New Musical 'The Man in Hanbok' Reimagines Joseon Genius Jang Yeong-sil
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
A new original K-musical, 'The Man in Hanbok,' premiered at Seoul’s Chungmu Art Center, imaginatively exploring the mysterious fate of Joseon-era inventor Jang Yeong-sil. Based on Lee Sang-hoon's novel, the show posits a bold alternate history where Jang survives, travels to Italy, and meets a young Leonardo da Vinci, even influencing the Renaissance. The production contrasts traditional Korean stage design—such as a curved Gyeongbokgung Geunjeongjeon (main hall of the royal palace) set and geometric lighting patterns—with a grand European second act featuring tall columns and large sculptures. Musical and visual elements lean on Korean tradition: a poignant number called “Missing You” uses a ho-rongbul (traditional oil lamp) and ink-wash style (sumi-e) projections of pine trees and pavilions, while the score blends folk songs like Mil-yang Arirang, daechwita (royal processional music), and taepyeongso (traditional wind instrument) with orchestral arrangements. Actors play dual roles across 600 years of time, heightening dramatic range, but some viewers found the story’s rapid compression in Act II—when the European arc unfolds—hard to follow. Director Kwon Eun-ah acknowledged the imaginative yet potentially controversial premise. The run continues through March 8 next year.
