Musical Star Kim So-hyang Shares Her Thoughts on 'Anna Karenina' Amidst Casting Controversy

Musical actress Kim So-hyang has shared her thoughts following the opening of 'Anna Karenina'.

On the 22nd, Kim So-hyang took to Instagram to express her feelings, stating, "After the first performance. The greatest honor for an actor is to stand on stage," accompanied by several photos.

The photos show Kim So-hyang greeting the audience during the curtain call and sharing a friendly moment with the Russian director. She expressed, "I am well aware of how much of a gift it is to act and sing on stage," adding, "Meeting such a wonderful production and embarking on this journey with many actors and staff has become something significant for me. I will do my best until the final day."

Previously, Kim So-hyang had posted a cryptic message "No comment" on her social media following the controversy over fellow actress Ock Joo-hyun's casting dominance in 'Anna Karenina'. Ock Joo-hyun is set to perform in 23 out of the 38 shows, accounting for 60% of the performances, while Kim So-hyang is scheduled for only 7 shows, sparking the controversy.

In response, the production company stated on the 28th of last month, "Casting and scheduling are the exclusive rights of the production company and the original creators," explaining that "there are many variables such as negotiations with the licensor, reduction of total performances, and actors' schedules, which made the scheduling challenging."

Meanwhile, 'Anna Karenina' is based on the novel of the same name by Tolstoy, set against the backdrop of 19th-century Russian aristocracy, exploring themes of love, marriage, and family. The musical has been running at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul since the 20th.

Reporter Da-yeon Jeong, TenAsia light@tenasia.co.kr