🎭 Gwangju: The Musical (광주)

Premiere (Korea): 2019
International Showcase:📍 October 20, 2022 – New York City, USA
Venue: 787 Seventh Theater (Broadway district)
Format: 1-hour English-language gala concert
Cast & Crew: 15 New York-based actors, 14-piece orchestra
Director: Andrew Rasmussen
Audience: ~500 attendees, including Broadway producers and professionals
Admission: Free

🧭 Overview

Adapted from the original Korean production commemorating the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement, this gala concert introduced one of Korea’s most defining historical tragedies to a Western audience for the first time through musical theater. The showcase featured emotionally resonant excerpts, including a powerful English rendition of the democratic anthem “March for the Beloved.”
With a focused, one-hour format, the gala offered a glimpse into the narrative's emotional gravity and musical scope, while serving as a soft launch for future full-scale international productions.

🎟️ Storyline

Set against the backdrop of the May 1980 uprising, the story is told through the perspective of Park Han-su, a military agent embedded among civilians to incite violence as part of a covert operation. As he witnesses the courage and suffering of the Gwangju citizens — and reconnects with his hometown friends — he experiences a crisis of conscience and ultimately turns toward solidarity.
The narrative exposes the cost of democracy, the burden of state violence, and the power of individual awakening in the face of systemic oppression.

🌍 Significance

Jointly produced by Korea’s Ministry of Culture and Gwangju Metropolitan City, this English-language concert version marks an early step toward global staging of a politically charged Korean original musical.

The concert was well-received by industry attendees, with A Strange Loop producer Rob Laqui praising its emotional impact and future potential. Director Andrew Rasmussen emphasized the story’s universality:

“Just like how Miss Saigon succeeded with a non-Western story, Gwangju can see the same success. It’s a story in a different culture, yet it carries universality.”

Note: This was a one-night concert showcase, not a full run. No formal reviews were published, but the performance was attended by Broadway professionals and received informal praise for its emotional strength and international potential.