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2018
无限动力
Perpetual Motion (무한동력) is a Korean original musical based on Joo Ho-min’s webtoon about unemployed young adults sharing a rooftop home while searching for purpose and dignity in modern Seoul. The work became a steady domestic favorite for its relatable tone and was later introduced in China through a 2018 K-Musical Roadshow showcase.
ORIGIN
Premiered in 2015, the musical was produced by PAGE1 and adapted from Joo Ho-min’s well-known slice-of-life webtoon 무한동력. Although often referred to in English as Perpetual Motion, this is not an official international title and is used here only as a functional placeholder. The stage version preserved the webtoon’s realism, situational humor, and portraits of underemployed twenty-somethings living on a rooftop, blending pop-rock numbers with understated dramatic writing. Its grounded subject matter and small-cast format made it well suited for long-running small theaters and repeat staging.
STORY
The musical follows Han Soo, a college graduate still searching for full-time work, who moves into a low-rent rooftop unit where three other residents—each with unfinished dreams and stalled careers—live in fragile coexistence. Their daily routines, arguments, and small triumphs unfold as they confront debt, part-time jobs, burnout, and the fear of wasted youth. Rather than offering a dramatic reversal, the story emphasizes emotional survival, chosen family, and the quiet strength of continuing forward in a society obsessed with visible success. The tone is warm, observational, and lightly comic, with songs that mirror everyday speech and inner monologue.
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
2013 – premiere, Live Corp
Subsequent return engagements in Daehakro small theaters and regional tours throughout the 2010s, maintaining its status as a steady repertory title for youth-themed drama musicals.
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
China, 2018
Showcase presentation – K-Musical Roadshow at Shanghai Culture Square
An excerpted staging was performed for Chinese industry delegates and invited audiences as part of the 2018 K-Musical Roadshow. The work was highlighted for its realistic portrayal of Korean youth culture and its adaptable small-cast format. Media coverage noted interest from Chinese producers, but no confirmed licensed staging has been announced.
REFERENCES
Namuwiki – 무한동력 뮤지컬 항목
https://namu.wiki/w/%EB%AC%B4%ED%95%9C%EB%8F%99%EB%A0%A5(%EB%AE%A4%EC%A7%80%EC%BB%AC)
Newspim – 2018 K-Musical Roadshow announcement
https://www.newspim.com/news/view/20181005000356
FToday – Roadshow coverage (includes selected titles)
https://www.ftoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=103194
Interpark Tickets – domestic production reference
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