SF9's Yoo Taeyang Cast as Roger in Korea's New Season of Rent
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
Yoo Taeyang, 28, a member of K-pop group SF9, has been cast as Roger in the Korean production of the musical Rent. He says he feels a strong affinity with Roger, a troubled musician who struggles with grief, illness and loneliness, and that this personal connection motivated him to pursue the role after missing a prior opportunity in 2023 due to scheduling conflicts. Yoo described intensive preparation: confessing personal stories during workshops led by international director Andy Señor Jr., living in the rehearsal room, joining extra band run-throughs, recording and reviewing performances, and studying fellow cast members to shape his interpretation. Rent, a modern take on Puccini’s La Bohème by Jonathan Larson, portrays young artists facing poverty and hardship in New York’s East Village; it premiered on Broadway in 1996 and marks its tenth Korean season. Yoo hopes audiences will leave wanting to see his Roger again rather than merely praising technical skill.
