Latest news with #MaybeHappyEnding
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
K-drama 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' that made the president cry — and why it matters for South Korea's cultural policy
SEOUL: President Lee Jae-myung (pic) on Monday (June 30) underscored the power of culture in enhancing Korea's global standing, sharing how a hit drama series moved him to tears and convinced him of the nation's untapped cultural potential. Speaking at a meeting with cultural figures at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Lee said watching the Netflix hit "When Life Gives You Tangerines" reassured him the industry could provide a turnaround in the nation's growth. 'It made me realise that Korea's cultural capabilities go beyond just music, and that we have new strengths to offer,' Lee said, adding that the drama's universal resonance, despite its deeply Korean themes, was proof of culture's ability to connect across borders. 'Now, I find myself thinking deeply about how we can nurture this potential, provide our people with access to high-quality culture, create jobs, and strengthen our national power through culture,' he said. Monday's event gathered some of Korea's leading cultural figures who have recently gained international recognition. Attendees included Kim Won-seok, director of "When Life Gives You Tangerines," which topped Netflix's Global Non-English TV chart; Park Chun-hue, who won multiple Tony Awards for the musical "Maybe Happy Ending"; and soprano Sumi Jo, who received France's prestigious Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters in May for her contributions to music and the arts. Emerging artists were also present, including Huh Ga-young, winner of first prize in the La Cinef section at this year's Cannes Film Festival with her short film "First Summer," and Park Youn-jae, a 16-year-old who became the first Korean male dancer to win the Prix de Lausanne in its 53-year history. Kim, who has yet to receive a formal award, made light of the moment. 'I'm the only one among the five of us here who didn't receive an award, yet I'm still here. It seems the tears of the president and first lady were the award,' Kim joked, adding that he intended to make viewers laugh, not cry. 'I never expected the entire nation to resonate and shed tears with us, but people liked it much more and for much longer than I had imagined.' The president shared that his vision aligns with that of independence leader Kim Gu, who once said that military power should be just enough to protect ourselves, economic power just enough for us to live well, but that culture is different because it only does good in the world and spreads positive influence. He hoped for Korea to become a nation with truly strong cultural power. "I feel that we are now standing at the entrance of becoming the kind of cultural powerhouse Kim Gu envisioned," Lee added. "I believe that if we, as a nation, significantly increase investment and support for the cultural sector, provide opportunities for the next generation, grow this into an industry and expand Korea's cultural influence globally, we can become a leading nation — a true global powerhouse. I think this could become our greatest strength. These days, just thinking about it makes me feel proud," he noted. He also acknowledged the challenge of appointing a culture minister capable of realising this vision. 'That's why I still haven't been able to appoint a Minister of Culture yet,' Lee said with a laugh. 'It's such a complex task that it needs to be someone who can handle all of this. I hope all of you will think about it too.' As of Monday, Lee has appointed 17 out of 19 ministers, with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport still led by ministers retained from the previous administration. - The Korea Herald/ANN
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
A drama that made President Lee Jae Myung cry — and why it matters for Korea's cultural policy
In his meeting with cultural figures, President Lee stresses the country's cultural potential President Lee Jae-myung on Monday underscored the power of culture in enhancing Korea's global standing, sharing how a hit drama series moved him to tears and convinced him of the nation's untapped cultural potential. Speaking at a meeting with cultural figures at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Lee said watching the Netflix hit "When Life Gives You Tangerines" was a turning point in his perception of Korea's cultural strengths. 'It made me realize that Korea's cultural capabilities go beyond just music, and that we have new strengths to offer,' Lee said, adding that the drama's universal resonance, despite its deeply Korean themes, was proof of culture's ability to connect across borders. 'Now, I find myself thinking deeply about how we can nurture this potential, provide our people with access to high-quality culture, create jobs, and strengthen our national power through culture,' he said. Monday's event gathered some of Korea's leading cultural figures who have recently gained international recognition. Attendees included Kim Won-seok, director of "When Life Gives You Tangerines," which topped Netflix's Global Non-English TV chart; Park Chun-hue, who won multiple Tony Awards for the musical "Maybe Happy Ending"; and soprano Sumi Jo, who received France's prestigious Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters in May for her contributions to music and the arts. Emerging artists were also present, including Huh Ga-young, winner of first prize in the La Cinef section at this year's Cannes Film Festival with her short film "First Summer," and Park Youn-jae, a 16-year-old who became the first Korean male dancer to win the Prix de Lausanne in its 53-year history. Kim, who has yet to receive a formal award, made light of the moment. 'I'm the only one among the five of us here who didn't receive an award, yet I'm still here. It seems the tears of the president and first lady were the award,' Kim joked, adding that he intended to make viewers laugh, not cry. 'I never expected the entire nation to resonate and shed tears with us, but people liked it much more and for much longer than I had imagined.' The president shared that his vision aligns with that of independence leader Kim Gu, who once said that military power should be just enough to protect ourselves, economic power just enough for us to live well, but that culture is different because it only does good in the world and spreads positive influence. He hoped for Korea to become a nation with truly strong cultural power. "I feel that we are now standing at the entrance of becoming the kind of cultural powerhouse Kim Gu envisioned," Lee added. "We might be at the enterance of a nation I believe that if we, as a nation, significantly increase investment and support for the cultural sector, provide opportunities for the next generation, grow this into an industry and expand Korea's cultural influence globally, we can become a leading nation — a true global powerhouse. I think this could become our greatest strength. These days, just thinking about it makes me feel proud," he noted. He also acknowledged the challenge of appointing a culture minister capable of realizing this vision. 'That's why I still haven't been able to appoint a Minister of Culture yet,' Lee said with a laugh. 'It's such a complex task that it needs to be someone who can handle all of this. I hope all of you will think about it too.' As of Monday, Lee has appointed 17 out of 19 ministers, with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport still led by ministers retained from the previous administration.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
President to meet with cultural icons
Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to meet with several of the country's cultural icons Monday at the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu. The invitees include Park Chun-hue, who received multiple Tony Awards for the musical 'Maybe Happy Ending,' soprano Sumi Jo, who received a major French cultural honor, Commandeur of the Order of Arts and Letters, in May for her contributions to music and the arts. The President will also meet with young and emerging artists who have recently gained international recognition, including Huh Ga-young, who won first prize in the La Cinef section at this year's Cannes Film Festival with her short film "First Summer," and Park Youn-jae, a 16-year-old who became the first Korean male dancer to win the 53rd Prix de Lausanne in February. Also attending is Kim Won-seok, director of the Netflix hit drama series "When Life Gives You Tangerines," which reached No. 1 on Netflix's Global Non-English TV chart. The new president has pledged to strengthen Korean cultural output. In his inaugural address on June 4, Lee referenced the dream of independence leader Kim Gu, who once said, 'The only thing I endlessly wish to have is the power of a high culture,' vowing to lead Korea toward becoming a nation where culture can truly flourish. He also stated his ambition to 'transform Korea into a cultural powerhouse that will redefine global content standards through active support for culture and the arts, and to elevate Korea into one of the world's top five global soft power nations.' On June 18, the Presidential Policy Planning Committee instructed the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, during its policy briefing, to work toward achieving a 300 trillion won ($220 billion) K-culture market, 50 trillion won in cultural exports, and entry into the top five global soft power nations within Lee's term.
South China Morning Post
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
First Korean winner of a Tony award on his Broadway musical and being single
Hue Park, co-writer of the multi-Tony Award-winning musical Maybe Happy Ending, is living through whirlwind days just weeks after making history as the first Korean national to win Broadway's highest honour. Park describes seeing his two Tony trophies – for best original score and best book of a musical – sitting on his New York kitchen table as surreal, and a daily reminder of the responsibility he now carries. 'I haven't found a proper place for them, so I just put them on the table. I had breakfast looking at them. It's still strange to me that these symbolic trophies are now in my humble home,' Park says. Maybe Happy Ending is a musical about two Helperbots in near-future Seoul who discover fireflies, love and the meaning of goodbye. It was first staged in Korea in 2016 and made its Broadway debut in November 2024. In total, it scooped six prizes at the 2025 Tony Awards, held earlier this month. Play Park's recent visit to Korea, initially intended as a quiet family reunion, quickly turned into a media frenzy as congratulations poured in for the historic achievement.
San Francisco Chronicle
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bay Area artists make Tony Awards history
Among the big winners at the 78th Tony Awards was the Bay Area, as three theater artists with ties to the region took home the nation's highest honors for commercial theater. Two San Francisco natives — and Saint Ignatius College Preparatory School alumni — won acting awards during the ceremony Sunday, June 8, at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Francis Jue, who's performed locally with San Francisco Playhouse and TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, nabbed best performance by a featured actor in a play for ' Yellow Face,' David Henry Hwang's semiautobiographical comedy about racial representation in theater. Darren Criss, an alumnus of American Conservatory Theater's Young Conservatory program, won best performance by a leading actor in a play for 'Maybe Happy Ending,' Hue Park and Will Aronson's sci-fi show about two robots who've been abandoned by their humans. Meanwhile, Oakland playwright Jonathan Spector won best revival of a play for 'Eureka Day,' his comedy about a mumps outbreak at a progressive Berkeley private school with anti-vaxx parents. Berkeley's own Aurora Theatre Company commissioned and premiered the play in 2018. It was each artist's first Tony Award, and Spector's marks the first such honor in recent memory for a current Bay Area resident. Spector in his acceptance speech thanked 'my theater community, who gave me space to find my voice as a writer.' Aurora Theatre Company Artistic Director Josh Costello, who helmed the world premiere, revisits 'Eureka Day' at Marin Theatre in September. In his acceptance speech, Criss thanked Craig Slaight, the former director of ACT's Young Conservatory program, 'for shepherding me and so many people here.' Fellow nominee Julia Mattison, co-composer of 'Death Becomes Her,' is also a Young Conservatory alum, and the two helped Slaight, who retired in 2017, travel to New York and attend the ceremony. 'I was honored and humbled to be invited and to have the gift of the arrangements to make it possible,' Slaight told the Chronicle the morning after the ceremony. 'For (Criss) to mention me in his remarks was just so moving.' 'Maybe Happy Ending' is slated to tour to San Francisco as part of BroadwaySF's 2026-27 season, the operator of the Golden Gate, Orpheum and Curran theaters announced Monday, June 9. It joins previously announced titles 'Death Becomes Her' and 'The Outsiders.' Casting has not yet been announced. The Tony Awards ceremony, hosted by ' Wicked ' star Cynthia Erivo, also made history for Asian American representation. Jue's and Criss' wins, alongside Nicole Scherzinger's for best actress in a musical for her role in 'Sunset Blvd.,' doubled the number of actors with Asian heritage who have won Tonys throughout history. Criss' mother is Filipina, Jue is Chinese American, and Scherzinger has Filipino and Native Hawaiian ancestry. The only other winners of Asian descent are Chinese American actor BD Wong (1988), Filipina actor and singer Lea Salonga (1991) and Ruthie Ann Miles (2015), whose mother is Korean. In accepting his award, Jue told the audience he was wearing a tuxedo that the actor Alvin Ing had made for himself for the opening of ' Pacific Overtures ' on Broadway in 1976. Ing gave it to Jue 20 years ago, Jue said, telling Jue to wear it 'when I accepted my Tony Award.' In a statement to the press after walking offstage, Jue said, 'Isn't it interesting that it is still unusual, historic, groundbreaking to tell an Asian American story on Broadway? And to tell it at a time when this country is wrestling with its identity, with who gets to be American, who gets to say who gets to be American?' His character in 'Yellow Face,' an avatar for the real-life father of Hwang, who emigrated from China, begins the show as a fervent champion of what Jue called traditional American values such as 'freedom and inclusion and justice.' He continued, 'We're living in challenging times where we're being asked whether we still value those things that we always assumed make us American.' The Antoinette Perry Awards have honored Broadway plays and musicals annually since 1947. They're named for the actor, producer and director who co-founded the American Theatre Wing, which co-presents the awards with the Broadway League. Nominees are chosen by a committee of a few dozen theater professionals who serve three-year terms, and winners are voted on by a group of more than 800. Tony Awards can boost box office receipts or extend runs for shows still performing on Broadway as well as further career opportunities for winning artists. For Bay Area audiences, they also boost chances that a particular title might tour nationally.
