This spring's most evocative musicals
"Red Cliff" - An epic to feel
'Red Cliff' is a vivid combination of pansori, dance and theatrical storytelling. While technically categorized as a musical, it defies conventional boundaries -- too layered, too textured, too rooted in tradition to be simply labeled.
Now in its sixth run since its premier in 2017, 'Red Cliff' unfolds the legendary tale of the Battle of Red Cliffs, a pivotal naval conflict during the late Eastern Han dynasty in 3rd-century China.
Though the story is rooted in Chinese history and famously dramatized in 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms,' the production interprets it through a distinctively Korean lens. The costume and stage design balance historical imagination with modern minimalism, resulting in a stylized visual language that feels fresh yet anchored in Korean heritage.
The music draws heavily from gugak, Korea's traditional music.
On stage, the ensemble and lead characters -- all adorned with dramatic eyeliner and synchronized movements -- blur the line between singer and dancer. Their seamless performance makes it nearly impossible to distinguish vocalists from choreographed performers.
Folding fans, ever-present props in Korean traditional arts, couldn't be used more creatively.
The Korean dialogue and songs use old-style language, so for bilingual viewers, the English subtitles actually feel easier to understand.
"Red Cliff" runs at the National Jeongdong Theater through April 13.
"Once" - A story to sing
There was a time when 'Falling Slowly,' the Oscar-winning song from the 2007 Irish film 'Once,' found a special place in the hearts of South Korean listeners. More than a decade later, the stage adaptation has returned to Korea after several years -- reminding audiences why its quiet charm still resonates.
This stage adaptation succeeds in two particularly challenging feats: reimagining a popular film for the theater and skillfully translating famous songs across languages.
In addition, the production features performers who can not only act and sing, but also play musical instruments -- one of the reasons the musical is returning for another stint 10 years after its Korean premiere in 2014.
A pre-show begins 30 minutes before the main performance, during which audience members can step onto the stage and purchase drinks from the on-stage bar. Starting about 10 minutes before the show, the cast joins in with impromptu music and singing, creating a lively, shared experience.
Although the show is in Korean with no subtitles, those familiar with the story and music of "Once" might want to experience how differently it resonates in another language.
"Once" runs at COEX Artium until May 31.
"L'art Reste" - A life to tell
The title "L'art Reste" comes from the French phrase 'Les gens partent, mais l'art reste' -- People leave, but art remains -- a quote often attributed to Kim Hyang-an, a Korean artist who lived most of her life between Korea, Paris, New York and Japan.
The musical centers on the lives of three real-life figures, but it features four actors on stage. At its core is Kim Hyang-an, a woman whose life was closely intertwined with two towering icons of Korean modern art -- the poet Yi Sang and the abstract painter Kim Whan-ki.
Her life unfolds in two timelines: one moving forward from 1936 under her birth name, Byun Dong-rim, and the other moving backward from her later years in 2004. The two timelines intersect to present contrasting yet complementary versions of the same person.
The musical premiered in 2022 and now returns for its third run after earning critical acclaim and winning the 8th Korean Musical Awards for best musical (for theaters under 400 seats), best script and best original score.
With its rich wordplay, poetic dialogue and cultural layers, this story of a poet and two cotemporary artists is best appreciated if you're fluent in Korean -- no subtitles are provided.
'L'art Reste' runs at Yes24 Stage until June 15.
gypark@heraldcorp.com
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Korea Herald
17 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Hidden cultural moments in K-pop Demon Hunters
From celebrity photo walls in clinics to alleys lined with illegally parked cars, what feels ordinary to Korean viewers may seem curious or even confusing to foreign fans 'Do Koreans really put a napkin under their spoon and chopsticks?' said Natalia Lima, a 28-year-old Brazilian woman who has watched Netflix's hit animated film "K-pop Demon Hunters" more than twice. In the scene that caught her attention, main characters Rumi, Mira, and Zoey, members of the fictional K-pop group Huntrix, are eating gukbap (Korean soup with rice) at a restaurant where Mira places her spoon and chopsticks on a folded napkin. "In Brazil, utensils are usually placed directly on the table or wrapped in a napkin. Using a napkin solely to rest them on? That was completely new to me. I'd love to see how common it really is if I ever get the chance to visit Korea,' Lima told The Korea Herald. While the animated film, which follows a K-pop trio on a mission to protect the world from evil spirits through their music, grabs attention with its flashy battles and dazzling performances, many international viewers are equally drawn to the everyday moments woven into the characters' lives. Here are some details in the show that, whether positive or negative, feel natural to Koreans but stand out as unexpected to some foreign eyes. Couch as a backrest There's one scene where the trio eats a variety of Korean street food, including gimbap (Korean seaweed rice roll), tteokbokki (spicy stir-fried rice cakes), and hotteok (a kind of donut), on their private jet. Despite having comfy couches around them, they choose to sit on the floor. In Korea, it's quite common to sit on the floor with a low dining table in front, using the couch behind as a backrest — something foreign viewers can easily spot in Korean variety shows, dramas and YouTube vlogs. The practice reflects the country's long tradition of floor-based living, which naturally developed due to 'ondol,' the traditional floor heating system of Korean homes. Even today, many local restaurants offer both floor seating and tables. In many households, especially during holidays, families sit together on the living room floor to share a meal. Walls decorated with celebrity photos at clinics, restaurants How many celebrities and public figures have visited a clinic or restaurant often serves as a barometer in deciding whether to go there for some Korean customers. That's why, in Korea, it's common to walk into a restaurant or clinic and see walls covered with framed photos and autographs of celebrities, politicians or social media influencers. The film shows Rumi, who struggles with her voice, visiting a traditional Korean medicine clinic, where one wall is covered with photos of the doctor posing with celebrities. Back when online restaurant ratings and social media platforms weren't as widespread, celebrity visits served as an informal stamp of approval — a practice that remains influential in Korea's dining culture today. 'Unlike big companies, we have limited ways to promote ourselves, so we rely heavily on word of mouth. If even one celebrity visits, word spreads quickly in the neighborhood, and it definitely brings a positive effect,' said Yang Yoon-mo, 37, who runs a bakery cafe in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. The 'bandwagon effect' is often cited by local experts as a key reason behind the success of celebrity-driven marketing in Korea. 'It has long been common for dermatology and cosmetic clinics in Korea to decorate their walls with celebrity photos and autographs, which functions as social proof for Koreans who tend to be more influenced by others' opinions and judgments than in many other countries, a phenomenon known as the bandwagon effect. The country's collectivist culture further reinforces this tendency,' Lee Eun-hee, a professor of consumer psychology at Inha University, told The Korea Herald. 'From the consumer's perspective, seeing that a celebrity, especially one they personally like, has visited a clinic can create an emotional connection," she added. Puffer coats and T-shirts seen side by side Seoul's streets in November last year were filled with passersby dressed in everything from short sleeves to padded jackets. Sudden temperature swings that month explain the unusual mix of attire. The third week of November brought unseasonably warm weather, with average temperatures hovering around 20 degrees Celsius, before plunging by nearly 10 degrees in the final week, according to the Korea Meteorological Administration. South Korea's distinct four seasons are increasingly affected by weather volatility due to climate change. As a result, it's now common for people to keep clothing for all four seasons in their wardrobes year-round. "Due to global warming, temperatures are rising faster in higher latitudes, weakening the cold air in the Arctic and makes the jet stream more unstable. As a result, the country is experiencing more unusual cold spells and heat waves than before," said Kim Hae-dong, an environmental engineering professor at Keimyung University. In mid-April this year, an unexpected cold snap caused snow to fall in parts of Seoul, including Jongno. Just a month later, however, unseasonably warm weather followed, with daytime highs climbing above 20 degrees Celsius for several consecutive days. "I used to routinely switch out my winter and summer clothes during spring or fall, but now my closet is filled with outfits for every kind of weather," one user wrote on X. Alleys with illegally parked cars At one point in the film, Jinu, the male protagonist and leader of the fictional idol group Saja Boys, walks slowly through a narrow alley, lost in thought. Although not intended as humorous, the scene likely resonated with many Korean drivers, who couldn't help but let out a bitter chuckle at the sight of illegally parked cars lining the narrow alley. Despite the bold 'no parking' warning painted on the ground, cars remain parked there — a common issue in many Korean cities and a long-standing social issue. 'The scene reminded me of those times when I drive down a narrow alley and get completely stuck because cars are parked on both sides and another car comes from the opposite direction,' said Yang, a 34-year-old office worker in Seoul. 'It's a bit embarrassing to say, but I thought it captured reality perfectly. I think a lot of foreigners would be shocked by how common illegal parking is in Korea.' According to data from the Seoul Metropolitan Government, fines for illegal parking in the city totaled 77.35 billion won ($55.9 million) last year, up 6.2 percent from 72.84 billion won in 2022. One Japanese viewer in the US expressed surprise at the scene, commenting on Facebook, 'It would be hard to imagine such a sight in a Japanese animated film.' 'In Japan, the police outsource illegal parking enforcement to private agencies, with many retirees taking up these monitoring roles. The regulations are strictly enforced.'
Korea Herald
20 hours ago
- Korea Herald
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Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
[Grace Kao] Andrew Choi as Jinu in 'KPop Demon Hunters'
BTS, Stray Kids, Ateez and now Saja Boys. These are the only K-pop boy bands that have made it to the US Billboard Hot 100. However, Saja Boys is a fictional K-pop boy band composed of Korean demons ("joseung saja" or Korean grim reapers) from the animated Netflix film, 'KPop Demon Hunters.' It is currently No. 1 on Netflix in the US, and has been in the Top 10 Netflix films in 93 countries. In addition, seven of its songs are on the July 12 US Billboard Hot 100 Chart. The fictional girl group in the film is called Huntrix. These songs are: 'Golden' by Huntrix (at No. 23), 'Your Idol' by Saja Boys (No. 31), 'How It's Done' by Huntrix (No. 42), 'Soda Pop' by Saja Boys (No. 49), 'What it Sounds Like' by Huntrix (No. 55), 'Free' by Rumi (Ejae) and Jinu (Andrew Choi) (No. 58), and 'Takedown' by Huntrix (No. 64). The fictional boy group Saja Boys has already had more songs on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart than any other K-pop boy group except BTS. Of course, there are real singers behind these animated characters. For Jinu, that singer is Andrew Choi. Choi has been a songwriter, producer and vocal coach associated with many K-pop entertainment companies, but has worked most closely with SM Entertainment. He also competed and placed third in Season 2 of "K-pop Star." To me, his voice suits city pop songs. It has an ethereal quality and depth that fits the deceptively youthful but ancient demon Jinu (who looks like an animated version of Cha Eunwoo). I got to chat with Andrew Choi. He is stunned by the success of the film and soundtrack. He is incredibly modest about his contributions, but he is the primary singer on three tracks on the US Billboard Hot 100. So, how did all this happen? Andrew is Korean American. Born in Busan, he and his family moved to New Jersey when he was five. He always loved music. 'I was an avid listener of K-pop until H.O.T.'s second album … I especially loved solo artists like Shin Seunghun and Kim Gun Mo.' He loved 1990s R&B singers like Musiq Soulchild, Usher, and Justin Timberlake. While in college at Rutgers University, he studied Computer Science and Psychology. He was the lead singer of the alternative rock band 'The Ides.' The group was active for more than four years, but eventually disbanded. When he was about 30, he decided to move to Korea to teach English, but music kept beckoning. 'I entered the industry just as a songwriter, and that happened randomly.' He met a track maker and they began writing songs. They rented a music studio and one day, as songwriter Kim Tae-seong came to retrieve a bag he left behind in the shared space, he heard Andrew singing one of their songs. 'He told me he had a couple of tracks and asked if I would write songs over it. He sent me two tracks and that night I went back to the studio and recorded a very rough demo of one of the songs.' That song became SHINee's 'Beautiful.' Andrew later learned that the tracks were by Teddy Riley, who produced Michael Jackson's 'Remember the Time' and Bobby Brown's 'My Prerogative,' amongst hundreds of other songs. This led to Choi's time on "K-pop Star." While it was a fun experience for Andrew, he felt more suited to being a songwriter and singing behind the scenes. So, how did his life as a songwriter lead to singing as Jinu? Ejae, the voice behind Rumi (the leader of Huntrix in the film), first met Choi at a church function, and the two became friends. She is a well-known songwriter who has worked on songs such as Red Velvet's 'Psycho' and aespa's 'Drama.' She played a key role in the soundtrack of the film. Andrew provided the vocals in the vocal guide for 'Soda Pop.' But late in the film's production, he was asked to 'come in to record.' He thought this meant that he would record 'Soda Pop.' However, when he arrived, they asked him to sing parts of the songs 'My Idol' and 'Free' and told him, 'By the way, you're doing Jinu.' He had to record the songs in front of a crowd of people, but added, 'They were so warm and so encouraging.' Andrew also recently released his own single, 'Under Your Skin,' a soulful R&B jazzy ballad that may remind 90s music lovers of Usher's Ballads. Since I am older, I thought of Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes' 'If You Don't Know Me by Now,' Champagne's 'How 'Bout Us' and 'Always and Forever' by Heatwave. In Korea, one might think of The Black Skirts' 'Everything.' More singles are on their way. I love that the film offers a universal message of love and redemption, with many inside jokes for Koreans and K-pop fans. While it is in English, the film retains its Koreaness. They are Korean idols (or Korean demons) and the concerts are in a Korean city. There is no pretense that they are in LA or New York. The songs are catchy — 'K-pop esque' without the overly complicated structure. To me, great pop songs often sound simple, but simple is hard to achieve. Andrew put it best: 'The songs are sophisticated in their simplicity.'
