Two K-Musicals That Won China and Britain Return to Korea
Creatrip Team
a month ago
Two South Korean original musicals that found success abroad — Hongryeon and SWAG Age: Cry, Joseon! — are returning to domestic stages. Hongryeon opens April 28 at Seoul’s Chungmu Art Center and runs through May 17; the show blends the Korean folktales Janghwa Hongryeonjeon and Baridegi (Baridegi) and mixes Western rock with traditional Eastern ceremonial music ‘ssitgimgut’ (a cleansing rite). The production previously premiered in Guangzhou and had a licensed run in Shanghai, reproducing original arrangements, choreography, and direction. SWAG Age: Cry, Joseon!, which began as a student musical in 2017, will perform in Goyang in April. Set in a fictional Joseon where sijo (a traditional Korean poetic form) is banned, the musical depicts people resisting oppression through sijo and dance. The show staged a concert-format showcase in London’s West End and won Best Concert Production at the 2025 BroadwayWorld UK West End Awards. Both productions emphasize Korean narratives and live performance detail while expanding internationally.
