'Idol of Korean Traditional Music' Kim Junsu Takes on Theater with 20th-Anniversary Production KILLBETH

[Financial News] Kim Junsu, often dubbed the "idol of Korean traditional music," is making a serious move into theater.
A certified holder of the Jeollanam-do Intangible Cultural Heritage pansori piece Sugungga, Kim Junsu is a leading singer of the National Changgeuk Company of Korea. Expanding his activities through changgeuk, the musical Seopyeonje, and TV shows such as Poongryu: Battle Between the Vocalists and The Active King of Singers 2, he has helped broaden the appeal of Korean traditional music.
This time, he takes on the role of "Macbeth’s Wife" in the play KILLBETH, staged to mark the 20th anniversary of Theater Studio Mabangzen. He will meet audiences not through song, but through spoken lines and acting.
At a production press conference held on the 29th of last month at Mapo Arts Center Play MAC in Mapo District, Seoul, Kim Junsu stated, "I did feel some pressure, but I am approaching this work with the mindset of enjoying it while experiencing the living art of theater."
Following his female roles in the changgeuk productions Trojan Women, Farewell My Concubine, and Salome, he is once again playing a woman. Asked whether he felt any burden about that, he emphasized, "As an actor, what matters more than gender is one’s presence on stage."
Director Ko Sun-woong added, "Macbeth’s Wife is a tough character with strong charisma, and I believe Kim Junsu can portray her in a fully convincing way."
KILLBETH is a reimagined work that transforms William Shakespeare’s classic Macbeth into the style of a martial-arts play. Artistic director Ko Sun-woong of Theater Studio Mabangzen wrote and directed the piece, which premiered in 2010.
By shifting the setting to a Korean-style future and adding action, the production preserves the energy of the original. At the same time, it constantly layers in humor and slapstick to lighten the characteristic heaviness of Macbeth, while keeping its tragic gravity intact.
Explaining why he decided to revive the work after 16 years, Ko said, "The themes of desire and ruin do not change with time," and noted, "I felt it is a story that can still fully resonate with audiences today." He went on, "Life is not a process of endlessly clutching at things, yet Macbeth, driven by desire, makes foolish choices and ultimately brings about his own destruction."
Regarding his trademark rapid-fire lines and strong sense of rhythm, Ko explained, "We are trimming away parts that feel too fast or overwhelming, and adjusting things so that the context comes across clearly," adding, "We are searching for a pace that audiences can understand and follow."
Actor Kim Ho-san, who once again plays Macbeth following the original run, expressed confidence that "there isn’t a dull moment." He said, "Macbeth is a well-known classic, but it is not an easy work to read," and continued, "KILLBETH adds humor and action to Theater Studio Mabangzen’s distinctive style of storytelling, making sure there is not a single boring moment." He added, "It is a work that keeps audiences immersed throughout the performance, and invites reflection only after they leave the theater," and concluded, "It will be a new style of production, different from existing versions of Macbeth, that audiences can enjoy easily and with great fun."
With this work, Ko received both the Best Production and Best Director honors at the Dong-A Theatre Award. Looking back, he said, "It was a turning point in my career," recalling, "Winning the directing award gave me great strength." The production opens on the 27th at Haneul Theater, National Theater of Korea, in Jung-gu, Seoul.
To mark its 20th anniversary, Theater Studio Mabangzen will present not only KILLBETH but also King Lear: Side Story, a twist on William Shakespeare’s tragedy King Lear. Ko will also unveil two new works. The Jumper, which centers on a jumping incident that takes place in a shared office, will premiere at Mapo Art Center in November.

jashin@fnnews.com Shin Jin-ah Reporter