Six EMK musicals coming to Disney+ next month
The leading South Korean producer of original and licensed musical productions announced Monday that six of its biggest titles — 'Elisabeth,' 'Phantom,' 'Monte Cristo,' 'The Man Who Laughs,' 'Xcalibur' and 'Marie Antoinette ' — will be released on Disney+ this August.
With this release, EMK hopes to offer longtime fans a chance to relive the experience while also introducing first-time watchers to the emotional depths of the genre, according to the company's statement.
Launching the rollout on Aug. 6 are 'Elisabeth: The Musical Live' and 'Phantom: The Musical Live.' The Korean edition of 'Elisabeth," which traces the tragic life of Austria's iconic empress, premiered in 2012. The live recording of the production's 10th anniversary performance featuring Ock Joo-hyun and Lee Ji-hoon was released in cinemas last year.
'Phantom,' based on Gaston Leroux's 'The Phantom of the Opera,' was captured in 2021 with cinematic close-ups and immersive sound. The production stars KyuHyun, Shin Young-sook and ballerina Kim Joo-won.
On Aug. 13, 'Monte Cristo' and 'The Man Who Laughs' arrive. Filmed in 8K with 14 cinematic cameras, 'Monte Cristo' showcases actors such as Kai and Lina in a dynamic, onstage perspective. 'The Man Who Laughs' was recorded in 2018, when the musical adaption of Victor Hugo's novel was premiered. In 2019, the 143-minute director's edition, featuring Park Kang-hyun, Shin Young-sook and Yang Joon-mo, was released in Korean cinemas.
'Xcalibur,' a retelling of the Arthurian legend, and 'Marie Antoinette,' which contrasts the ill-fated queen's life with that of the fictional revolutionary Marguerite Arnaud, roll out on Aug. 20.
"We want to offer audience members who had attended the performances a chance to relive the emotions they felt at the time, while providing those who were unable to visit the theater in person an opportunity to newly experience the essence of the musical through high-definition video and immersive sound," the company said.
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Korea Herald
21-07-2025
- Korea Herald
Six EMK musicals coming to Disney+ next month
Some of Korea's most iconic homegrown musicals by EMK Musical Company are heading to streaming for the first time. The leading South Korean producer of original and licensed musical productions announced Monday that six of its biggest titles — 'Elisabeth,' 'Phantom,' 'Monte Cristo,' 'The Man Who Laughs,' 'Xcalibur' and 'Marie Antoinette ' — will be released on Disney+ this August. With this release, EMK hopes to offer longtime fans a chance to relive the experience while also introducing first-time watchers to the emotional depths of the genre, according to the company's statement. Launching the rollout on Aug. 6 are 'Elisabeth: The Musical Live' and 'Phantom: The Musical Live.' The Korean edition of 'Elisabeth," which traces the tragic life of Austria's iconic empress, premiered in 2012. The live recording of the production's 10th anniversary performance featuring Ock Joo-hyun and Lee Ji-hoon was released in cinemas last year. 'Phantom,' based on Gaston Leroux's 'The Phantom of the Opera,' was captured in 2021 with cinematic close-ups and immersive sound. The production stars KyuHyun, Shin Young-sook and ballerina Kim Joo-won. On Aug. 13, 'Monte Cristo' and 'The Man Who Laughs' arrive. Filmed in 8K with 14 cinematic cameras, 'Monte Cristo' showcases actors such as Kai and Lina in a dynamic, onstage perspective. 'The Man Who Laughs' was recorded in 2018, when the musical adaption of Victor Hugo's novel was premiered. In 2019, the 143-minute director's edition, featuring Park Kang-hyun, Shin Young-sook and Yang Joon-mo, was released in Korean cinemas. 'Xcalibur,' a retelling of the Arthurian legend, and 'Marie Antoinette,' which contrasts the ill-fated queen's life with that of the fictional revolutionary Marguerite Arnaud, roll out on Aug. 20. "We want to offer audience members who had attended the performances a chance to relive the emotions they felt at the time, while providing those who were unable to visit the theater in person an opportunity to newly experience the essence of the musical through high-definition video and immersive sound," the company said.
Korea Herald
16-07-2025
- Korea Herald
At Lotte Hotel, Kim opens up Seoul's artistic identity
Gallerist Kim Soo-hyun hopes to continue legacy of Bando Gallery at hotel in central Seoul as gateway to Korean art for foreign guests Entering the Lotte Hotel Seoul's executive tower, paintings by Kim Tschang-yeul, whose iconic water-drop paintings are globally known, immediately catch the eye. The artist, who died in 2021 at age 91, expressed his traumatic experiences by painting water drops. He fled from the North to the South during the 1950-53 Korean War. Presenting the paintings at the five-star hotel is gallerist Kim Soo-hyun, who runs The L. Collection located inside the hotel. 'I happened to see Kim's water-drop paintings ― probably in 1997 before I left for Europe for a government-funded group exchange program. They looked so delicate and precise. It felt as if I flicked one, it would burst open and everything would come pouring out,' Kim recalled during an interview with The Korea Herald on July 9. Once she started collecting art, it was a Kim painting that she sought. 'I wanted it so badly ― I was dying to have it,' she said. Other paintings on display inside the gallery include those by Korean contemporary art masters Kim Whan-ki, Ha Chong-hyun and Oh Se-yeol, offering a glimpse of contemporary Korean art history. Before opening the gallery at Lotte Hotel Seoul at the end of 2022, she had been running Showum Gallery in Daegu since 2016. The gallery, housed in a six-story building, has six exhibition halls presenting shows of established Korean artists. The six-story building houses six exhibition halls presenting mostly established Korean artists' shows. Lotte Hotel Seoul is located where Bando Hotel once stood. The hotel, built in 1936 during the Japanese colonial era (1910-45) and closed in 1974, had housed Bando Gallery, one of few Korean commercial galleries after liberation. The story of how Korean modern artist Park Soo-keun made a living by selling works at the gallery is a widely known one. 'I often heard stories about Bando Gallery from elderly relatives. Even now, the name 'Bando' comes to mind when I come here,' she said. When she made up her mind to open a space in Seoul, she had a couple of sites in mind, including Pyeongchang-dong, a northern Seoul neighborhood known as a haven for cultural elites and artists. However, she decided to open the space at the hotel in central Seoul with the legacy of the Bando Gallery, she said. The decision was largely influenced by Kim's experience traveling abroad, witnessing how hotels or accommodations housed art pieces, which naturally exposed her to the culture of the country. 'During those trips, the hotels that have a good sense of artistic identity, whether there are renowned sculptures or famous Picasso paintings on display, remain strong in my memory for a long time. Those images with the space stay with me even after 20 or 30 years. 'That's how the idea of opening a gallery within a hotel first came to me,' Kim said. Looking back on the past decades, she finds South Korea has grown culturally affluent across many fields of art, but she has always thought that five-star hotels here could be better engrained with meaningful art. It is not only about elevating the stature of the space, but also providing cultural experiences for guests in Seoul. In 2022, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stayed at the Lotte Hotel Seoul, she recalled. 'Foreign dignitaries and VIPs, many of them do not have time to visit museums or explore the city. Their schedules are so packed, often flying in and out within a matter of few days. If they are in Seoul, what impression would be left with them beyond business meetings? Visual memory lasts,' she emphasized. In 2023, The L. Collection showed the solo exhibition 'Blossom' of Korean artist Chon Byung-hyun, who has explored traditional mulberry paper, known as hanji, in his works for more than 20 years. After studying in Paris, the artist started to reflect Korean cultural elements in his works, and his artistic process includes using hanji relief and stone power. The artist often uses the theme of white porcelain. Kim said she tries to start from the heart of a collector when organizing an exhibition. 'I make sure to make a purchase of the artist's work beforehand, because I believe I need to experience what it feels like to be a collector of their works, to stand in the client's shoes. If it continues to resonate with me over time, I will move forward with the exhibition, contacting the artist," she said. 'This way, I have never regretted an exhibition that I held, and I would say none of them have ever failed.' Among recent exhibitions in Daegu, the solo show of Yoo Geun-taek was a popular one, she said, with the artist's 48 paintings selling out. The artist, 60, captures everyday scenes such as fountains, infused with traditional Korean mediums. 'I have a deep sense of respect for the artists from the older generation. I often find myself wondering, 'What kind of heart did the artist carry through the Korean War and to the present day?'" she said. "I can feel the artistic sensitivity that captures the spirit of their times in their works.' Kim is planning to show a solo exhibition of Korean painter Oh Se-yeol at The L. Collection at the end of this year, shedding light on how the artist whose intuitive painting style reminiscent of scribbling and scraping-off manner was inspired by experiences from the artist's younger years after the Korean War, when canvases were hard to come by and he drew on blackboards.
Korea Herald
08-07-2025
- Korea Herald
Disney+'s ‘Low Life' brings 1970s treasure hunt to life
Tentpole series brings together A-list stars, 'Big Bet,' 'Misaeng' creators One of Disney+ Korea's most ambitious original series for 2025 is about to make its debut, backed by a star-studded cast and the creative forces behind Korean hits such as "Misaeng" and "Big Bet." Bringing together director Kang Yoon-sung — best known for Disney+'s "Big Bet" and the box office smash "The Outlaws" — and "Misaeng" creator and acclaimed webtoon writer Yoon Tae-ho, 'Low Life' unfolds in 1977, following a group of individuals locked in a battle over a sunken treasure ship. The project boasts a star-studded lineup, including Disney+ "Moving" star Ryu Seung-ryong and Lim Soo-jung, beloved for K-content classic hits such as "I'm Sorry, I Love You" and "Finding Mr. Destiny." Rounding out the ensemble are TVXQ's Jung Yun-ho and Lee Dong-hwi, known for "Reply 1988" and "Casino." Director Kang noted that working with such a diverse group of performers injected a distinctive energy into the production. 'It was my first time creating such a large number of characters with so many actors, each with their own unique personalities. I found this way of making a drama fun," said Kang, at a press conference in Yeouido, Seoul, Tuesday. The characters come alive on screen, each with distinct personalities, gathering around the treasure like a pack of hungry hyenas. According to the director, their portrayals were shaped significantly through the actors' input during filming. 'Each character carries the language of the actors," said Kang. "I set the standard that if a character transforms through the actor's unique style, we should embrace it as it is, and that's how we filmed. Since every character is essentially created by the actors themselves, whenever there were differences from what I had imagined, I accepted them all and allowed for changes accordingly," he said. 'As the actors helped the characters grow with each shoot, I had no choice but to revise the original script that had been prepared in advance. I think I ended up revising the lines at every moment,' added Kang. The cast and creators also highlighted the effort made to faithfully recreate the 1970s. Lim Soo-jung, who plays Jung-sook — an ambitious woman financing the treasure-hunting group — shared how she embraced the fashion of the era. 'I did the most glamorous things a woman of that era could do. From hair and makeup to jewelry, she wore everything that could represent that time period. It's a portrayal that perfectly fits the character Jung-sook. A lot of effort was put into the visual details,' she said. Kang added, 'Through 'Low Life,' I want to share with many viewers how fiercely our parents lived in the 1970s and what kind of emotions they carried.' The first three episodes of "Low Life" will premiere July 16 on Disney+, with two new episodes releasing every Wednesday thereafter.
