Jeong Il-woo to Make His Stage Debut

By Chung Ah-young
Staff Reporter

Actor Jeong Il-woo will make his stage debut in a revival of the play "Beautiful Sunday" written by Japanese playwright Mayumi Nakatani.

The play touches upon homosexuality through the daily routines of three characters ― a gay couple and a woman. But the drama highlights love, comfort and warm-hearted emotions among modern youngsters rather than focusing on homosexuality itself. The characters fight against social bias and pursue their own love and show how to develop human relations.

"I feel a little bit nervous and at the same time excited because it's my first appearance on stage. Stage art has a different character than television dramas and films. I am looking forward to meeting my fans face to face in the theater", Jeong said in a statement.

"I have strived to show better acting in every new work. I think I have to build more acting experience and study more. Learning is my lifelong companion while I am acting", he said.

Jeong rose to stardom following his debut in the sitcom "High Kick!" in which he appeared as a troublemaking teenager in 2006. Since then, he has widened his acting horizons from "Iljimae Returns - Moon River", the epic drama, to the omnibus film, "My Love".

The play was first staged in 2000 in Tokyo and received rave reviews from both critics and the audience for its fresh touch on ordinary people in a comical way through the unusual subject.

Nakatani is renowned for the popular Japanese television drama "Water Boys" and other stage work, mostly romantic comedies.

The play will be on stage from Feb. 4 to March 28 at Hanyang Repertory Theater in Daehangno, central Seoul. Tickets cost from 35,000 won for adults and 15,000 won for students. For more information, call (02) 3672-8070.