Lee Seok-joon (이석준)

Summer Big Bang for Musicals

Source | 2008/07/03 | Permalink |

The Korean musical market is literally witnessing a "big bang" this summer.

Korean musical-goers will have a rare opportunity this summer to enjoy both critically-acclaimed and commercially successful Broadway musicals such as "Man of La Mancha", "Cats", "Chicago", "Gambler", "Hedwig", and "Thrill Me". We enlisted musical critics to offer their evaluations of the musicals based on five criteria –entertainment, music, cast, stage, and story.

Cats

"Cats" feeds the audience's eyes with splendid dances and extraordinary stage settings. Since May, the Broadway world tour team has been performing here in Seoul and the Korean team will launch its first licensed performance in September. It received low marks for the story, but high marks for entertainment. Musical critic Won Jong-won said, "The attraction of Cats is the performers' facial expressions and detailed body movements which make audiences feel as though they are looking at real cats. Follow every movement of the performers,...| More

Celebrities Return to Theater

Source | 2008/02/27 | Permalink |

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

Once actors move on from the humble theater to the big screen, they reminisce over the hardships of those times, but also heave a sigh of relief that they're finally over.

However, they still come back to the stage returning to their roots.

The stage is becoming an attractive arena for movie stars and singers. This coming spring, a star-studded line-up of musicals and plays are awaiting the audience.

Veteran actress Yang Hee-kyeong will return to the stage in the play "Minja's Golden Age", two years since starring in the play "Old Prostitute's Song".

"Minja's Golden Age" portrays the relationship between Park Min-ja and her daughter. Min-ja, who abandoned her daughter and her home 10 years ago, suddenly decides to return home. Yang will play the role of Min-ja, a singer who works at a nightclub. The play will be staged at Yesul Madang in Daehangno, central Seoul, March 6.

Ha Hee-ra, an actress who has appeared in many hit soap operas ...| More

Choo Sang-mi and Lee Seok-joon to Tie Knot

Source | 2007/11/05 | Permalink |

Actress Choo Sang-mi will tie the knot with musical actor Lee Seok-joon on Nov. 5.

The two met when they appeared together in a musical in 2003.

The wedding will be held behind closed doors by the wedding agency Lael Wedding owned by comedian Park Soo-hong.

After the wedding ceremony, Chu and Lee will leave for Albion Resort in Africa.

Choo debuted in 1994 and has since appeared in many TV shows and movies. Her father is the late theater actor Choo Song-woong and her brother is also an actor.

Lee debuted as a theater actor in 1996 and has played leading and supporting roles in musicals. In 2004 he won the Korea Musical Award for Best Supporting Actor....| More

[TALK OF THE TOWN] Secret signposts to future happiness

Source | 2007/09/05 | Permalink |

Some say love and marriage are two different things, but Choo Sang-mi and Lee Seok-joon have decided that they're the same.
After a five-year love affair, the two will tie the knot on Nov. 5 at Onnuri Choorch.
The wedding will be private and officiated by Pastor Ha Yong-jo.
Choo and Lee met in 2003 when they were starring in the musical "The Sorrows of Young Werther".
Since then, the two have dated secretly and signaled their emotions with a code.
"We blinked our eyes when saying 'I love you'", said Choo. "No one really noticed".
But the secret signs soon became public when Lee publicly proposed to Choo on Jan. 4, after his "Hedwig" performance.
"He sang me a gospel song and gave me a ring in front of around 300 people", said Choo. "On the night of the proposal, I fell asleep feeling blessed".
Lee said he made his proposal after deciding that Choo had qualities that made her a woman whom he could respect in all aspects of life.
Choo said, "Until now, I lived only for myself bu...| More

Musical Star in On-Stage Proposal to Long-Term Sweetheart

Source | 2007/01/09 | Permalink |

The musical actor Lee Seok-joon took his long-term girlfriend Choo Sang-mi by surprise by proposing to her during a performance. The couple have been dating for five years. After a performance of the transvestite musical "Hedwig" in Seoul on Thursday, Lee asked the audiences to witnesses his proposal and asked his fiance to come on stage. He then serenaded her with the song "Even for Small Things in Our Life" and gave her a ring. The couple hugged and kissed to a round of applause from the audience. Choo responded by saying, "We will make a happy and sweet couple". Choo shed tears, as did some susceptible members of the audience.

The two did not answer their mobile phones on Monday, but their ringtones were the same, from "Even for small things" --"Just as I sing / And just as I say I hope to live / I hope to die that way.".....| More