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| Two scenes from the upcoming musical, "Oceans" / Courtesy of EMK Musical Company |
By Dong Sun-hwa
In the past, most musicals in Korea were adaptations of European or North American theatrical shows or "original productions" highlighting well-known historical figures from the West. However, a growing number of musicals these days are attempting to deviate from these norms by centering on more diverse characters and topics.
"Oceans" is the first historical fiction musical by production company EMK Musical, which revolves around Admiral Jang Bo-go (787-841) from the 676-935 Unified Silla Kingdom. Jang is one of the most revered maritime figures in Korea, who established the "Cheonghaejin" base in Wando ― an island of the southern coast of South Jeolla Province ― and dominated the trade between Korea, China and Japan over the decades while defending the coasts.
"Oceans" intends to impart a message of hope by showing how Jang etched his name into history and earned the nickname, "The King of Trade," despite his humble background.
"We started on this project because we thought our contemporary world was not very different from the Unified Silla era," EMK said in a statement. "Wealth and poverty are often inherited, just like how aristocratic titles were passed down in the past and suppressed people of the lower class. So we believe Jang's inspirational story will be able to present our audience with dreams and hopes."
After its showcase at COEX Artium in Gangnam District, Seoul, earlier this month, "Oceans" was praised by numerous audience members and critics for its fascinating blend of different music genres ranging from gugak (Korean traditional music) to hip-hop, and eye-catching stage designs featuring the sea and land. The show is set to premiere next year, with actors Yoon So-ho and Baek In-tae alternating in the role of Jang.
In 2025, EMK is planning to produce another musical featuring a Korean historical figure. It will bring life to a show about Jang Yeong-sil during the 1392-1910 Joseon Dynasty, a genius scientist who invented a rain gauge and an automatic water clock, among others.
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| Posters for the musical, "Alone" / Courtesy of PL Entertainment |
Meanwhile, the musical "Alone," which hit the stage on Sept. 6, deals with "lonely deaths," or the deaths of seniors living alone. In the show, actress Cho Jung-eun and Yoon Gong-joo play a civil servant in charge of those who died without family or friends. "Alone" is scheduled to run until Nov. 20 at the Hongik University Daehakro Art Center in Seoul.
"Through this musical, I want to discuss with our audience whether it is truly okay to be alone," Song Hye-sun, the producer of "Alone," said. "Maybe we are just getting used to hiding our loneliness."
In 2024, the musical version of Korean legal drama series "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" will also be presented. The drama follows a genius lawyer on the autism spectrum named Woo Young-woo, and it sheds light on the issues of disability and discrimination in Korea. "Extraordinary Attorney Woo" was a global hit that topped Netflix's weekly viewership chart of non-English TV shows for several weeks.
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