'Shylock After 67 Years' Park Geunhyung: "I Want to Portray the Person"

Starring in "The Merchant of Venice" with Shin Goo This July
"Though My Health Is Not What It Used to Be, Theater Brings Me the Most Joy"

Actor Park Geunhyung performed as Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, in the play The Merchant of Venice while attending Chung-Ang University in 1959. Playwright Lee Geunsam, after watching Park’s performance at the time, praised it as a "major achievement."

Now, 67 years later, Park Geunhyung will once again take on the role of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, which opens on July 8 at the National Theater’s Haerum Theater. At the production press conference held on May 12 at NOL Seogyeong Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Park stated that, with over 60 years of experience accumulated, he now wishes to portray Shylock as a true person and as a genuine actor.

"When I was young, I might have portrayed Shylock in a very naïve way. Now, as a true actor and artist, I am focused on how to depict this character. I believe I can present a more mature Shylock than before. I will do my best to stand on stage with confidence."

Actors Shin Goo (right) and Park Geun-hyung are taking a commemorative photo at the press conference for the play The Merchant of Venice held on the 12th at NOL Seogyeong Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News.

Shin Goo, another veteran actor who has shared the stage with Park Geunhyung for many years, will also appear in this production, taking on the role of the judge. Born in 1936, Shin Goo turned 90 this year. Although he remains active in theater, his health is not what it used to be.

Shin Goo said, "As I have aged, I can no longer control my body as I wish. Still, the time spent rehearsing and performing in plays is the most enjoyable and rewarding for me. I continue to take the stage because I believe this is what I must do."

The National Theater’s Haerum Theater holds special meaning for both actors, as they were once members of the National Theater Company of Korea. In 1973, the National Theater moved from the Myeongdong Arts Theater to its current location in Jangchung-dong after the completion of the new building. That October, Shin Goo performed in the opening production, "The Great Admiral Yi Sun-sin," at the Jangchung-dong National Theater. At the time, the National Theater Company of Korea was affiliated with the National Theater, but it became an independent foundation in 2010 and separated from the National Theater.

Shin Goo reflected, "I remember performing as Admiral Yi Sun-sin in the first production after the National Theater moved from the Myeongdong Arts Theater to the newly built building in Namsan, Jangchung-dong." He described his feelings ahead of the upcoming performance at Haerum Theater as "nostalgic."

He added, "The Haerum Theater is so large that it is not an easy venue for a play. To fill all 10,000 seats, we would need 30 performances with 3,000 people each time. Yet, when I think of Seoul as a city of 10 million, it is almost amusing that we struggle to attract just 30,000 people, so we are doing our best to fill every seat."

Park Geunhyung shared that he had performed "Heosaengjeon" at the National Theater while working with the theater company Sajo.

"The theater felt so big that it seemed like we were performing in just one corner. After remodeling, it’s a bit better now, but putting on a play in such a large venue is still quite challenging. However, performing in a large theater also makes me wonder if our theater is at a crossroads toward commercial theater. I believe that Korean theater must continue to develop, and that we should see truly commercial plays emerge. That’s why I consider The Merchant of Venice as the first step toward commercial theater, and I will do my utmost to present a high-quality production."

The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s most representative comedies. However, director Oh Kyungtaek commented, "In modern times, it is categorized more as a problem play. While it wears the mask of a comedy, it contains many tragic elements." Director Oh further explained that the character of Shylock, played by Park Geunhyung, is particularly open to interpretation.

"Shylock has faced discrimination and hatred simply for being Jewish, and his desire for revenge leads him to seek Antonio’s life. That act is undeniably cruel and violent. For a long time, Shylock has been defined as a villain within the dichotomy of good and evil. Yet, from today’s perspective, we need to consider that it was not his choice to be born Jewish, and reflect on how to view a character who has faced discrimination and persecution for that reason."

Director Oh also pointed out that the verdict which strips Shylock of his property and forces him to convert due to his wrongdoing is itself a highly violent act.

He concluded, "Shylock is both a victim and a perpetrator. Every human being possesses duality, just like Shylock."

"You cannot simply divide people into good and evil. It all depends on the circumstances you face and the choices you make. Through this play, I want to address the idea of selective justice. Every character in The Merchant of Venice has duality; more precisely, they are all complex individuals. Human beings possess a variety of desires and experience many conflicts, and these diverse groups of people are depicted in The Merchant of Venice."

The cast of the play "The Merchant of Venice," which opens on July 8 at the National Theater's Haeoreum Theater, are taking a group photo at the press conference held on the 12th at NOL Seogyeong Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

Director Oh Kyungtaek said that he personally adapted the play to emphasize Shylock’s duality.

"While preserving the original flow and essence, I added some adaptation. I strengthened the reasons and motivations behind Shylock’s actions, making it possible to see a much more relatable and sympathetic Shylock than in other productions or films."

Director Oh described The Merchant of Venice as "a courtroom drama that starts as a comedy and ends with questions of tragedy," adding, "Beginning with universal themes like money and love, the play raises profound questions about mercy and justice. I am determined to do my very best in bringing this great work to life."

The Merchant of Venice will be performed at the National Theater’s Haerum Theater from July 8 to August 9. In addition to Shin Goo and Park Geunhyung, Lee Seungju, Kai, Choi Sooyoung, Won Jinah, Lee Sangyoon, Kim Seulgi, Kim Ahyoung, Park Myunghoon, and Jo Dalhwan will also appear in the cast.

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