Lifestyle - The Korea Times

Korean screen stars turn to stage amid film industry downturn

This spring, Korea’s theater scene is ablaze with star-studded productions as some of the country’s most celebrated actors step back onto the stage in long-awaited returns and high-profile debuts. At the center of the buzz is "Hedda Gabler," Henrik Ibsen’s classic play, which will be staged simultaneously in May by two different companies, featuring two iconic Korean actors. Lee Young-ae, globally renowned for her role in the 2003 drama "Jewel in the Palace," will make a comeback to the stage after 32 years, starring in a production by LG Arts Center from May 7 to June 8. At the same time, veteran actor Lee Hye-young reprises her performance as Hedda Gabler after a 13-year hiatus in a separate production by the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK) from May 8 to June 1. "Hedda Gabler" is a play widely regarded as a profound exploration of a woman's psyche as she yearns for freedom amid social constraints and oppression. The distinct interpretations and styles of the two contrasting renditions of the Ibsen classic stirred excitement among Korean audiences. "I had many doubts about

Apr 5, 2025By Park Jin-hai

Korean screen stars turn to stage amid film industry downturn

'Ballet Dream' to reveal magic behind curtain to deepen appreciation for dance

In an effort to deepen audiences' appreciation for ballet, the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts is bringing together active ballet dancers, a choreographer and a costume designer to share their artistry both on and off the stage. "Ballet Dream," directed by Choi Tae-ji, a legendary figure in Korean ballet, will showcase highlights from famous ballet works such as "The Nutcracker," "La Bayadère" and "La Esmeralda." Choi, who served as a former artistic director of the Korea National Ballet, has significantly bridged the gap between ballet and the public by staging narrated ballet performances, which included friendly explanations to enhance audience understanding. In the upcoming "Ballet Dream," she will take this concept a step further by introducing a guest talk segement with ballerino Kim Se-yong, known as one of the first Koreans to portray Billy in the musical "Billy Elliot" in 2010; choreographer Ryu Hoi-woong, who participated in the Mnet's dance survival show "Stage Fighterl"; and ballet costume designer Chung Han-ah. In these interactive sessions, participants will share st

Apr 4, 2025By Park Jin-hai

'Ballet Dream' to reveal magic behind curtain to deepen appreciation for dance

'Wicked' brings emerald magic to Korea with stellar international cast

The touring production of the blockbuster musical "Wicked" will open in Korea in July, marking a highly anticipated return after 13 years. Following successful runs in Australia and Singapore, the production draws attention with its acclaimed international cast, headlined by Sheridan Adams as Elphaba and Courtney Monsma as Glinda. Adams, who dreamed of playing Elphaba since first hearing Idina Menzel's iconic "Defying Gravity," secured her lead role after impressing creators with her powerful audition performance. Her portrayal over 400 performances of the fiery green witch who challenges social norms has already garnered praise. Opposite Adams, Monsma portrays the good witch with bright charisma and a clear voice, adding subtle complexity to the role. Monsma, who also portrayed Anna in the Australian production of Disney's "Frozen," fell in love with "Wicked" after watching it as her very first musical. Joining Adams and Monsma is Liam Head, who takes on the role of the charismatic Prince Fiyero. Head, whose credits include "Grease" and "Legally Blonde," is a multifaceted artist with ex

Apr 4, 2025By Kwon Mee-yoo

'Wicked' brings emerald magic to Korea with stellar international cast

INTERVIEW Yoon Gong-joo rediscovers Lucy in musical 'Jekyll & Hyde'

For 20 years, "Jekyll & Hyde" has reigned as one of Korea’s most beloved musicals, drawing both die-hard fans and newcomers with its high drama and powerhouse songs. Much like many hit Korean dramas and films, the enduring appeal of "Jekyll & Hyde" in Korea stems from its emotionally charged, often heartbreaking love story. While its source material — Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" — centers on a man’s internal battle between good and evil, the musical expands the narrative into a battle of love between Jekyll, his violent alter ego Hyde and the two women caught in his orbit. Of the two troubled women, Lucy Harris — known simply as Lucy to Korean audiences — has long been a fan favorite. A showgirl at the Red Rat tavern, she grows fond of Jekyll, the first man to treat her with kindness, but later finds herself ensnared in Hyde's dangerous obsession. The role is intense, emotionally demanding and, for musical actor Yoon Gong-joo, deeply personal. Now in her third run as Lucy, Yoon has played the role more than 300 times — a miles

Apr 3, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

[INTERVIEW] Yoon Gong-joo rediscovers Lucy in musical 'Jekyll & Hyde'

REVIEW What makes 'Jekyll & Hyde' Korea's most beloved musical?

REVIEW What makes 'Jekyll & Hyde' Korea's most beloved musical?

In Korea, few musicals have left as lasting an impression as "Jekyll & Hyde." Through 10 runs over two decades, the production has captivated Korean audiences, cementing its status as one of the country's most beloved shows. Originally premiering on Broadway in 1997, the musical arrived in Korea in 2004. Despite its lukewarm reception in the U.S., the Korean adaptation — tailored to better suit local tastes — was met with immediate enthusiasm. Now in its 10th run, which began in December 2024, the production has surpassed 2 million cumulative viewers, a rare milestone in Korea that underscores its enduring popularity. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella, "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," the musical features a book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, music by Frank Wildhorn and direction by David Swan. OD Company produces the Korean run. The story follows Henry Jekyll, a brilliant physician and scientist determined to develop a formula that separates good and evil within the human psyche, hoping to cure mental illness. When the hospital board rejects his request for human

Apr 3, 2025By Pyo Kyung-min

[REVIEW] What makes 'Jekyll & Hyde' Korea's most beloved musical?

INTERVIEW Yoon Gong-joo rediscovers Lucy in musical 'Jekyll & Hyde'

Jeong Seon like never before: Master behind Korea’s greatest landscapes — and beyond

Among the 18th-century Korean literati elite, who saw the aesthetic appreciation of nature as a mark of cultivated taste, there was a saying: “Better to keep Jeong Seon’s painting of Mount Geumgang by your bedside and savor it in peace than to wander the mountain yourself.” That was no small claim. For over a millennium, Mount Geumgang — also known as the “Diamond Mountain” — has captivated artists, lyrists and travelers from afar with its breathtaking panorama of craggy peaks, cascading waterfalls and high-altitude Buddhist temples. Rare were those who had the privilege of witnessing its splendor firsthand, and most had to rely on painters who translated its sublime beauty into brushworks from memory. And among those artists, few, if any, left a more enduring mark than Jeong (1676-1759). “If Korean painting has a golden age, it’s the 18th and early 19th century; and if the golden age has a pre-eminent painter, it’s Jeong,” art critic Jason Farago wrote in his 2018 New York Times review. The 18th-century literati may have chosen Jeong’s paintings over the real thi

Apr 2, 2025By Park Han-sol

Jeong Seon like never before: Master behind Korea’s greatest landscapes — and beyond

INTERVIEW Baek Ji-yoon, Korea's 1st theater actor with Down syndrome, gains confidence on stage

For 15 years, a mother and her daughter have walked along the beach together every day. The daughter Kelly, a 27-year-old with Down syndrome, is independent and capable of taking care of herself. Her mother, Agnes, has sacrificed much and fought hard for Kelly over the years. Their peaceful daily routine is suddenly disrupted when Kelly announces that she has a boyfriend. Kelly dreams of living a normal life — raising a child with her non-disabled boyfriend, Neil. However, Agnes grows increasingly anxious, fearing that her daughter might be getting deceived. The play "Jellyfish" by British playwright Ben Weatherill explores themes of love, independence and societal attitudes toward disability. Its Korean adaptation, premiered on March 18 at the Modu Art Theater in Seodaemun District, Seoul, features Baek Ji-yoon in the role of Kelly, continuing the play’s tradition of casting actors with Down syndrome to authentically portray its central character, highlighting issues of representation and disability rights. Baek's performance in "Jellyfish" — transparent and heartfelt like a jell

Mar 31, 2025By Park Jin-hai

[INTERVIEW] Baek Ji-yoon, Korea's 1st theater actor with Down syndrome, gains confidence on stage

Journey through many faces of Ha Chong-hyun's half-century of art

“To this day, I continue the fierce tug-of-war between burlap canvas and paint.” These were the words of octogenarian modernist Ha Chong-hyun, spoken with a smile to journalists in Seoul as he stood proudly before his textured paintings back in 2022. Now on a wheelchair, his voice punctuated by frequent wet coughs, much seems to have changed — except for his indomitable spirit or his art. Though his fingers have long grown stiff and cracked, the 89-year-old still maintains his labor-intensive technique, “bae-ap-beop” — a process in which thick oil paint is applied to the back of a hemp canvas and forced through its coarse weave, creating a distinctive beaded texture on the front. This technique defines his now-world-renowned “Conjunction” series, which has found its way to the collections of New York’s Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. This spring, two concurrent exhibitions in Seoul chart the full breadth of Ha’s half-century creative odyssey — from his early encounters with the Art Informel movement and experimen

Mar 28, 2025By Park Han-sol

Journey through many faces of Ha Chong-hyun's half-century of art

INTERVIEW Diversity, distinctive aesthetics shape Korean theater’s global appeal

With the global theater landscape evolving rapidly, Korean theatrical works are stepping onto the global stage, showcasing distinctive storytelling and artistic diversity. This year’s World Theatre Day falls on Thursday, offering a timely moment for the global theater community to reflect on the medium’s power to transcend borders and foster interconectedness. That message particularly resonates in Korea, where productions are beginning to reach audiences well beyond their traditional home base. “I think the fact that people from all over the world interact with each other in a festive way through the medium of theater is what makes World Theatre Day so meaningful. I hope that this year's World Theatre Day will be a time for people around the world to share messages and empathy through theater,” Park Jung-hee, artistic director of the National Theater Company of Korea (NTCK), told The Korea Times in an email interview Tuesday. World Theatre Day, established in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute and first celebrated in 1962, is an annual celebration every March 27, dedic

Mar 27, 2025By Baek Byung-yeul

[INTERVIEW] Diversity, distinctive aesthetics shape Korean theater’s global appeal

Appraisal split reignites Chun Kyung-ja’s 'Beautiful Woman' controversy

A key piece of evidence used by prosecutors in 2016 to declare the painting "Beautiful Woman" as the work of the late renowned painter Chun Kyung-ja is now causing a split among experts, reigniting controversy in a related damages suit nearly a decade on. According to court documents disclosed Tuesday, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office recently submitted results from a 2016 visual appraisal to the Seoul High Court, which is reviewing an appeal in a damages case filed by Chun’s family. The lawsuit, filed in 2021, seeks 100 million won ($74,000) in compensation from the state. The documents show that of the nine experts who appraised the painting at the time, only four concluded it was genuine, while three believed it was a forgery and two were undecided. The panel of appraisers was formed based on recommendations from Chun’s family, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) and other art experts. The identities of the appraisers were not disclosed. The findings appear to contradict the prosecution’s 2016 claim that the majority opinion from expe

Mar 26, 2025By KTimes

Arts & Theater