), “ROGER” and “Joker,” reflecting a widening range of themes and formats.
Among the most anticipated is "Arang," or "Mongyudowon" in Korean, adapted from author Choi In-ho’s novel "Mongyudowondo." Drawing on the legend of Domi from the “Samguk sagi,” a 12th-century chronicle of Korea’s Three Kingdoms, the production runs Jan. 27 to Feb. 22 at the National Theater of Korea’s Main Hall Hae. Through the tragic love triangle between Domi, Arang and King Yeogyeong of Baekje, the musical delves into questions of longing and life’s impermanence. With a cast that includes both contemporary musical actors and traditional performers, the show will integrate traditional Korean music forms such as “pansori” and “jeongga” into the score.
A scene from the musical "Let Me Fly" / Courtesy of Pro's Lab
“Swing Days: Code Name A” returns in April at Chungmu Art Center. Inspired by the life of Korean independence fighter and Yuhan Corp. founder New Il-han and the NAPKO intelligence project during World War II, the musical — written by Kim Hee-jai and composed by Jason Howland — blends swing jazz and espionage with themes of sacrifice and resistance under Japanese colonial rule.
Pushing boundaries even further is “Dive,” opening in August at the newly opening Link the Space in Daehangno, Seoul. Based on Danyo’s science fiction novel of the same name, the show envisions a submerged, post-climate-crisis Seoul. With its focus on memory and recovery, the show is emblematic of how Korean original musicals are increasingly branching out beyond historical or melodramatic narratives.
The sleeper hit "Let Me Fly" returns to Doosan Art Center’s Yonkang Hall in October. A time-travel tale about a young man in 1969 who dreams of becoming a fashion designer, his stargazing girlfriend and an elderly woman he meets in 2020, the musical has attracted interest at home and abroad. It traveled to Taiwan and Hong Kong and presented a showcase in New York as part of the 2025 K-Musical Roadshow, underscoring the potential for Korean stories to connect with audiences beyond home stage.