🎭 Masquerade Costume Localization: The Green Lady (Korean Licensed Production)

In the Korean licensed staging of The Phantom of the Opera, one of the Masquerade costumes — the striking “Green Lady” — was subtly localized to incorporate traditional Korean fabrics and motifs. The silhouette and overall design followed Maria Björnson’s original concept for continuity, but new textile choices infused the costume with cultural resonance for Korean audiences.

👘 Design Highlights: East Meets West

The costume’s green fabric included a chrysanthemum motif, a floral pattern widely used in Korean art and royal garments, symbolizing dignity and longevity. Its golden-orange front panel was made of yangdan (양단), a type of patterned silk woven thickly to create texture and sheen, often used in hanbok and ceremonial attire. Together, these choices enriched the gown with a sense of Korean textile heritage while maintaining the theatrical extravagance of the Masquerade scene.

📝 Interpretive Context

This adaptation did not alter the opera’s European setting but instead offered a graceful blend of fantasy and national aesthetic. For Korean audiences, the costume carried an added layer of recognition and pride, while still fitting seamlessly into the production’s global visual language. The “Green Lady” thus stood as a localized homage — faithful to Björnson’s vision, yet alive to cultural nuance in international performance.

📌 References and Availability

The adaptation was mentioned in backstage commentary and promotional interviews around the production’s launch. However, official images of the Korean “Green Lady” may no longer be publicly available.