Play 'The Little Tiger for Korea' celebrates Korea-Thailand relations with shows in Seoul and Pocheon, Gyeonggi

A play commemorating Thai soldiers in the Korean War (1950-53), "The Little Tiger for Korea," will be staged in Seoul and Pocheon, Gyeonggi, next week, according to the Culture Ministry's press release on Monday.

A scene from the play commemorating Thai soldiers during the Korean War (1950-53), "The Little Tiger for Korea," which was staged in Thailand in January. [MINISTRY OF CULTURE, SPORTS AND TOURISM]

A play commemorating Thai soldiers in the Korean War (1950-53), "The Little Tiger for Korea," will be staged in Seoul and Pocheon, Gyeonggi, next week, according to the Culture Ministry's press release on Monday.

Helmed by Thai nationals, it is based on the webtoon "One Day, My Beloved Idol Group's Leader Disappeared!" launched in 2022 by the Culture Ministry's Korean Culture and Information Service and Kakao Entertainment. It follows an avid K-pop fan named Pim who travels back in time with Thai war veterans in search of a boy band leader who has mysteriously gone missing.

"The Little Tiger for Korea" celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Korean Cultural Center in Thailand and the 65th anniversary of Korea-Thailand relations. It was staged in Thailand in January and is slated to open once more at Chulalongkorn University's performance hall from Aug. 28 to 30, sponsored by Thailand's Culture Mininstry.

The play in Korea will first open at Modu Art Theater in Seodaemun District, western Seoul, on Sept. 4, and move to Banweol Art Hall Pocheon in Gyeonggi on Sept. 6. The Korean Culture Ministry said it will invite Korean var veterans and officials from the Thai Embassy in Korea, the National Defense Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

The show in Pocheon is particularly meaningful, as the city, located in the northeast of Gyeonggi, was a major battleground of the Korean War, where many Thai soldiers were stationed. Thailand dispatched a total of 11,786 soldiers, sailors and air personnel to Korea during the war and suffered 1,273 casualties, according to the United Nations.

"The Little Tiger for Korea" is directed by Pattarasuda Anuman-Rajadhon and written by Damkerng Thitapiyasak. Fourteen other Thai nationals and some 10 Koreans from various organizations, including the Pocheon Culture and Tourism Foundation and acting troupe Project SOL, also joined as cast or crew in the play.

Korea's performances will see added scenes featuring pansori (Korean traditional narrative singing), according to Korea's Culture Ministry.

The shows are sponsored by Korea's Culture Ministry, the Korean Cultural Center in Thailand, the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange and the Arts Council Korea.

"I hope that the performances of 'The Little Tiger for Korea' will further promote the long-held Korea-Thailand relations and strengthen the two countries' bond," said Director of the Korean Cultural Center in Thailand Lee Seon-ju. "The Korean Culture Center will take this opportunity as a springboard for more jointly produced plays and more active cultural exchanges."

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