Musical Star Kim Junsu Reflects on His First Black Comedy Role in 'Beetlejuice'

Musical actor Kim Junsu shares his thoughts on tackling the black comedy genre for the first time.

Kim Junsu recently sat down for an interview at a café in Gangnam, Seoul, to discuss his role in the musical 'Beetlejuice' (directed by Matt DiCarlo and Sim Seol-in).

Having previously starred in darker productions like 'Mozart!', 'Dracula', and 'Death Note', Kim Junsu is venturing into black comedy for the first time in his 16-year musical career with 'Beetlejuice'. He candidly admitted, "I didn't start with confidence from the beginning," and confessed, "I regretted it about ten times during rehearsals."

He continued, "There are a lot of monologues, and it's the most dialogue-heavy role I've ever taken on. Not only did I have to deliver these lines humorously, but I also had to memorize them perfectly. On top of that, I had to quickly master funny expressions and comical gestures, which was challenging and sometimes overwhelming."

Kim Junsu revealed that there were moments during rehearsals when he couldn't fully commit to certain scenes due to embarrassment. He said, "It was awkward to deliver raunchy lines or swear words with a funny face right next to my co-actor under the fluorescent lights. I even asked the director for understanding, promising to perform properly during the actual show."

Whenever he felt regret creeping in, he motivated himself to keep practicing. Kim Junsu emphasized his determination and sense of responsibility, saying, "I kept convincing myself, 'You can do it.'"

'Beetlejuice' is based on the 1988 film 'Beetlejuice'. Kim Junsu plays the role of Beetlejuice, a ghost trapped between the living and the dead for 100 billion years, striving to prove his existence. The musical is being performed at the LG Arts Center Seoul LG SIGNATURE Hall until March 22.

Reporter: Jung Da-yeon, Ten Asia light@tenasia.co.kr