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2015
英雄安重根
Hero (영웅) is a landmark Korean original musical dramatizing the final year of independence activist An Chunggun, culminating in his 1909 assassination of Ito Hirobumi. Since its 2009 premiere, the work has become one of South Korea’s most defining historical musicals, achieving major domestic awards and marking a milestone in Korean theatre history with its 2011 engagement at Lincoln Center, New York.
English:
Hero
Korean:
영웅
Country: China | Language: Korean
🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.
ORIGIN
Premiered in 2009, music by Oh Sang-jun, book & lyrics by Han A-reum, directed by Yoon Ho-jin, and produced by ACOM International. Developed during the boom of large-scale Korean historical epics in the late 2000s, the musical stood out for centering a real political figure, combining operatic vocal writing with film-like staging, and framing An Chunggun as both patriot and moral philosopher rather than a one-note nationalist icon. It went on to sweep Korea’s major musical awards from 2010–2012, winning Best Musical, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Score, and Best Book across The Musical Awards, the Korea Musical Awards, and the first Yegreen Awards.
STORY
Set in 1909, the musical follows An Chunggun in the year leading to the Harbin Station assassination of Ito Hirobumi, Japan’s first Resident-General of Korea. The narrative intertwines political resistance with personal sacrifice, depicting An’s bond with fellow independence fighters, the espionage mission of Seol-hee, and the ideological conflict with Ito, portrayed not as a villainous caricature but as an imperial statesman whose worldview stands in stark opposition to An’s. The score combines orchestral Western musical-theatre idioms with Korean melodic sensibilities, especially in choral scenes and prayer-like arias.
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
2009 – Original production, LG Art Center, Seoul (ACOM)
2010–2012 – Large-scale national tours and Seoul revivals; received 6 wins each at The Musical Awards (2010) and Korea Musical Awards (2010), including Best Musical, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Music, and Best Scenic Design.
2017 – 6th Yegreen Musical Awards: Best Actor (for revival)Continues to be revived as a flagship patriotic musical, with anniversary productions staged for national events and touring circuits.
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
United States – New York (2011)
Korean-language engagement with English surtitles
David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, Aug 23 – Sep 3, 2011
Presented with an orchestra of Korean and U.S. musicians. Originally scheduled for 11 performances, with three canceled due to Hurricane Irene. Introduced American audiences to An Chunggun’s historical significance and was positioned as an international showcase of modern Korean musical theatre. Reviewed by major U.S. outlets including The New York Times, which noted its operatic vocal style and political framing.
China – Harbin (2015)
Korean-language engagement with surtitles
Harbin International Convention and Exhibition Center, Feb 7–8, 2015
Staged in the city where the assassination took place and attended by Korean officials and local Chinese leadership. Press coverage emphasized shared anti-imperialist history and framed the production as a symbolic act of cultural exchange during the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation.
REFERENCES
ACOM Musical – production history & export listings
The New York Times – review of Lincoln Center engagement
MOFA China – diplomatic press statement on Harbin run
https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/cn-shenyang-zh/brd/m_540/view.do?seq=719522
NYT Theater Review (alt link)
https://www.nytimes.com/theater/reviews/hero-a-korean-musical-at-the-koch-theater-review.html
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