‘Hangover’ aims to elevate 'K-small theater' to global stages with English performance
A scene from "Hangover" performed at Jung Theater. The production offers a special English performance on Fridays. Courtesy of Jung Gu-jin
Jung Gu-jin, playwright and director of "Hangover" / Courtesy of Jung Gu-jin
After an 11-year run, comic thriller play “Hangover” in September premiered an English version of the performance that runs every Friday.
The play, produced by Ninejin Entertainment, follows the story of a protagonist confined in a hotel room and, having lost his memory, suddenly finds himself accused of his wife’s murder. The narrative’s clever mix of tension and humor — filled with intense psychological conflicts and unexpected twists — turned the showcase into an easy crowd favorite, making it one of the most iconic and longest-running hit productions in the Daehangno theater scene in northeastern Seoul.
Playwright and director Jung Gu-jin saw an opportunity to expand the play beyond its local roots.
“Daehangno is often called the ‘Broadway of Korea,’ but foreign audiences have long faced the limitation of a language barrier. To overcome this, we launched a brand-new English version of 'Hangover,'” he told The Korea Times. “I hope this challenge will mark the first step for Korean theater to meet audiences on the global stage.”
The cast is composed of actors who have previously performed in the Korean version. This way, the performers are able to fully convey the context and details of the play, as they have an understanding of the nuances of its original. Jung also expressed their intention to recruit native English-speaking actors in the future.
With a central theme anchored on universal ideas of human nature, Jung believes that the play is a strong candidate to vie for international recognition. With a storyline that “can evoke powerful empathy across all nationalities and cultures,” the switch from the original Korean to an English script doesn’t diminish its narrative depth. If anything, some parts are even punchier and more striking.
For example, a line of Korean dialogue that originally meant "Why are you curious about that?" became "It’s none of your business," which Jung said feels more direct and rhythmic. In another case, the line "Are you going to give me life counseling, too?" was translated as "Are you my mom or something now?" — "a phrasing that I think adds an extra layer of humor for the audience,” Jung said.
As various facets of Korean culture — like K-beauty, K-dramas and K-pop — continue to make waves globally, Jung hopes this initiative will shine light on the world of "K-small theater."
"As far as I know, there has not yet been a concept of K-small theater plays," the director said. "Staging a Korean open-run small-theater production entirely in English is, I believe, a first attempt."
Jung said he intends to lay the foundation for the scene’s globalization efforts through the play. “My goal is to expand it beyond being a production loved only in Korea, and to establish it as a K-small theater play that can resonate and succeed on stages all around the world,” he said.
Their first venture in this expansion was in Beijing, where they staged a musical adaptation of ‘Hangover’ for seven years. Eventually, Jung says they’re hoping to receive invitations from international buyers and take the production on a world tour.
Furthermore, the production is also developing a global platform dedicated to K-small theater called K-STAGE UP.
A poster for the English version of "Hangover" / Courtesy of Jung Gu-jin
The English version of "Hangover" runs every Friday at 1 p.m. in Daehangno's Jung Theater. Currently, the performances are scheduled through December, with plans to increase the number of shows next year. The possibility of opening a dedicated theater for the English version is also in the works, depending on audience reception.
Limited complimentary tickets are currently being distributed on-site to foreign audiences as part of their promotional efforts. Alternatively, visitors may book a seat via Naver or NOL Interpark.
Visit kstageup.com or follow @ninejin_ent on Instagram.
Mariel Abanes (@marielabanes on Instagram) is a freelance lifestyle & culture writer/editor from the Philippines, currently based in Seoul. She promotes indie music and culture, and writes poetry and prose from time to time.