SF9's Yoo Tae-yang cast as North Korean spy in musical

SF9 member Yoo Tae-yang plays Juan in the Korean production of the musical ″Altar Boyz″ last year. [ILGAN SPORTS]

Boy band SF9 member Yoo Tae-yang has been cast in the musical “Secretly Greatly: The Last,” which is scheduled to begin its run on May 14, according to the musical’s production team Jooda Culture on Wednesday.

The musical, which premiered in 2016, is based on a webtoon of the same name. The webtoon was also adapted into a film “Secretly, Greatly” in 2013, starring heartthrob Kim Soo-hyun as a North Korean agent.

The story revolves around three North Korean-trained spies of the 5446 Corps who get dispatched to Korea with a mission to “unify the two Koreas.” They live among the South Koreans by each disguising as a village idiot, a K-pop artist wannabe and a high school student. Many years pass by without receiving any orders from the North and they gradually adjust to their life in the South. Then suddenly, a mission gets assigned to them.

Yoo has been cast the role of a North Korean spy named Rhee Hae-rang, who disguises himself as a K-pop artist wannabe. He will alternate the role with musical actor Kim Ji-hui.

Yoo made his musical debut last year with the Korean production of “Altar Boyz” as a character named Juan, and received positive reviews from musical fans and critics for his potential as a musical actor.

“I watched the film version of the work first and really enjoyed it,” Yoo said through his agency FNC Entertainment. “I am so excited to play the role of Rhee Hae-rang. I think the character in the film is very strong. I am working hard to express myself through the character for the musical.”

For the role of Won Ryu-hwan — played by Kim in the film — actors Oh Jong-hyuk, Lee Ho-won and Baek In-tae will alternate, while the final North Korean agent Rhee Hae-jin will be alternated by boy band N.Flying member Yoo Hwe-seung, Karam and Cha E-do.

The musical, which is being staged for the first time in two years, will run from May 14 to July 3 at the KT&G Sangsangmadang Daechi Art Hall. Tickets will open from April 13.

BY YIM SEUNG-HYE [yim.seunghye@joongang.co.kr]