Controversial Musical Coming to Seoul Theaters

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Feb 17th 2010 at 8:01PM

When I saw the Korean movie Joint Security Area a few years ago, I was floored. The plot itself wasn't a big deal – think Law & Order in the DMZ – but it's a South Korean film that offers a sympathetic, almost brotherly view of its miltaristic neighbrs to the north. A decade after the movie caused a stir on the peninsula, it's getting ready to hit the stage. Singing and dancing will be used to convey the complex messages of politics and culture in Panmunjom.

According to the Muk Company, which hasn't begun casting yet, "The musical will be different from both the original novel and the film. It will be a totally new production with a twist, which will touch upon sensitive issues, reflecting the 2010 relation between the two Koreas." Like the film version, the musical is expected to have an all-star cast.

Interestingly, Muk adds, "The production will also mark the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War this year."