On the afternoon of the 8th, a press call for the musical 'The Hague' was held at NOL Uniplex 1 in Daehangno. Attendees included producer Kim Tae-woo, director Park Ji-hye, and actors Song Il-gook, Oh Man-seok, Geum Jun-hyeon, Kang Seung-sik, and Lee Se-on.
Opening on the 1st, 'The Hague' is set in 1907, just before the dark days of Korea's annexation by Japan. It is based on the 'Hague Secret Emissary Affair,' where Korean envoys attempted to alert the world to Japan's unjust invasion. The musical adds imaginative elements to re-examine the actions of these envoys.
The production is notable for the involvement of Gemstone E&M, the agency of god members Danny Ahn, Son Ho-young, and Kim Tae-woo, with Kim Tae-woo taking on the role of producer. Reflecting on his first producing experience, Kim Tae-woo expressed, "It's a new feeling to be part of a performance with a different color than the stages I've stood on as a singer."
Kim Tae-woo explained his choice of 'The Hague,' saying, "After first seeing the work, I was excited about reinterpreting historical facts to create something new." He added, "The power of the team, including the directors and actors, made me feel confident about the project."
Acknowledging the challenges of his first producing role, Kim Tae-woo noted, "As a singer, everything on stage moves for me alone, but in a musical, it's a collective effort. I learned a lot from this experience."
The musical has been in development for ten years since its 2017 showcase. Director Park stated, "We couldn't alter the historical facts of real figures, so we supplemented the story with fictional characters." She added, "We thought a lot about how these fictional characters could interact with the real envoys to convey our message to the audience."
The production coincides with the 120th anniversary of the Hague Secret Emissary Affair. Director Park mentioned, "We didn't initially plan for such a long preparation period, but the representative who proposed the project had the 120th anniversary in mind."
Song Il-gook plays the role of envoy leader Lee Sang-seol. His great-grandfather, General Kim Jwa-jin, was a commander in the Battle of Cheongsanri and was reportedly dispatched to assist the envoys in 1907. This connection partly influenced Song Il-gook's decision to join the production.
Song Il-gook shared, "As a descendant, I always participate in commemorative projects for General Kim Jwa-jin." He explained, "In Goguryeo heritage sites, there's a school founded by Lee Sang-seol, and nearby is the birthplace of poet Yun Dong-ju."
He added, "The memorial hall for my grandfather is right next to a railway, and the play 'The Hague' also features a railway as a main backdrop. I felt a connection there, which influenced my decision to join."
Song Il-gook emphasized the importance of such works, stating, "These stories should be known to students. Before the Japanese occupation, Korea was united, but now it's divided, and true liberation hasn't been achieved."
He continued, "Traveling through Manchuria, I realized the severity of historical distortion. We must be prepared for any changes in North Korea's situation."
The cast expressed pride in the production's high-quality music, visuals, and lighting, stating, "We put a lot of thought into how to convey a meaningful message. We hope audiences feel the passion for our country that may have been forgotten."
The musical 'The Hague' runs until June 21.
By Da-yeon Jeong, Ten Asia Reporter light@tenasia.co.kr