New Musical 'Solo Leveling on ICE' Combines Fantasy Webtoon with Ice Show Spectacle

The narrative of a fantasy webtoon that has gained syndromic popularity has unfolded on the ice rink. Actors, donned in skates, showcased dazzling action, performances, and vocal prowess on the ice. This production raises the question of whether the genre of 'ice show musical' will branch out further.

The cast of the musical 'Solo Leveling on ICE,' set to meet audiences from the 24th to the 31st, met with the press on the 23rd. The press call event featured iKON member Kim Jinhwan, tripleS member Kim Chaeyeon, actors Lee Howon, Choi Woo-hyuk, Kim Sun-kyung, former figure skater Kim Ye-rim, Lee Si-hyung, executive producer Song Dong-il, music director Lee Kang-hyun, director Woo Jin-ha, and figure skating director Kim Hae-jin.

'Solo Leveling on ICE' (hereafter 'Solo Leveling') is based on a web novel and webtoon of the same name, which has amassed 14.3 billion views. It tells the growth story of E-rank hunter Sung Jin-woo, who awakens as a 'player' to fight monsters.

'Solo Leveling' has created a new genre of musical that combines action performances and ice shows based on this work. Everything from circus acts to action and singing is performed on the ice. Director Woo explained, "This work offers a sense of tension, speed, and thrill that cannot be expressed on screen."

The gathering of singers, musical actors, former and current figure skaters, and circus performers is also a highlight. Not all cast members were selected as top-tier skaters. Figure skating director Kim stated, "Some actors were new to skating, while others were not. However, everyone learned from scratch during preparation. Choreographers put a lot of effort into ensuring everyone could perform well on the ice."

Kim Ye-rim, a former figure skater who earned the title 'General Ye-rim' during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, made her first official appearance since retiring in February. She shared, "I've had many experiences on the ice, but preparing for a musical-based performance was a fun new challenge."

Kim Ye-rim emphasized the uniqueness of 'Solo Leveling' by stating, "It's a performance where people with high careers in various fields come together." Kim Chaeyeon added, "You come to see the stage on ice, and you get to see ice hockey and circus acts too, so it's a triple treat."

Producer Song expressed, "The ice show genre has enough competitiveness and can become new K-content," adding, "We considered commercial aspects to bring the original work closer to fans. If this performance succeeds, the goal is to create up to season 4."

Reporter Dayeon Jeong, TenAsia light@tenasia.co.kr