Choi Soo-jong Returns to the Stage After 9 Years... Starring in "Oedipus" Opening in July

"Grand Dame of Theater" Park Jung-ja Cast as Tiresias

Actor Choi Soo-jong and "the godmother of Korean theater" Park Jung-ja will appear in the play "Oedipus," which opens on July 4, 2026, at the Sejong Center's M Theater. Choi Soo-jong is returning to the stage for the first time in about nine years since his performance in the 2017 play "The Story of the Fairy Who Couldn't Go to Heaven."

"Oedipus" is a play written by Sophocles around the 5th century BC and is considered a representative work of ancient Greek tragedy. The character Oedipus is cursed by an oracle that he will "kill his father and marry his mother." As a result, he is abandoned, but ultimately, regardless of his intentions, he fulfills the prophecy by killing his father and marrying his mother, making him a tragic figure.

The role of Oedipus will be played by both Choi Soo-jong and Yang Jun-mo, who has established a strong presence on the musical stage. The role of Jocasta, Oedipus's queen and a central figure in the tragedy, will be shared by Seo Young-hee and Im Kang-hee. Im Byung-geun and Lee Hyung-hoon will play the Chorus Leader, who drives the flow of the play. Nam Myeong-ryeol and Park Jung-ja have been cast as the "Messenger from Corinth" and the blind prophet "Tiresias," respectively. In addition, Kang Sung-jin and Choi Soo-hyung will alternate in the role of Creon, while Oh Chan-woo and Na Ja-myeong will join as double cast for both the Messenger from Corinth and Tiresias.

The play is directed by Seo Jae-hyung, known for his dense textual interpretation and innovative stage aesthetics, in collaboration with writer Han Ah-reum.

One of the key aspects to watch in this production is the use of the Chorus. Director Seo Jae-hyung has reinterpreted the Chorus, a core device of ancient Greek tragedy, in a modern way—expanding it from a simple narrator to an active force that leads the flow of events and emotions. The collective perspective embodied by the Chorus Leader will intersect the inner world of the characters with the gaze of society, heightening the play's tension and rhythm in a more multidimensional way.

The production company SU Company stated, "This 'Oedipus' will be a work that combines the density of the classic with a contemporary sensibility," adding, "We will present a stage that maintains the depth of the classic while making it more intuitive for today's audience."

The play "Oedipus" will be performed at the Sejong Center's M Theater from July 4 to August 23, 2026. Tickets will be available for purchase starting on May 20 through Nolticket and the Sejong Center website.

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