The secret of K-musical's new horizontal Empress Myeongseong...Innovative Stage Design, including Slope Double Rotation
Mar 06, 2025
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'Empress Myeongseong' continues to be on stage today through constant change and development over the past 30 years. The work tried to change through various attempts every season, but one of the biggest features is its innovative stage design.
▶The appearance of the first in Korea 'Inclined Double Rotation Stage'
At the premiere in 1995, it received great attention with the first 'incline double-rotation stage' presented in Korea. This innovative stage design was a bold attempt to break away from the traditional court representation method and choose symbolic expression. Stage designer Park Dong-woo "At the time, we wanted to effectively express Joseon's situation caught up in the chaos of the turbulent times and the international situation through a double-rotation stage that is hard to see in Korea."
In particular, the visual metaphor created by the double rotating stage like a black vortex and red lighting further strengthened the symbolism of the work and left a strong impression on the audience. The introduction of such stage technology is seen as an important turning point in raising the level of Korean musical production to the next level.
▶Broadway also praised the prefabricated rotating stage
Before entering the David Cork Theater at the Lincoln Center in New York in 1997, 'Empress Myeongseong' achieved another technological innovation. Because I had to move the stage across the sea. In response, unlike the existing rotating stage, the production team developed a method of installing wheels on the floor of the stage and placing a rotating plate on top of it, showing their work on an overseas stage for the first time. Stage designer Park Dong-woo "For overseas performances, we needed a stable rotation system that could be installed and demolished in a short time."The system was so efficient that even local New York staff admired it," he said, describing the situation at the time.
This innovative system, recognized by veteran Broadway technicians, has the efficiency to install in just two days, and has since become the basis for touring around the world. At the time of the Lincoln Center performance, the New York Times said, "I was surprised by the technical completeness of the Korean musical." left an evaluation, which served as an opportunity to inform the world of the excellence of Korean performance technology.
▶ 20th and 25th anniversary of perfect harmony between tradition and modern technology and more modern interpretation
Marking its 20th anniversary in 2015, 'Empress Myeongseong' was reborn through the harmony of tradition and modern technology. The production team introduced video projections in earnest, and then went one step further and applied LED screens at the 25th anniversary performance in 2021. Park Dong-woo, the stage designer, introduced cutting-edge technology with the idea that his works should evolve according to the timesThe use of LEDs has made it possible to implement clear images without interference with lighting, and various space expressions have been made possible by replacing existing leg and pillar feet with LEDs", he explained. Through this technological innovation, the audience was able to experience a different visual experience than 20 years ago, and it was praised for its new appearance by achieving a perfect harmony between tradition and modern technology.
▶The meeting of analog sensitivity and imaging technology 'Masterpiece'30th Anniversary
Marking its 30th anniversary in 2025, 'Empress Myeongseong' is based on the analog sensibility of the 1997 New York version, but it further improved the completeness of the work by using sophisticated video technology with moderation. In particular, it is considered a more classic and new season than ever as it modifies the painting more intensely and increases the overall completeness of the stage equipment to give the audience a new visual experience.
The musical 'Empress Myeongseong', which runs from 30 years to 100 years, still continues to evolve and develop. As it is loved a lot every season, the 30th anniversary performance, which is considered a masterpiece of all time, will feature Yang Joon-mo, Park Min-sung, and Baek Hyung-hoon as Empress Myeongseong, Kang Pil-seok, Son Joon-ho, Kim Ji-won, and Hong Gye-hoon. The work will be performed at the Grand Theater of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul until the 30th.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
