New Korean Musical 'The Man in Hanbok' Honors Inventor Jang Yeong-sil
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
EMK Musical Company is staging a new original musical, 'The Man in Hanbok,' based on Lee Sang-hoon's novel about Jang Yeong-sil, a brilliant Joseon-era (Korean dynastic period) inventor who rose from slave status to a government post after creating devices like the water clock and rain gauge. The show's producer Uhm Hong-hyun said he was inspired during the COVID period to spotlight Jang Yeong-sil, feeling shame that global figures like Leonardo da Vinci are better known than Korean geniuses. Director Kwon Eun-ah emphasized the musical’s focus on inner peace rather than conventional success, while actors Shin Sung-rok and Park Eun-tae described emotional roles, including King Sejong and Jang Yeong-sil. Music director Lee Seong-jun incorporated traditional Korean sounds—daechwita (a grand military wind and percussion ensemble) and the kkwaenggwari (a small gong)—and referenced the folk song 'Miryang Arirang' to reflect Jang’s Busan origins. The production opened December 2 and runs at Chungmu Art Center through March 8 next year.
