Fourteen Korean musicals to be staged overseas

Fourteen homegrown musicals are setting out to showcase their craft outside of Korea, according to the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Tourism on Monday.

British actors perform Korean musical "Marie Curie" during last year's K-Musical roadshow in London. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

Fourteen homegrown musicals are setting out to showcase their craft outside of Korea, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Monday.

Shows like "You&it," "L'art reste" and "Yujin and Yujin" are slated to be staged in parts of Asia, the United States and Britain from September to December.

The ministry has been supporting the overseas expansion of Korean musicals since 2021, annually hosting "K-Musical International Market," which promotes domestic and international investment in Korean-made musicals.

Following suit, it will hold a "K-Musical Road Show" on Broadway in October and Tokyo in December.

Korean musical industry officials speak during K-Musical International Market in June. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

"L'art reste" depicts the life of Kim Hyang-an, the wife of the country's famous poet Yi Sang and, after his death, the wife of painter Kim Whanki, is slated to participate in the road show on Broadway.

Six musicals, including "Brahms," "The Adventure of the Final Problem" and "Modigliani" will be staged during the road show in Japan.

Five musicals, including "You&it," "Inside William" and "Crazy Bread" are also being adapted for the Western audience.

"You&it" on Sept.1 is set to hold a stage read for West End's stakeholders in London.

Actors during a stage read of the musical "Crazy Bread" in 2022 in the United States [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

"Yujin and Yujin" and "The Goddess" have been exported to parts of Asia.

"The Goddess" has already been staged in China in June and topped the local ticket box. "Yujin and Yujin" is set to begin its run in Taiwan in October.

"Vanishing" has been invited to play in Hong Kong in October.

"K-musicals were deemed like a wild card of K-culture, but now they are growing into strong players," Culture Minister Park Bo-gyoon said in a press release on Monday. "We will support [local musicals] so that they can succeed beyond Asia in the U.S. and European markets."

Korean musicals last year recorded over 400 billion won in ticket sales. This year, the sales have already surpassed 200 billion won ($302 million), according to the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System.

A scene from 2023 K-Musical International Market in June [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

BY LEE JIAN [lee.jian@joongang.co.kr]