[Interview] Musical 'K-pop' Rising on US Broadway... Luna "I Want to Deeply Share K-pop"

Musical actress Luna, formerly of the girl group f(x), is taking a commemorative photo at the press conference for the Broadway debut of the musical "K-pop," held on the 30th (local time) at the New York Korean Cultural Center in New York City, USA. Luna will play the major role of female singer Mui (MwE) in the musical "K-pop," scheduled to be performed at a Broadway theater in New York this fall.
[Photo by Jenny Anderson]

[Asia Economy New York=Special Correspondent Joselgina] "K-pop is my life. Everything I eat, sleep, and dream about is all within K-pop. I want to create a performance that conveys the feeling of Korea and the reasons why K-pop is loved."

The girl who once shouted "Hot Summer" and searched for "Pinocchio" on stage as a leading figure of K-pop will stand on a Broadway theater in the United States 16 years after her debut. This is the story of Luna, the main vocalist of the girl group f(x) and a musical actress who has steadily built her filmography in Korea.

Luna, who will debut on the Broadway stage this fall with the musical "KPOP," met with correspondents at the Korean Cultural Center in New York City on the 30th (local time) and said, "It took 16 years to stand as a Broadway musical actress."

The musical KPOP first premiered in 2017 off-Broadway, mainly in small theaters, and received rave reviews while sweeping major awards. It tells the story of an idol group and female singers produced by a fictional Korean agency launching into the U.S. market, featuring not only Korea's idol training system but also addressing various social issues such as racial discrimination, xenophobia, and commodification of humans in American society. Based on the positive reviews at that time, the first performance at a Broadway theater is scheduled for November this year.

Through auditions, Luna was cast in the major role of female singer Mui (MwE) and has been dedicating over a year to preparing for this dream stage. Luna introduced the work, saying, "I want to show the life of immigrants living in a foreign land searching for their identity and the hidden sides of stars behind the glamorous stage."

When asked if her autobiographical experience as an idol singer is reflected in the work, she smiled and said, "I can't dare say it is not reflected." She also mentioned, "I wanted to show that being a K-pop idol is not just an interesting, pretty, polished, or well-paid, enjoyable job. I wanted to touch on the hidden sides, how much effort and trials they face, and how they grow." Through this, she is determined to let the audience "understand the depth of K-pop."

Luna emphasized the message she wants to convey most: "Don't rush, don't hesitate, move forward. Live this life at least once." Starting by saying many young people are giving up on life, she repeatedly urged, "Don't give up, keep moving forward."

Musical actress Luna (center), formerly of a girl group, and composer Helen Park (second from right), along with other officials, are posing for a commemorative photo at the press conference for the Broadway debut of the musical 'K-pop' held on the 30th (local time) at the Korean Cultural Center New York in New York City, USA. From the left: director Teddy Bergman, Cho Yoon-jeung, director of the Korean Cultural Center New York, Luna, Helen Park, and co-composer Max Vernon.
[Photo by Korean Cultural Center New York]

The musical KPOP was written by second-generation Korean-American playwright Jason Kim, with Helen Park and Max Vernon co-composing and writing lyrics. Helen Park, a Korean-American composer, introduced the work, saying, "I tried to convey the charm of K-pop" and "I want to emphasize the fusion of K-pop and Broadway." She also mentioned that she herself is a 'fusion' who grew up moving between Korea and the U.S., and expressed hope that after Broadway in the U.S., the musical KPOP could also be performed in Korea.

Producers Tim Forbes and Joey Parnes stated in a press release, "It is a combination of the vibrant and exciting world of K-pop entertainment and the powerful storytelling of Broadway musicals." The rest of the cast besides Luna will be announced soon.

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