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2011
宮
Goong (궁) is a musical adaptation of the hit Korean manhwa and 2006 television drama of the same name, imagining an alternate modern Korea where the monarchy still exists. Premiering in 2010, the musical quickly became positioned as a Hallyu-driven commercial property and was later exported to Japan with idol casting aimed at overseas K-pop fanbases.
English:
Goong
Korean:
궁
Country: Japan | Language: Korean
🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.
ORIGIN
Developed by Creative Leaders Group 8, the same production company behind the original drama, the musical premiered in Seoul in 2010. The stage version retained the premise of an ordinary girl entering an arranged marriage with the crown prince, combining traditional royal imagery with pop-infused staging, hip-hop dance sequences, and contemporary dialogue to appeal to younger audiences. The project was conceived from the outset with international expansion in mind.
STORY
Set in a present-day Korea that has maintained a constitutional monarchy, the story follows high-school student Shin Chae-kyung, who is unexpectedly engaged to Crown Prince Lee Shin due to a long-standing promise between their families. The plot tracks their initially reluctant union, palace protocol conflicts, and gradual emotional development. The musical blends romance, comedy, and palace spectacle, staging the contrast between the restrictive royal world and Chae-kyung’s everyday youth culture.
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
2010 — World premiere at the National Museum of Korea (Seoul), starring U-Know Yunho of TVXQ as Crown Prince Shin, drawing significant pan-Asian media attention
2011 — Follow-up Seoul run ahead of Japan engagement, continuing the rotating idol-based casting model
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
Japan – Tokyo (2011)
Korean-language licensed tour stop
Tokyo International Forum Hall C, co-presented by Korean Pia, IMX, TV Asahi, Asahi Shimbun, and Shochiku
The production featured alternating K-pop leads from SS501 and Supernova, reflecting a Hallyu-focused casting strategy rather than a localized Japanese adaptation. Staging, costumes, and dialogue followed the Seoul version unchanged, with Japanese subtitles and marketing directed at existing drama and idol fandoms.
REFERENCES
Pia Corporation – Tokyo performance announcement
https://corporate.pia.jp/news/detail_post_161.html
Asia Economy – Seoul press conference and production background
https://www.asiae.co.kr/news/view.htm?idxno=2010061616375470809
Wikipedia (KR) – Korean production history
https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EA%B6%81_(%EB%AE%A4%EC%A7%80%EC%BB%AC)
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