2020
Turandot Muzikál
Turandot (투란도트) is an original Korean musical produced by the Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF), reimagining Puccini’s opera Turandot as an underwater fantasy. After its 2011 premiere, the production toured multiple Chinese cities and later became the first Korean-created musical to be licensed and locally produced in Eastern Europe, beginning with Slovakia in 2020.
English:
Turandot
Korean:
투란도트
Country: Slovakia | Language: Slovak
🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.
ORIGIN
Premiered in 2011 as the opening production of DIMF at Daegu Opera House. Written by Lee Hae-je (book) and Jang So-yeong (music), the piece relocates the story to the deep-sea kingdom of Okakeomare, aiming from its inception to serve as a long-term exportable property. Developed and produced directly by DIMF as a “global musical project,” rather than as a commercial Seoul-based run.
STORY
Long ago, when the sea was the entire world, Princess Turandot ruled the underwater kingdom of Okakeomare. Traumatized by the brutal death of her mother, she rejects all men and issues a deadly riddle challenge—any suitor who fails is executed. Calaf, a prince from a fallen kingdom, arrives after a shipwreck and risks his life to solve the riddles and break the curse that binds her. The musical blends mythic fantasy, darker dramatic themes, and East Asian–inflected orchestration.
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
2011 Premiere – Daegu Opera House (DIMF Opening Production)
Subsequent long-run and revival stagings in Daegu and Seoul (8 productions total as of 2020)
Adapted into a feature film in 2021 (Turandot: The Kingdom of Darkness), screened at the 2022 Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
China – Multiple Cities (2012–2016)
Korean-language festival and touring engagements
Performed in Dongguan, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Shanghai, and Harbin
Engagements included the closing production of the 2012 Dongguan Musical Festival, official selection of the 2014 Shanghai International Arts Festival, a 20-performance commercial run in Shanghai in 2015, and participation in the Harbin Summer Music Festival in 2016. The run is frequently cited as an early example of sustained commercial reception for a Korean original musical in China.
Slovakia – Bratislava (2020–present)
Licensed Slovak-language production
Contract signed in 2018 between DIMF and Nová Scéna National Theatre, followed by local casting in 2019 and premiere on 6–7 March 2020
Opened to sold-out audiences and entered the theatre’s repertory system, with royalties paid to the Korean creators per performance—marking the first licensed Eastern European staging of a Korean-created musical.
REFERENCES
Interpark – 2011 premiere listing
https://tickets.interpark.com/goods/11005994
NamuWiki – Korean production overview
https://namu.wiki/w/%ED%88%AC%EB%9E%80%EB%8F%84%ED%8A%B8
DIMF official page – production history
https://dimf.or.kr/portal/contents.do?mId=0401010000
Sina News – Dongguan Musical Festival article (2011)
https://news.sina.com.cn/o/2011-12-15/205623639627.shtml
Nová Scéna National Theatre (Slovakia) – 2020 production page
https://www.novascena.sk/podujatia/turandot
KBS News – Harbin performance report (2016)
https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/pc/view/view.do?ncd=3329367
Chosun Ilbo – 2022 DIMF return article
https://www.chosun.com/culture-life/culture_general/2022/06/28/6SWCKLN5YFENZFCGAWES4NYGIQ/
