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2025
紅蓮
Hongryeon (홍련) is a Korean original musical that reframes the folktales Janghwa Hongryeon-jeon and Baridegi through a modern lens of gendered violence, victimhood, and spiritual justice. After a sold-out premiere in Seoul, the work will be presented in Shanghai in 2025 as a licensed replica production.
English:
Hongryeon
Korean:
홍련
Country: China | Language: Chinese
🔗 All images are linked to their original sources or articles. No copyright ownership is claimed.
ORIGIN
Developed through CJ Cultural Foundation’s Stage Up (2022) and the 2023 K-Musical International Market reading showcase, the musical premiered in 2024 at Daehakro Jayu Theater, produced by Martin Entertainment. The work blends rock and Korean traditional music, staging the afterlife courtroom where the vengeful spirit Hongryeon meets the deity Bari. At the 9th Korea Musical Awards, it won Best Production (under 400 seats) and received eight nominations including book, score, directing, and composition.
STORY
In the afterlife tribunal Cheondojeong, the soul of a girl named Hongryeon is dragged in, accused of murdering her father and harming her younger sister. Hongryeon admits she killed them, but insists she merely punished evil on behalf of a silent heaven. As her testimony reveals contradictions, Bari—the presiding deity—reopens the case with the grim reaper Gangnim to uncover what really happened. The trial becomes a ritual of truth-telling, cleansing, and release for the wronged dead.
POSTER COLLECTION
Poster images are shown for documentation only. All rights belong to the original creators and producers.
KOREAN RUNS
2024 – Premiere, Seoul (Daehakro Jayu Theater, Martin Entertainment)
Highly praised run with 99% seat occupancy and dominant 20s–30s female audience base; awarded Best Production at 9th Korea Musical Awards.
GLOBAL STAGINGS & ADAPTATIONS
China, 2025
Licensed replica production – Chinese-language staging at Shanghai Gong Stage
Scheduled for October 23–November 9, 2025, the Shanghai run will fully replicate the Korean version, including script, score, staging, choreography, and design. Announced following a development workshop in Guangzhou, the production marks the musical’s first international transfer and positions it as a culturally rooted but globally adaptable Korean original musical.
REFERENCES
JoongAng Ilbo – Box office and audience demographics
https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25284699
Fanxing Xijucun – Shanghai performance announcement (2025)
https://news.fanxingxijucun.cn/detail/18453.html
Aju News – Licensed replica premiere coverage (2025-10-15)
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