SYNOPSIS

In an ancient desert, Buchihanan, a warrior who has lost his memories, guards the last remaining well under the command of his tribe’s chief, Mandarantou. During his duty, he meets Ola, a young woman from the Mongnyang tribe seeking water for her ailing mother. Ola’s presence helps Buchihanan gradually regain his lost memories.

It is revealed that Buchihanan descends from the Burhan tribe, guardians of sacred desert waters, and that Mandarantou—the chief of Chuwisai tribe who raised him—is his mother’s enemy who destroyed their tribe. As Buchihanan and Ola fall in love, they vow to protect the well and each other. However, tragedy strikes when Buchihanan confronts Mandarantou. Though he fights bravely, he fails to save Ola, and both lose their lives. A miraculous new well forms at the site of their final stand—forever known as Buchihanan’s Well.

Centuries later, in 1996 Seoul, Nuri, the reincarnation of Buchihanan, hears the legend of the Well and becomes determined to find Ola, now reborn as Taegyeong. Taegyeong, fleeing an abusive home, steals a gemstone from a criminal group and becomes a target. Nuri protects her, and together they evade danger while uncovering their shared past lives.

As modern forces pursue the gemstone and the two lovers, Nuri and Taegyeong’s bond deepens. Their journey echoes the ancient tale of Buchihanan and Ola, but unlike the past, they overcome the trials before them.


REVIEW

I attended Buchihanan, a Korean original musical, with high expectations. The staging was impressive, particularly a strikingly realistic whale that floated not only above the stage but, in the final scene, soared over the auditorium itself. The whale was not just a visual marvel but a symbolic presence, and the production’s use of the auditorium space created a powerful immersive experience. The stagecraft throughout was visually engaging and professional, establishing credibility and drawing the audience into the world of the story.

However, the production also revealed significant challenges. The narrative was overloaded with detail, attempting to convey too much within a single performance. Rather than allowing themes to emerge organically or repeating important messages for clarity, the show seemed determined to include every plot element and nuance. This made the emotional arc difficult to follow. Audiences need digestible, recurring themes — even major works like Les Misérables employ lyrical and musical repetition to reinforce key ideas. Buchihanan’s dense storytelling diluted the emotional clarity the staging had worked so hard to create.

The songwriting also struggled. Many of the songs felt like labor — mechanically advancing the story without offering emotional release, melodic satisfaction, or memorability. Music in a successful musical should do three things: move the plot or character development forward, provide emotional depth, and leave the audience with memorable melodies. Here, the songs seemed to serve only the first function. Listening became an effort rather than a pleasure.

Critically, the production lacked a clear set of take-home messages or a unifying theme. A strong musical gives the audience two or three core ideas or emotions they can articulate after the curtain falls. Without this clarity, even spectacular production values cannot leave a lasting impact.

I found myself wishing for at least one memorable musical motif — even a borrowed or adapted melody from a classical source like Mozart or Beethoven. (Why not? The licenses for many classical works have expired, and the emotional resonance they carry can elevate contemporary storytelling. Productions from The Phantom of the Opera to Les Misérables have borrowed from hymn structures and classical phrasing to great effect.)

Buchihanan dazzled visually and demonstrated imaginative stagecraft, particularly in the unforgettable whale sequence. But the overloaded narrative and musically strenuous score ultimately diminished the emotional experience. With clearer thematic focus and at least one memorable musical motif to anchor the storytelling, the production could achieve much greater impact.