In the year 2025, the Year of the Blue Snake, the great national holiday of the Lunar New Year has arrived. This year's Lunar New Year holiday is a 'golden holiday' that allows for a maximum of 9 days off, including the weekend. How about enjoying cultural activities with family, friends, or loved ones during this holiday? We recommend performances by actors such as Hong Kwang-ho, Kim Junsu, Kim So-hyun, and Ok Joo-hyun, who have won leading roles at various musical awards and are active in the musical scene.
◆ A Legendary Actor in a Steady Seller Musical… Musical ‘Jekyll & Hyde’
Since 2008, Hong Kwang-ho, a legendary actor who has been a key figure in making the musical ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ a dominant box office hit over four seasons, is creating a meaningful stage as he joins the 20th anniversary of ‘Jekyll & Hyde’.
The musical ‘Jekyll & Hyde’, which opened on November 29 last year, is based on the British novel ‘Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’ published in 1886, dealing with the themes of ‘good and evil, and the duality of human nature’ expressed through ‘Jekyll’ and ‘Hyde’. Since its first Korean production in 2004, it has surpassed 1.8 million cumulative audience members over the past 20 years, firmly establishing itself as a best-selling and steady-selling musical.
In ‘Jekyll & Hyde’, you can hear the popular number ‘This Moment’ sung by Hong Kwang-ho, who won the Best Actor award at the 9th Korean Musical Awards. In addition to Hong Kwang-ho, you can also see performances by actors such as Shin Sung-rok, Choi Jae-rim, Jeon Dong-seok, and Kim Sung-cheol, who are active on stage and in media.
Hong Kwang-ho, Shin Sung-rok, Choi Jae-rim, Jeon Dong-seok, and Kim Sung-cheol are cast in the roles of ‘Jekyll/Hyde’, while Yoon Gong-ju, Ivy, Linah, Sun-min, and Kim Hwan-hee play the role of ‘Lucy’. Jo Jung-eun, Choi Soo-jin, Son Ji-soo, and Lee Ji-hye are cast as ‘Emma’. Shin Sung-rok and Choi Jae-rim will take the stage as ‘Jekyll/Hyde’, while Ivy and Linah will play ‘Lucy’, and Lee Ji-hye will portray ‘Emma’ starting in March.
Performance duration is 170 minutes (including a 20-minute intermission). Suitable for ages 14 and up. Performances will run until May 18 at the Blue Square Shinhan Card Hall.
◆ Riding a Magic Carpet with Kim Junsu and Lee Sung-kyung… Musical ‘Aladdin’
You can see Kim Junsu, Jung Sung-hwa, and Lee Kyung-seong on the same musical stage. It is the musical ‘Aladdin’.
The musical ‘Aladdin’ is based on the Academy Award-winning Disney animated film of the same name (1992). It has landed in Korea 10 years after its Broadway premiere in 2014.
The musical ‘Aladdin’ has been performed in 11 productions across 4 continents, attracting about 20 million audience members, making it a globally successful representative work. With a magical stage, intense choreography, and attractive costumes, it vividly unfolds the beautiful love and genuine friendship story of Aladdin, the Genie, and Jasmine, along with the harmony of Alan Menken's famous songs ‘Friend Like Me’ and ‘A Whole New World’.
Kim Junsu, who debuted in the music industry with the group TVXQ, made his musical debut in 2010 with ‘Mozart!’ after leaving the group in 2009. He showcased his ticket power after winning the Best Actor award at the 6th The Musical Awards for ‘Elisabeth’ in 2012.
In the role of ‘Aladdin’ are Kim Junsu, Seo Kyung-soo, and Park Kang-hyun; in the role of ‘Genie’ are Jung Sung-hwa, Jung Won-young, and Kang Hong-seok; in the role of ‘Jasmine’ are Lee Sung-kyung, Min Kyung-ah, and Choi Ji-hye; in the role of ‘Sultan’ are Lee Sang-jun and Hwang Man-ik; in the role of ‘Jafar’ are Yoon Seon-yong and Lim Byeol; in the role of ‘Iago’ are Jung Yeol; in the role of ‘Kassim’ are Seo Man-seok; in the role of ‘Omar’ are Yuk Hyun-wook; and in the role of ‘Babkak’ are Bang Bo-yong and Yang Byeong-cheol.
Performance duration is 150 minutes (including a 20-minute intermission). Suitable for ages 8 and up. Performances will run until June 22 at the Charlotte Theater, followed by performances at the Busan Dream Theater.
◆ The Legend of Original Musicals Celebrating 30 Years… Musical ‘The Last Empress’
The legendary original musical ‘The Last Empress’, celebrating its 30th anniversary, returns with musical actors Kim So-hyun, Shin Young-sook, and Cha Ji-yeon.
The musical ‘The Last Empress’, which premiered at the Seoul Arts Center Opera House in 1995, is a representative original musical of Korea that depicts the life of Empress Myeongseong, the wife of King Gojong, the 26th king of the Joseon Dynasty, against the backdrop of the 100th anniversary of her assassination. It is based on the novel ‘The Fox Hunt’ by Lee Moon-yeol.
After becoming the national mother at the age of 16 and steadfastly supporting King Gojong, Empress Myeongseong meets a tragic death due to the operation called ‘The Fox Hunt’. The roles of Empress Myeongseong are played by Kim So-hyun, Shin Young-sook, and Cha Ji-yeon.
Musical actress Kim So-hyun made a dazzling debut as Christine in the musical ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ in 2001 and has shown outstanding performances in numerous works such as ‘Elisabeth’, ‘Marie Antoinette’, ‘The Last Empress’, ‘Anna Karenina’, ‘Wicked’, and ‘Jekyll & Hyde’. She boasts numerous awards, including the Best Actress award at the 5th Yegrin Musical Awards and the Best Actress award at the 14th Korean Musical Awards, and is recognized as one of the best musical actresses.
The unfortunate monarch, King Gojong of Joseon, will be played by Kang Pil-seok, Son Jun-ho, and Kim Joo-taek. The role of Hong Gye-hun, the warrior who protected Empress Myeongseong until the end during the Eulmi Incident, will be played by Yang Jun-mo, Park Min-seong, and Baek Hyung-hoon.
Performance duration is 165 minutes (including a 20-minute intermission). Suitable for ages 8 and up. Performances will run until March 30 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
◆ Ok Joo-hyun and Solar as Dancers… Musical ‘Mata Hari’
The musical ‘Mata Hari’ returns for its fourth season ahead of its grand finale.
The musical ‘Mata Hari’ is based on the true story of the beautiful dancer Mata Hari (born Margaretha Geertruida Zelle), who was arrested by French authorities during World War I on charges of being a double agent and executed by firing squad. It depicts the dramatic life of Mata Hari, who was loved across Europe for her sensual dance and mysterious appearance.
As the best dancer of her time, who made even the pain of war forgettable with her enchanting and sensual dance, the character of Mata Hari, who hides the wounded woman Margaretha Geertruida Zelle behind her glamour, is played by Ok Joo-hyun and Solar.
Ok Joo-hyun, who won the Best Actress award at the 6th The Musical Awards and the Best Actress award at the 18th Korean Musical Awards in 2012, returns for the fourth time after the original production in 2016, the second production in 2017, and the third production in 2022. The next season is expected to undergo significant changes in stage sets, making this performance the last opportunity to meet ‘Mata Hari’, which may not return again.
In the role of Mata Hari are Ok Joo-hyun and Solar; in the role of Armand are Enoch, Kim Sung-sik, and Yoon So-ho; in the role of Colonel Radou are Choi Min-cheol, Noh Yoon, and in the role of Anna are Choi Na-rae, Yoon Sa-bong; in the role of French Minister of Defense Poincaré are Kim Joo-ho, Hong Kyung-soo; and in the role of Margaretha are Ahn Jin-young.
Performance duration is 180 minutes (including a 20-minute intermission). Suitable for ages 8 and up. Performances will run until March 2 at the LG Arts Center Seoul LG SIGNATURE Hall.
[Shin Young-eun, Star Today Reporter]
