Q&A

 

Q01. Who were the first Korean or Korean diaspora performers in a Broadway musical?

 

Soon-Teck Oh and Jae Woo Lee. Both were born in Korea, later moved to the United States, and joined the original cast of Pacific Overtures, which opened at the Winter Garden Theatre in 1976 after beginning previews in 1975. The surviving records do not establish which of the two first appeared onstage, so it is most accurate to recognize them jointly.

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Oh played Tamate, a Samurai, a Storyteller, and a Swordsman, and also contributed to the production’s martial-arts sequence. Lee played a Fisherman, a Southern Lord, and a Sumo Wrestler while understudying the Reciter.

 

Q02. Who was the first Korean or Korean diaspora performer in a West End musical?

 

Hye-Young Choi. After working in Korea as a leading operatic soprano and music educator, Choi moved to the United States in 1973 for further study. She played Lady Thiang in The King and I, which opened at the London Palladium on June 12, 1979. Yul Brynner played the King and Virginia McKenna played Anna. Choi was an original principal cast member of the London production.

 

Q03. Who was the first Korean performer to appear both on Broadway and in the West End?

 

Hye-Young Choi. Choi made her Broadway debut as Lady Thiang in the 1977 revival of The King and I and continued in the same role in the 1979 West End production. She was an original cast member of both productions. She was also the first Korean performer to play a principal role in both markets.

 

Q04. Who was the first Korean performer to play a principal role on Broadway?

 

Hye-Young Choi. Lady Thiang, the King’s senior wife and the mother of the Crown Prince, is an independent principal role who sings “Something Wonderful.” Choi also appears on the 1977 Broadway cast recording. Her achievement therefore represents more than Broadway participation: it marks the first verified principal Broadway role played by a Korean performer.

 

Q05. Who was the first Korean performer to play a principal role in the West End?

 

Hye-Young Choi. Choi played Lady Thiang in The King and I, which opened at the London Palladium on June 12, 1979, with Yul Brynner as the King and Virginia McKenna as Anna. Having already played the same role on Broadway in 1977, she became the first Korean performer to hold a principal role in both the Broadway and West End productions.

 

Q06. Who was the first Korean performer to play a leading role on Broadway?

 

Alex Lee Tano. After appearing in the US national tour, Tano joined the Broadway production of Miss Saigon in 1998 as an alternate Kim. An alternate performs the role at designated performances rather than merely covering it in an emergency. She is therefore the first verified Korean performer formally credited with performing a Broadway leading role.

 

Q07. Who was the first Korean performer to originate a leading role in an original Broadway cast?

 

Luna. Already established in Korea as a singer and musical-theatre performer, Luna originated MwE, the central character in the 2022 Broadway musical KPOP. Alex Lee Tano had preceded her as a replacement alternate in an existing production; Luna entered a new Broadway production from its beginning as an original leading performer.

 

Q08. Who was the first Korean male performer to play a principal role in the West End?

 

Kwang-Ho Hong. Hong played Thuy in the 2014 West End revival of Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre. This came 35 years after Hye-Young Choi’s first Korean principal-role milestone in the West End, so Hong was not the first Korean principal performer there. He is, however, the earliest currently verified Korean man to hold a West End principal role.

 

Q09. Which Korean and Korean diaspora performers set the earliest Tony and Olivier Award milestones?

 

Joohee Choi, Taewon Kim, and Ruthie Ann Miles.

Joohee Choi became the first Korean performer nominated for a Tony Award when her performance as Tuptim in the 1996 Broadway revival of The King and I earned a nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. That year, she also received a Theatre World Award, which honors outstanding Broadway debuts.

 

Taewon Kim played Lady Thiang in the 2000 West End production of The King and I and received a 2001 Laurence Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical.

 

Ruthie Ann Miles, an American actor with a Korean mother, won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for playing Lady Thiang in the Broadway revival of The King and I. She is the earliest currently verified Korean diaspora performer to win a Tony Award.

 

Q10. Which Korean diaspora performer has appeared in the most Broadway musicals?

 

Raymond J. Lee. Since making his Broadway debut in Mamma Mia! in 2010, Lee has appeared in eight Broadway musicals: Anything Goes, Honeymoon in Vegas, Groundhog Day, Aladdin, Sweeney Todd, The Heart of Rock and Roll, and Tammy Faye, in addition to Mamma Mia! itself. As of August 2026.

 

His credits include principal and featured roles, ensemble work, understudy assignments, and fight-captain duties.

 

Q11. Which Broadway musical has included the largest number of Korean and Korean diaspora performers?

 

KPOP (2022). According to the current database, the production featured 16 Korean and Korean diaspora performers, along with four other Asian performers.

 

The Korean and Korean diaspora performers were Abraham Lim, Amy Keum, BoHyung, Jiho Kang, Jinwoo Jung, John Yi, Joshua Lee, Jully Lee, Kate Mina Lin, Kevin Woo, Lina Rose Lee, Luna, Major Curda, Min, Patrick Park, and Timothy H. Lee.

 

Q12. Which Korean and Korean diaspora performers have played leading roles on Broadway?

 

Alex Lee Tano, Michael K. Lee, Hoon Lee, Daniel Dae Kim, Jin Ha, Luna, Stephanie Jae Park, Timothy H. Lee, Claire Kwon, and Ivy. They performed central Broadway roles as original cast members, replacement leads, alternates, performers at designated performances, or understudies who actually went on in the role. As of August 2026.

 

Stephanie Jae Park has led two different Broadway musicals, playing Eliza Hamilton in Hamilton and Catherine Parr in SIX.

 

Q13. Who was the first Korean performer established in Korean musical theatre to be foregrounded as the representative star of a Broadway production?

 

Luna. Luna debuted in the Korean music industry as a member of f(x) in 2009 and made her musical-theatre debut as Elle Woods in the 2011 Korean production of Legally Blonde. She later played Ich in Rebecca in 2015 and Sophie in multiple seasons of Mamma Mia! between 2019 and 2025.

 

In 2022, she made her Broadway debut as MwE, the protagonist of KPOP at Circle in the Square Theatre. The production also featured other K-pop singers with musical-theatre experience in Korea and Japan, including U-KISS member Kevin Woo, miss A member Min, and SPICA member BoHyung, in major roles. Among them, Luna was foregrounded as the production’s representative star and appeared alone on an official Playbill cover.

 

Kevin Woo had previously appeared in the 2015 Japanese musical ON AIR: Night Flight and played Oliver in the 2017 Japanese production of Maybe Happy Ending, among other stage roles. Min played the female lead, Geum Jan-di, in the 2017 Korean musical Boys Over Flowers.

 

Q14. Who was the first Korean performer to play Roxie Hart on Broadway?

 

Ivy. Ivy began a limited engagement as Roxie Hart in the Broadway production of Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre on August 17, 2026. She debuted as a recording artist in 2005 and became known for hits including “Sonata of Temptation.” She made her musical-theatre debut as Bianca in Kiss Me, Kate in 2010. After playing Roxie approximately 600 times in the Korean production of Chicago from 2012 onward, she joined the Broadway production in what had become her signature role for a limited engagement from August 17 through September 6, 2026.

 

Ivy was not the first Korean performer on Broadway, nor was she the first Korean performer to play a Broadway leading role. Her precise milestone is that she was the first Korean performer to play Roxie Hart in Broadway’s Chicago.

 

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Korean and Korean Diaspora Performers Who Have Played Broadway Leading Roles

 

This section includes performers who actually played a leading role as an original cast member, replacement lead, alternate, performer at designated performances, or understudy. It does not treat covering a role without ever performing it as equivalent to having played the role.

 

1998 · Alex Lee Tano — Miss Saigon. Tano played Kim as a replacement alternate at the Broadway Theatre. [1]

 

2004 · Michael K. Lee — Pacific Overtures. Lee originated the leading role of Kayama in the Broadway production at Studio 54. [2]

 

2015 · Hoon Lee — The King and I. Lee joined the production at the Vivian Beaumont Theater as a replacement King of Siam. [3]

 

2016 · Daniel Dae Kim — The King and I. Kim succeeded Hoon Lee as a replacement King of Siam at the Vivian Beaumont Theater. [3]

 

2021 · Jin Ha — Hamilton. Ha joined the production at the Richard Rodgers Theatre as a replacement Aaron Burr. [4]

 

2022 · Luna — KPOP. Luna originated the leading role of MwE at Circle in the Square Theatre. [5]

 

2022 · Stephanie Jae Park — Hamilton. Park played Eliza Hamilton as a replacement lead at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. [4]

 

2024–2025 · Timothy H. Lee — Hadestown. Lee performed the leading role of Orpheus as an understudy at the Walter Kerr Theatre. [6]

 

2025–2026 · Claire Kwon — Maybe Happy Ending. Kwon played Claire at the Belasco Theatre as a standby and understudy, at designated performances, and later as a replacement lead. [7]

 

2026 · Ivy — Chicago. Ivy joined the production at the Ambassador Theatre as Roxie Hart for a limited replacement engagement. [8]

 

2026 · Stephanie Jae Park — SIX. Park joined the production at the Lena Horne Theatre as a replacement Catherine Parr. [9]

 

References

 

[1] Miss Saigon — Broadway Cast and Creative Team | Playbill
https://playbill.com/personlistpage/person-list?production=00000150-aea7-d936-a7fd-eef76ae40000&type=cp#cc

[2] Michael K. Lee | Playbill
https://playbill.com/person/michael-k-lee-vault-0000062131

[3] The King and I — Broadway Production | Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/the-king-and-i-vivian-beaumont-theater-vault-0000014073

[4] Hamilton — Broadway Production | Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/hamilton-broadway-richard-rodgers-theatre-2015

[5] KPOP — Broadway Production | Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/kpop-broadway-circle-in-the-square-theatre-2022

[6] Hadestown — Broadway Production | Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/hadestown-walter-kerr-theatre-2019

[7] Maybe Happy Ending — Broadway Production | Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/maybe-happy-ending-broadway-belasco-theatre-2024

[8] Chicago — Broadway Production | Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/chicago-richard-rodgers-theatre-vault-0000003074

[9] SIX: The Musical — Broadway Production | Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/six-the-musicallena-horne-theatre-2021-2022

 

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Korean and Korean Diaspora Performers Who Have Played West End Leading Roles

 

This section includes performers who actually played a leading role as an original cast member, replacement lead, alternate, performer at designated performances, or cover or understudy. It does not treat covering a role without ever performing it as equivalent to having played the role.

 

2013–2014 · Na-Young Jeon —Les Misérables. Jeon played Fantine as a replacement lead at the Queen’s Theatre. [1]

 

2015–2016 · Sooha Kim —Miss Saigon. Kim joined the production at the Prince Edward Theatre as an ensemble member and cover for Kim and is documented as having performed the leading role. [2][3][4]

 

 

London Leading Role Outside the West End

 

This section records an important leading performance in a major London musical production staged outside the recognized West End theatre circuit.

 

2009 · Daniel Dae Kim —The King and I. Kim played the King of Siam opposite Maria Friedman in a fully staged, in-the-round production at the Royal Albert Hall. The limited season consisted of 20 performances from June 12 to 28, 2009. The production is listed separately because the Royal Albert Hall is not a West End theatre. [5]

 

References

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[1]Les Misérablesat Sondheim Theatre | Dress Circle
https://www.dresscircle.co.uk/shows/les-miserables/sondheim-theatre-london-168

[2] Sooha Kim | Dress Circle
https://www.dresscircle.co.uk/people/sooha-kim-103

[3]Miss SaigonUK Tour Principal Casting Announced | East Midlands Theatre
https://eastmidlandstheatre.com/2017/04/12/miss-saigon-uk-tour-principle-casting-announced/

[4]Miss Saigon— Theatre Royal / Prince Edward / UK Tour | TheatreBoard
https://theatreboard.com/thread/56/saigon-prince-edward-uk-tour

[5]The King and I— 20 June 2009 | Royal Albert Hall Archive
https://catalogue.royalalberthall.com/record/performance/PERF20090620A

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Broadway Milestones

 

1976 · First Korean-born Broadway performers — Soon-Teck Oh and Jae Woo Lee. Both appeared in Pacific Overtures at the Winter Garden Theatre. Oh played the featured and multiple roles of Tamate, Samurai, Storyteller, and Swordsman. Lee played the smaller and multiple roles of Fisherman, Southern Lord, and Sumo Wrestler and understudied the Reciter. [1][2]

 

1977 · First Korean woman and first Korean principal performer on Broadway — Hye-Young Choi. Choi played the principal role of Lady Thiang in The King and I at the Uris Theatre. [3]

 

1996 · First Korean Tony Award nominee — Joohee Choi. Choi played the principal role of Tuptim in The King and I at the Neil Simon Theatre and received a nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. [4][5]

 

1998 · First Korean Broadway lead — Alex Lee Tano. Tano played the leading role of Kim as an alternate in Miss Saigon at the Broadway Theatre. [6]

 

2015 · First Korean diaspora Tony Award winner — Ruthie Ann Miles. Miles played the principal role of Lady Thiang in The King and I at the Vivian Beaumont Theater and won Best Featured Actress in a Musical. [7][8]

 

2022 · First Korean performer to originate a Broadway leading role — Luna. Luna originated the leading role of MwE in KPOP at Circle in the Square Theatre. [9]

 

All Broadway performers must meet AEA contractual requirements.

 

 

West End Milestones

 

1979 · First Korean West End performer and principal performer — Hye-Young Choi. Choi played the principal role of Lady Thiang in The King and I at the London Palladium. [10]

 

2001 · First Korean Olivier Award nominee — Taewon Kim. Kim played the principal role of Lady Thiang in The King and I at the London Palladium and received a nomination for Best Supporting Performance in a Musical. [11][12]

 

2014 · First Korean male principal performer in the West End — Kwang-Ho Hong. Hong played the principal role of Thuy in Miss Saigon at the Prince Edward Theatre. [13]

 

References

 

[1] Soon-Teck Oh | Playbill
https://playbill.com/person/soon-teck-oh-vault-0000000586

[2] Jae Woo Lee | Playbill
https://playbill.com/person/jae-woo-lee-vault-0000060784

[3] Hye-Young Choi | Playbill
https://playbill.com/person/hye-young-choi-vault-0000101074

[4] Joohee Choi | Playbill
https://playbill.com/person/joohee-choi-vault-0000112276

[5] 1996 Tony Award Nominees — Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Tony Awards
https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1996/category/featured-actress-musical/show/any/

[6] Alex Lee Tano | Playbill
https://playbill.com/person/alex-lee-tano-vault-0000041240

[7] Ruthie Ann Miles | Playbill
https://playbill.com/person/ruthie-ann-miles-vault-0000125764

[8] 2015 Tony Award Winners — Best Featured Actress in a Musical | Tony Awards
https://www.tonyawards.com/winners/year/2015/category/featured-actress-musical/show/any/

[9] Luna | Playbill
https://playbill.com/person/luna-performer

[10] The King and I — London Palladium, 1979 | Ovrtur
https://ovrtur.com/production/2891947

[11] The King and I — London Palladium | Dress Circle
https://www.dresscircle.co.uk/shows/the-king-and-i/london-palladium-london-55

[12] Olivier Awards 2001 — Best Supporting Performance in a Musical
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Laurence_Olivier_Awards

[13] Miss Saigon — Prince Edward Theatre | Dress Circle
https://www.dresscircle.co.uk/shows/miss-saigon/prince-edward-theatre-london