"Winter Sonata" celebrates 10 year anniversary with new musical adaptation

Actress Choi Ji-woo and actor Bae Yong-joon for "Winter Sonata" [KBS]

A new version of the musical adaptation of popular drama "Winter Sonata" will open in Korea next month, celebrating the ten year anniversary of the series.

On Friday, the musical promoter's YTree Media announced in a press release that musical "Winter Sonata" will begin its run at the Myungbo Art Hall in Seoul from September 27 to March 18 of the following year.

The production will be directed by Yoon Suk-ho who helmed the original "Winter Sonata" series as well as "Autumn in My Heart," "Summer Scent" and "Spring Waltz" while Yoo Hee-sung, who has worked on musicals "Mozart!" and "Pimagol Love Song," will serve as artistic director and Oh Eun-hee, who has worked on musicals "Jewel in the Crown" and "Singing in the Rain," will create the musical scores.

"We hope to produce a great musical since we will have the best staff and cast members for 'Winter Sonata,'" Yoon was quoted as saying. "The musical also has a greater significance since January 14, 2011 will mark the ten year anniversary since the drama aired on KBS.

The "Winter Sonata" musical first made its premiere in several cities in Japan including Sapporo, Tokyo and Osaka in 2006, where it received favorable reviews.

It had previously opened in Korea with shows in Busan and Seoul from December 2010 to February of this year, respectively.

"Winter Sonata," starring Hallyu star Bae Yong-joon and actress Choi Ji-woo, is the second installment of the KBS TV drama series "Endless Love" and became a massive hit in Korea and throughout Asia since airing in 2002.

The series turned Bae and Choi into household names and director Yoon received the TV production award at the 38th Baeksang Art Awards in 2002 as well the prestigious Person of the Year award in 2004 by UNESCO.

The leading roles for the musical have yet to be cast.

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