Musical ‘Hero’ coming to big screen

The renowned musical “Hero” will be adapted into a film directed by Yoon Jae-kyun and starring actor Jung Sung-hwa, its film distribution company JK Film announced on Monday.

The musical was originally created to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the heroic deeds of respected Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun.

The film will cover the final year of Ahn’s life after he assassinated Ito Hirobumi, the first resident governor of Korea, in October 1909. Ahn was arrested on the spot and executed the following year.

Director Yoon, whose previous works include “Ode to My Father” (2014) and “Haeundae” (2009) is enthusiastic about creating Korea’s first-ever musical film, adding that he chose the piece “to be depicted as a musical to portray Ahn’s life in a more dramatic and meaningful way.” Ahn will be played by Jung Sung-hwa, who was part of the original cast of the musical.

The film is set to begin shooting sometime in the latter half of the year.

By Lee Jae-lim