Popular Performances

[Anchor Lead]

Performances infusing traditional Korean culture are gaining popularity among foreign audiences. We introduce two shows today - "Korea Shimcheong" which reinterprets the Korean tale of Shimcheong with cutting edge visual technology, and the domestic musical "Bibap" which recieved rave reviews and is now performing in Tokyo.

[Pkg]

The drum rolls and a tempestous sea scene unfold on the stage. Shimcheong plunges herself into the sea as a sacrifice to open the eyes of her blind father. But she is reborn from a lotus flower. This classic Korean tale of the loving daughter has been revived as a modern show that mixes traditional song and dance with media art.

[Soundbite] From the U.S.

During an impromptu drawing performance, the beauty of Korean landscape paintings comes to life. Foreign spectators also come on stage to join in the Korean fan dance. The communicative, interactive performance excites the audience.

[Soundbite] From Brazil

Korea Shimcheong" has drawn 4000 visitors in just two months playing at a rather small theater of 150 seats. An overseas performance is scheduled in December to promote Korean tradition and culture to the world. This time we have a delicious musical featuring Japanese sushi, Italian pizza and Korean bibimbap. The musical "Bibap" is a brilliant blending of non verbal theatre genres such as b-boying and beatbox to demonstrate the cooking process.

[Soundbite] Japanese Audience : "I enjoyed it a lot. I love Korean dramas and so I came even though I don't understand Korean."

Bibap also incorporates impromptu acting by audience members. It will hold its first concert tour in 8 Japanese cities through November. In its opening day in Tokyo, some 2,000 seats were packed, portending a successful tour. After the show, hundreds of people line up to meet with the actors.

[Soundbite] Jeon Jun-beom(Director) : "The show enables to communicate with global citizens through the commonality of food such as bibimbap, sushi, pizza and noodles."

Armed with well woven plots and creative directing, Korean performances are expected to take the Hallyu or Korean Wave boom, until now centered on TV shows and K-pop, into the field of performance arts.