ReviewK-pop idols star in ‘The Mission: K’ musical about early missionaries in Korea

From left, Jaeyoon from SF9, MJ from ASTRO, Kim Dong-jun from ZE:A and Ricky from Teen Top sing during a curtain call after the musical "The Mission:K" at Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Friday. Captured from YouTube

Stories of foreign Christian missionaries who spread the word of God and laid the foundations of education and medicine on the Korean Peninsula in the late 19th and early 20th centuries are often told in books, museum exhibitions and documentaries.

“The Mission:K,” a musical that premiered Friday at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, marked a lively addition to these storytelling methods.

The production featured four male K-pop idols portraying four historical figures. MJ from ASTRO played Horace N. Allen (1858-1932) of the United States, who established the first Western medical clinic in the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). Jaeyoon from SF9 took on the role of Horace G. Underwood (1859-1916), an American missionary known for founding the Joseon Christian College, which later became Yonsei University. Kim Dong-jun from ZE:A portrayed Canadian doctor Oliver R. Avison (1860-1956), who led quarantine efforts during the outbreak of cholera and is credited with opening Severance Hospital and Severance Medical College. Ricky from Teen Top played Louis H. Severance (1838-1913), a U.S. oil businessman and philanthropist who funded the hospital’s construction.

All except Severance came to Korea as Christian missionaries in the 1880s and 1890s, and all contributed to laying the foundations of Joseon’s medical and educational systems.

Rather than traveling back in time to the Joseon era, the four idols appeared as present-day members of a fictional K-pop group called “The Mission.” The story unfolded in the format of a talk show, where they looked back 140 years to recall what happened, what they did and why they did it.

“If we were to focus on just one person, we could really build a musical around that individual’s story. But once we tried to combine what all four have in common with what each of them did, it started to feel like a heavy, plot-driven musical or a straight documentary full of facts. We opted for a talk show format that could be fun and informative at the same time,” said Jang So-young, the performance's executive producer and music director, during a press conference in January.

From left, musical actor Seo Bum-seok, MJ from ASTRO, Jaeyoon from SF9, Kim Dong-jun from ZE:A and Ricky from Teen Top pose during a press conference for the musical "The Mission:K" at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Jan. 5. Yonhap

"The Mission:K" delivered an engaging 110-minute performance of song and dance suitable for all ages.

It effectively offered information about the four figures, their contributions and their personal hardships through songs and dance. Lighting effects projected a range of backgrounds, from traditional royal palaces to abstract red light pillars.

Casting real K-pop idols offered a clear advantage, as their singing, dancing and sense of spontaneity made the performance highly engaging — at times resembling a K-pop concert.

Some audience members were fans who bought tickets specifically to see their favorite idols. A woman in her 20s, who declined to give her name, said she had traveled from China to see Jaeyoon's performance.

The backup dancers also added to the show, showcasing a variety of moves, including breakdancing, in sync with the music.

The show was part of events marking the 140th anniversary of Protestantism in Korea, observed last year. Yonsei University and the Yonsei University Health System were among the sponsors of the show.

Unfortunately, the show ran only for three days from Friday through Sunday. But Park Sung-keun, a Yonsei University professor who took part in the production, expressed hope for future performances.

“We’re reaching out to make the performance possible both in Korea and overseas,” he said.