[On Stage] "Mozart, Who Resembled Me, Opened a Second Life"

Musical Debut 'Mozart!' 10th Anniversary Performance Starring Kim Junsu
"Similar Struggles with Restriction and Control Inspired Passionate Acting" Guiding His Acting Career

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] January 26, 2010, Sejong Center Grand Theater. Singer Kim Junsu took the stage for the first time as a musical actor. It was the domestic premiere of the musical 'Mozart!'

Now, at the Sejong Center Grand Theater, the 10th-anniversary performance of the Korean premiere of 'Mozart!' is underway. Kim Junsu, who was a rookie 10 years ago, has grown into a leading domestic musical actor with a solid fandom and has returned to the 'Mozart!' stage.

Recently, Kim Junsu, whom I met at a cafe in Jongno-gu, Seoul, said, "After finishing the first stage of the 10th-anniversary performance on June 16, I felt mixed emotions." "There was also a sense of relief that I safely completed the first stage of the 10th-anniversary performance at the same place as my debut stage, and I felt deeply grateful that fans continue to support me without change."

'Mozart!' is a work that opened a new life for Kim Junsu. In 2009, he left the group TVXQ, which was at the peak of its popularity, due to a contract dispute with his agency. He said he lived a "reclusive but not truly reclusive life" for a while. The stage that allowed him to stand in front of the public again was the musical 'Mozart!'. However, fear came first. "It was a time when I was very afraid whether I could stand on stage again. Moreover, the musical genre was also new to me."

But the character Mozart in the play resembled him very much. In the play, Mozart is a character who finds it hard to endure the confinement and control of his father, Leopold.

"There was frustration. I thought that just because someone gave birth to you and made you, it doesn't mean they should control everything. I was very grateful for the support to let me pursue my dreams, but I thought it was wrong to try to confine me within strict rules saying do this or do that. Why can they only think that way? Why can't they see me as I am? I thought a lot about that."

[Photo by C-JeS Entertainment]

The number 'Why Don't You Love Me' sung by Mozart in the play felt like a song containing his own feelings. "Even if I couldn't perform musicals well, I thought if I could keep singing this song, my frustration would be relieved. There was a lot of stress and pressure, but through Mozart, it felt like I was telling the story I wanted to tell. Every time I performed, I felt something was resolved and I received energy. It was so similar to my situation that I think I immersed myself in Mozart. Sometimes, I felt like I was thrown into water and acting."

After participating in the 2011 revival of 'Mozart!', Kim Junsu performed in 'Elisabeth' in 2012. He played the role of 'Death' in 'Elisabeth'. 'Death' is a personified character who lingers around the female lead Elisabeth. Originally, in overseas performances of 'Elisabeth', Death was a role played by a dignified man in his 40s or 50s.

Kim Junsu was 26 when he took on the role of Death. "I received more criticism after the casting announcement for 'Elisabeth' than for 'Mozart!'. I still had an idol image, and I think there were technical aspects that deserved criticism."

However, Kim Junsu created his own unique character and was recognized as a musical actor. "I thought if I did it like the dignified men did, only the shortcomings would be visible, so I wondered what I could highlight as my strengths. Since no one knows whether Death is male or female, I tried to express it with a neutral feeling. I made the walk more androgynous and feminine, and I was told I walked like a cat. I thought I should emphasize those parts."

With the role of 'Death', he won the Best Actor award at the 2012 Korean Musical Awards. "I think I was recognized as a musical actor through 'Elisabeth'. It was a work that made me determined to do well as a musical actor. 'Mozart!' is a grateful work, and from 'Elisabeth' onward, I wanted to pursue a second dream in musicals."

[Photo by C-JeS Entertainment]

Kim Junsu's individuality stands out even when he sings numbers. His husky voice divides opinions. He said, "I think having individuality is a great advantage," and "I enjoy singing more on musical stages than in pop music."

"In pop music, it's the same to sing with emotion, but in musicals, the process can be more exaggerated. That's very fun. The basic is to clearly convey the song, but in musicals, you have to express the character's emotions in the most optimal way. When conveying emotions, the voice might crack or become muffled, and singing like that is better and more enjoyable."

Kim Junsu recalls his initial mindset during the 'Mozart!' 10th-anniversary performance. "Technically, I might be better than 10 years ago, but in some ways, I think the raw feelings from 10 years ago were better, so I am trying hard to bring out those emotions."

He hopes to communicate more and wishes for more opportunities to appear on broadcasts in the future. He also said the reason he hasn't appeared much on broadcasts was not because he refused but because he had no opportunities. "Since I don't appear on broadcasts, people think I lack humanity. If I appear on broadcasts, I am confident I can change that image."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.