140 Years Ago Missionaries Reimagined as K-pop Idols
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
A new musical concert, “The Mission: K — People Who Opened the Dawn,” reinterprets four 19th-century Western missionaries in Joseon (Korea) — Horace Allen, Horace Underwood, Oliver Avison, and Lewis Severance — by casting popular K-pop idols as their younger, hip selves. Staged at Seoul’s Sejong Center, the show blends K-pop songs, dance, and musical theatre to depict these men’s risky choices, medical and educational contributions (e.g., founding Jejungwon/Severance Hospital and early modern schools), and public-health efforts during cholera outbreaks. Producers aimed to present their 20s-era courage and idealism through energetic performances; the production features large ensembles, an orchestra, and idols with significant stage experience. Note: Jejungwon (제중원) and Severance Hospital (세브란스 병원) are early medical institutions in Korea founded by these missionaries.
