The musical “The Last Empress,” first performed in 1995 to mark the 100th anniversary of the assassination of Empress Myeongseong, is celebrated for being the first successful example of a large-scale original musical becoming a repertoire in Korean theater history. Despite criticisms of glorifying Empress Myeongseong and engaging in nationalistic marketing, the musical is credited with raising the standard of original musicals in Korea through its lavish production and innovative completion.
The musical, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, continues to resonate deeply with audiences. Opening on January 21 at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts, the show runs until March 30. “The Last Empress” made a significant impact when it premiered in 1995, during the 100th anniversary of the Empress’s assassination, by surviving as a repertoire despite the many failures of previous original Korean musicals.
The person integral to the creation of “The Last Empress” is Yoon Ho-jin, the artistic director at Acom. As the original director and producer, Yoon shared during a press call and anniversary ceremony that he never imagined the musical would last 30 years, expressing gratitude that the work has evolved with each performance.
Inspired after seeing “Cats” in London in 1982 while on a training program, Yoon recognized the potential of musicals to offer a new avenue in Korean theater. After establishing Acom in 1991 with the aim of taking original Korean musicals to the world stage, he focused on Empress Myeongseong due to changing perceptions of her legacy and new historical research on her assassination.
The musical achieved a milestone as the first Korean original musical to surpass 2 million accumulated audience members and is approaching its 2000th performance. It has also been performed internationally in New York, Los Angeles, London, and Toronto.
The creation involved notable figures such as novelist Lee Mun-yeol, who was persuaded by Yoon to write the script despite initially hesitating due to negative perceptions of Empress Myeongseong. Composer Kim Hee-gap and lyricist Yang In-ja were also key contributors, and they were honored at the 30th-anniversary ceremony.
Currently, the musical features actors Kim So-hyun, Cha Ji-yeon, and Shin Young-sook as Empress Myeongseong, and Kang Pil-seok, Son Jun-ho, and Kim Ju-taek in the role of King Gojong. The show continues to captivate audiences, demonstrating enduring popularity and cultural significance.