흥부와 놀부
Heungbu and Nolbu (흥부와 놀부) is an early Korean original musical adaptation based on a classic folktale, staged by the Yegreen Troupe in one of the formative moments of Korean musical theatre. Using arranged folk songs within a dramatic structure, the work is regarded as an important precursor to later Korean original musicals.
SYNOPSIS
(Partial Synopsis)
Set in premodern Korea, the musical unfolds in a village shaped by poverty and moral contrast, where the virtuous Heungbu and the greedy Nolbu embody opposing paths of compassion and selfishness.
Based on the traditional folktale, the story follows the poor but generous Heungbu, whose kindness toward an injured swallow leads to unexpected fortune, while his wealthy brother Nolbu attempts to imitate the act out of greed, inviting ruin instead. Through comic episodes, music, and folk performance elements, the piece dramatizes themes of justice, redistribution, and moral consequence.
Adapted through a structure combining existing Korean folk songs, dance, and staged storytelling, the work appears to have emphasized performative flow and musicalized narration over fully integrated modern book-musical construction.
제작 노트
Produced by Yegreen Troupe and presented at Seoul Citizen’s Hall in 1963, Heungbu and Nolbu is frequently cited as one of the earliest Korean works approaching musical theatre form. While the score was reportedly assembled through arranged traditional songs rather than newly through-composed material, its integration of music, dance, and dramatic storytelling has led many scholars to treat it as an important proto-musical or early Korean original musical.
Its use of pre-existing songs may be viewed as analogous in some respects to a jukebox-musical logic, though rooted in Korean folk traditions rather than popular commercial repertory. For this reason, the work is included in this archive as an early large-scale Korean creative musical experiment.
REFERENCES
Synopsis Sources
Korean News Film Record – Yegreen New Year Performance
https://www.ehistory.go.kr/view/movie?mediasrcgbn=KV&mediaid=20039800&mediadtl=30605&mediagbn=DK
Korean Film Archive Listing for Korean News No.398
http://kfilm.khistory.org/?mod=colt&kind=k2&p=183
Labor Today Article on Early Korean Musicals
https://www.labortoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=37502
Articles & Reviews
National Archives Note on Early Korean Musicals
https://www.naa.go.kr/archive/notices?page=10&id=960
Musical Letter Article on Hwang Woon-heon
http://www.sctoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=34050
Labor Today Article on Origins of Korean Musicals
https://www.labortoday.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=37502
Videos
Korean News Film – Yegreen New Year Festival
https://www.ehistory.go.kr/view/movie?mediasrcgbn=KV&mediaid=20039800&mediadtl=30605&mediagbn=DK


