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Swing Days

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2024

스윙 데이즈_암호명 A

Swing Days (스윙 데이즈_암호명 A) is a Korean original musical inspired by the life of independence activist Ilhan New and the Napko Project, blending espionage, sacrifice, and personal choice during the Japanese colonial period. It explores the cost of freedom through a fictional narrative built on historical events.

2024

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SOURCE

biography

SETTING

Korea

BOOK

original

Productions in Korea

2024.11 🔴 Chungmu Arts Center Grand Theater (Seoul)
2026.04 🔴 Chungmu Arts Center Grand Theater (Seoul)

🔴 = Seoul Large Theatre Production

SYNOPSIS

(Full Synopsis)

Set during the Japanese colonial period and World War II, the musical unfolds across Korea, Shanghai, and the United States, where a businessman becomes entangled in a covert independence operation and must choose between personal safety and national duty.

Yoo Il-hyung, a successful Korean businessman based in America, secretly supports the Korean independence movement while maintaining a public image of cooperation with Japanese authorities. His past is tied to childhood friends whose lives diverged under colonial rule, including Yasuo, who grows into a Japanese military officer.

In Shanghai, Il-hyung encounters independence fighter Veronica and a young boy, leading to a tragic turning point that pushes him to abandon indirect support and take direct action. He becomes involved in the Napko Project, a covert operation organized by the OSS to infiltrate Korea, and returns under the codename “A.”

Operating under the cover of a pharmaceutical business, Il-hyung gathers intelligence while navigating pressure from the Japanese government, which attempts to manipulate his company for wartime purposes. As he uncovers the true intentions behind these demands, he faces increasing moral and personal conflict.

Supported by allies and haunted by past sacrifices, Il-hyung prepares for a high-risk mission while confronting the fractured relationships shaped by war and ideology. Although the end of the war interrupts the operation, he ultimately chooses to continue his role in the struggle for independence, leaving behind personal attachments in pursuit of a larger cause.

PRODUCTION NOTE

Produced by All That Story and Company Yeonjak, Swing Days premiered in 2024 at Chungmu Arts Center as a large-scale original musical. The work is inspired by the real-life independence activist Ilhan New and the Napko Project, a covert operation led by the OSS during World War II. Combining historical material with fictionalized narrative, the production features large ensemble staging, orchestral scoring, and a cinematic structure that integrates espionage and personal drama.

POSTER COLLECTION

Poster images are provided for documentation purposes only and link to their original sources. All rights remain with the original creators and producers.

🔴 indicates Seoul large-theatre productions.

REFERENCES

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© 2026 Musicals of Korea

All rights reserved. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used with full credit and a clear link to the original content.

Last update: March 17, 2026

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