Kinky Boots is a crowd-pleaser in Korea, returning almost every two years since 2014. I saw it on Broadway a decade ago and have rewatched the filmed West End production with Killian Donnelly and Matt Henry, so the score is familiar territory.

I went this time to compare. The Korean staging is essentially a carbon copy—sets, costumes, lighting—aside from the translated lyrics. Having heard many Korean “Soul of a Man” clips, the translation felt natural and conversational. Because the show isn’t bound to a specific historical culture, the everyday Korean worked.

Park Eun-tae’s Lola was sleek and assured: clean phrasing, steady pitch, strong rhythm in heels; “Land of Lola” popped and the Angels filled the stage. Kim Hwan-hee’s Lauren brought that bright, slightly Lauper-ish color; “The History of Wrong Guys” hit its beats and the comedy landed.

For me, the evening never quite caught fire. A few key numbers—especially Charlie’s solos—didn’t land musically; I’m leaving names out because that can vary by cast and night. If “Step One” or “Soul of a Man” had really lifted, I’d have gone back. They were solid rather than soaring.

Still, Cyndi Lauper’s songs remain hooky and tight, and the story is compact and effective. The Korean Kinky Boots is a faithful, enjoyable night—just not a revelatory one.