Hallyu has mostly revolved around K-pop, Korean dramas and Korean cinema, but its influence is expanding to the performing arts in Korea’s neighboring countries. Among many theater genres, the country’s local musicals are beginning to enjoy popularity in Japan and China ― becoming the latest hallyu trend in Asia.

Last year, major Korean entertainment company CJ E&M announced that a total of eight Korean musicals would be performed in Tokyo’s affluent Roppongi district. Collaborating with prominent Japanese entertainment agency Amuse, the project involves staging Korean musicals with all-Korean casts. 

One of the eight musicals to be staged in Japan is “Finding Mr. Destiny,” one of the most popular productions from Seoul’s Daehangno district, the local hot spot for theater.
 
The musical, which tells the story of a young woman desperate to find her first love with whom she had a brief youthful affair in India, has been performed more than 3,000 times since its premiere in Korea in 2006. After attracting more than 560,000 viewers the musical was also made into a movie in 2010 ― starring Gong Yoo and Im Soo-jung.

Ahead of its Japanese premiere set for October at Tokyo’s Amuse Musical Theatre, the musical’s Chinese production premiered at Shanghai Centre Theater in the Chinese city last month. The Chinese-licensed production features an all-Chinese cast and is delivered in the Chinese language, while strictly following the original Korean plot.

The musical and its film adaptation belong to the romantic comedy genre, which is popular among viewers in China. “A Wedding Invitation,” a Chinese-language film directed by Korean filmmaker Oh Ki-hwan, became the highest-earning Korea-China production, grossing 191.9 million yuan ($31.3 million) at the Chinese box office. The film is a remake of director Oh’s 2001 tearjerker “Last Present.” The producers, however, turned the remake into a romantic comedy to appeal to the local audience in China.

“The musical deals with first love and it’s something that’s universal,” said Jee Seung-yeon from CJ E&M. “So many young Chinese audience members could easily relate to it.”

The ongoing Chinese production and the upcoming Japanese run make “Finding Mr. Destiny” the first Korean musical to be performed in Japan, China and Korea.

“By October, ‘Finding Mr. Destiny’ will be shown to audiences in Korea, Japan and China,” said Kim Byeong-seok, senior vice president of CJ E&M through the company’s promoters. “We hope to turn it into cultural content that can be enjoyed by an international audience and a stepping stone for Korean musicals.”

The eight Korean musicals are being performed at Amuse Musical Theatre in Tokyo. They include: CJ E&M’s “Caffeine,” “Poongwoljoo,” “Finding Mr. Destiny” and “While You Are Asleep”; PMC production’s “Music in My Heart” and “Brothers Were Brave”; and Aga Company’s “Singles.”

Amuse Musical Theatre is a 900-seat venue that was renovated by CJ E&M’s Japanese partner Amuse into a musical theater last year. Formerly named “Roppongi Blue Theater,” it was opened in 2007 to accommodate the American theater organization Blue Man Group’s lengthy residency in Japan.

Many executive members of Amuse were especially inspired by Seoul’s Daehangno district and its creative vibe, and wanted to import its products to Japan, said Min Ji-hye from CJ E&M.

Korean romantic musical “Caffeine” just had its first run at the venue from April 25 to May 19.

According to CJ E&M, Japan’s performing arts industry is three times larger than Korea’s, while the market value of China’s musical industry is estimated to reach approximately 4 trillion won by the year 2020.

By Claire Lee (dyc@heraldcorp.com)