Can Kim Soo-ha's performance in London change the perception of Korean musicals worldwide?
Kim Soo-ha
will appear in London's West End this September in a special one-night concert performance of the
Korean musical
'Swag Age'. The performance will take place at the
Gillian Lynne Theatre
on September 8.
Kim, 31, debuted in the West End in 2014 as the second cover for the lead role in 'Miss Saigon', later performing the role more than 30 times during her first run. Over the next four years, she worked across the UK, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan before returning to Korea in 2019 to join 'Swag Age'.
The musical, developed in 2017 as a student project at the Seoul Institute of the Arts, combines Joseon dynasty history with hip-hop and Korean traditional music, earning multiple awards and professional runs in Korea.
Korean original musicals gaining global visibility
Kim's upcoming performance comes at a time when Korean original musicals are expanding their presence internationally. In June 2025, '
Maybe Happy Ending
', a domestic production set in Seoul about two obsolete helper robots, won six awards at the 78th
Tony Awards
in New York, including Best musical.
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It was the first time a Korean-created musical had won the top
Tony award
for best musical. Additional awards included best direction, Best leading actor, Best book, Best original score, and Best scenic design. The success marked a major milestone in the international recognition of Korean musical theatre.
Significance of the Tony Award win
Industry analysts view 'Maybe Happy Ending's Tony win as a significant step for Korea's cultural exports. The production's fusion of Korean and Western musical influences demonstrated the potential for local content to resonate globally. The achievement is seen as opening more opportunities for Korean musicals to be produced and staged overseas, alongside established Western works.
According to theatre producers, international audiences are showing increasing interest in distinctive cultural narratives, creating new markets for Korean original productions.
Outlook for Korean musical theatre abroad
Kim Soo-ha's appearance in London and 'Maybe Happy Ending's Tony Award sweep suggest positive momentum for Korean musicals in major theatre markets. Both developments highlight the ability of Korean productions to deliver universal themes through unique cultural lenses, potentially paving the way for more works from Korea to appear in the West End and Broadway in the coming years.
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