Musical ‘Gwanghwamun Love Song’ set to return

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Musical ‘Gwanghwamun Love Song’ set to return

Published: 21 Oct. 2024, 09:29

The musical “Gwanghwamun Love Song” will be performed at the D-cube Arts Center in Guro District, western Seoul, from Oct. 23. [CJ ENM]

The musical “Gwanghwamun Love Song” is returning for the first time in three years, starting on Oct. 23 at the D-Cube Arts Center in Guro District, western Seoul.

During its initial run in 2017, the musical achieved widespread popularity, drawing more than 100,000 theatergoers in just four weeks. It had a second run in 2018 and a third in 2021, making this year’s showing its fourth season.
Set in the turbulent 80s and 90s, the musical follows Myungwoo, who wakes up in the “Hall of Memories” just before death. With Wulha, a god who oversees human connections, Myungwoo embarks on a journey through his past.

The show incorporates retro and modern cultures while invoking relatable emotions across generations, such as love, memory, nostalgia and longing. It features timeless classics from the late composer Lee Young-hoon, including “Red Sunset,” “Old Love,” “The Girl,” “Flying, Deep in the Night,” “Under the Street — Tree Shadow,” “Sorrow” and “In the Rain.”

With his poetic lyrics and deeply emotional ballads, Lee is a renowned composer of popular music and a bellwether of the pop ballad genre in Korea. His classics continue to be covered by many artists today. For this performance, a “Sing-Together Curtain Call” will invite audiences to sing along.

Korea’s top creatives, including director Lee Gi Na, writer Ko Sun Woong, music director Kim Sung Soo and choreographer Seo Byung Koo, have come together once again for “Gwanghwamun Love Song.”

Director Lee, who has directed numerous hits and played a pivotal role in revitalizing Korean musicals, is expected to showcase her trademark stylish stage direction and song interpretations. Ko will amplify the emotions in Lee's works to strike a deep sentimental chord in the audience. The broad and limitless musical stylings of music director Kim Sung Soo will be incorporated to arrange Lee’s pieces into melodies fitting for the fall season. Finally, head choreographer Seo Byung Koo, a household name in Korean musical choreography, will present revamped choreography for this season of the show.

This season will feature an upgraded stage design and new stage devices to better set a sentimental tone. The script and choreography have also been enhanced to elevate the immersion in the story and characters.

In the role of Myungwoo are Yoon Do Hyun and Um Ki-joon, fan-favorite cast members from the previous season, along with newly recruited Son Jun-ho. Returning cast members Cha Ji-yeon and Kim Ho Young, along with new cast member Seo Eunkwang, will play the role of Wulha. Ryu Seung-joo and Song Min-jae have been cast as Soo Ah, Myungwoo’s ex-girlfriend who settled down with their college senior Jung-gon. The bright and ambitious Soo Ah in her twenties will be portrayed by Park Sae-him and Kim Seo Yeon, while the young and naive Myungwoo in his twenties will be played by Ki Se Jung and Jo Hwan-ji. Finally, Song Moonsun and Park Se-mi will play Myungwoo’s loyal wife Si-young, while Soo Ah’s admired senior and faithful husband Jung-gon will be played by Kim Min-su.

BY KIM YEONSOO [kim.yeonsoo1@joongang.co.kr]

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