Annual K-Musical Market kicks off to promote homegrown shows

The fourth edition of K-Musical Market runs through Saturday and gathers musical talents, experts and investors within Korea and abroad to promote homegrown shows.

Culture Ministry's Vice Minister Jeon Byung-geuk speaks during the opening ceremony of the K-Musical Market at CJ azit in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Tuesday. [MINSTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

The annual K-Musical Market kicked off Tuesday at performance venue CJ azit in Jongno District, central Seoul.

Jointly hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the non-profit organization Korea Arts Management Service, the fourth edition of K-Musical Market runs through Saturday across performance halls in Daehangno, a theater district in Jongno District.

The event gathers musical talents, experts and investors within Korea and abroad to promote homegrown shows and connect people through one-on-one business meetings.

A total of 30 Korean musicals will be presented to investors and producers during the K-Musical Market.

Eight of those shows — including a historical rap musical "Swag Age: Shout Out, Joseon!" and pansori (Korean traditional narrative singing) show "Seopyeonjae" — will be performed live during the market. The other 22 shows will be pitched through a presentation, according to the market.

The market will select 17 shows to send to musical industry officials in London, Taipei and Tokyo, who will consider them for a chance to perform at one or more of the locations.

"The musical 'The Great Gatsby' recently entered Broadway and won a Tony," said Culture Ministry's Vice Minister Jeon Byung-geuk during the opening ceremony of the K-Musical Market on Tuesday. "[The ministry] will continue to support new Korean musicals and expand opportunities for these shows to be exported overseas."

The K-Musical Market will also hold a slew of forums and talk sessions with industry experts which are open to the public through reservations, including an overview of the Broadway musical market by Variety magazine's theater editor and writer Gordon Cox and insight into the trends of the Chinese musical market by Alibaba's ticketing and live events group Damai Mailive.

See the full schedule on K-Musical Market's official website.

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