The cumulative audience of Empress Myeongseong exceeded 2 million...Artistic Director Song Seung-hwan: An important piece that continues the history of the musical
Feb 06, 2025
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It is the first accumulated domestic audience in the history of Korean creative musicals to surpass 2 million. Musical 'Empress Myeongseong', which opened a new chapter for Korean creative musicals since its premiere in 1995, has established a unique position by opening a new chapter for Korean creative musicals. The work received great attention not only for its simple historical representation, but also for its original stage direction and symbolic stage design. In particular, the sloping circular rotating stage was praised for being innovative at the time, and it strongly visualized the fall of Joseon and the tragedy of a country sinking in world powers. It is called the textbook of the rotating stage and has since established itself as an exemplary example of inspiring numerous musicals and performances.
In addition, 'Empress Myeongseong' entered Broadway in New York in 1997 for the first time in Korean musical history, proving the possibility of a Korean creative musical on the world stage. Since then, performances in major cities around the world, including LA, London, and Toronto, have been successful, recording more than 180,000 cumulative overseas audiences, further enhancing the international status of Korean musicals.
The accumulated audience of 2 million in Korea is more than just a number. It proved that domestic creative musicals continued to meet many audiences and were recognized for their workability and technology to be on the stage, while also informing the world of the possibility and status of Korean creative musicals. Producer Yoon Hong-sun of Acom, the production company, said, "'Empress Myeongseong' first took root and blossomed, and it was thanks to the dedication and passion of numerous actors and staff, and the passion of the audience"'Empress Myeongseong' is a work that has not stopped developing over 30 years, so I will continue to strive to become a work that can live and breathe for a long time like an opera that is performed for 100 years."
On the 4th, a meaningful place was set up at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, where all the people who have shared the 30-year history gathered together to look back on their journey and pledge to take a new leap forward.
Lee Moon-yeol, the author of the original 'Empress Myeongseong', Kim Hee-gap, the composer who made the number of the work, and Yang In-ja, the lyricist, gathered here to reflect on the 30 years and express their thoughts on the performance going up for a long time. Actor Itaewon, who played the Empress Myeongseong for the longest time in history, also attended and thanked him for his 30th anniversary. He wrote "30 years later, but I'm just grateful that I'm still receiving a lot of love from this work."
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In addition, a book commemorating the 30th anniversary of 'Empress Myeongseong' written by artistic director Yun Ho-jin was also released. The book contains a wealth of behind-the-scenes stories and behind-the-scenes stories from the moment when 'Empress Myeongseong', the representative work of Korean creative musicals, was first planned. Artistic director Yun Ho-jin explained that "This book goes beyond recording the 30-year history of Empress Myeongseong, it is a living proof of the growth of Korean musicals," and expressed his feelings, "We hope to continue to develop this work so that it can be loved by more generations in the future."
The 30th anniversary performance of 'Empress Myeongseong' will feature Kim So-hyun, Shin Young-sook, Cha Ji-yeon, Gojong, Kang Pil-seok, Son Joon-ho, Kim Ho-jip, Hong Gye-hoon, Yang Joon-mo, Park Min-sung, Baek Hyung-hoon, Seo Young-joo, Lee Jung-yeol, and Kim Do-hyung and Moon Jong-won as Miura. The work will be performed at the Grand Theater of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul until March 30.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
