The musical ″Seol Gong Chan″ has officially announced its performance dates, revealing its main poster and cast. Set to run from September 9th to October 26th at the KT&G Sangsang Madang Daechi Art Hall, ″Seol Gong Chan″ offers a modern reinterpretation of the ″Seol Gong Chan Jeon,″ a forbidden book from the Joseon Dynasty that faced destruction. This Joseon-era occult fantasy musical explores the journey of individuals navigating between the living world and the afterlife, striving to create a better existence.

″Seol Gong Chan″ gained attention after being selected for the 2023 KT&G Sangsang Madang Performance Challenge and was officially invited to the 19th DIMF International Musical Festival in July, where it premiered for about a week. Set against a backdrop of political upheaval, the narrative boldly critiques societal norms and challenges taboos, telling the story of the forbidden book’s creation alongside a modern interpretation and visually rich presentation.

The plot centers on Chae-su, a man who served eight kings, who is invited to the afterlife by Seol Gong-chan, who descends to the living world on the orders of King Yeomra. Having narrowly escaped the Jungjong Rebellion that deposed King Yeonsangun in 1506, Chae-su decides to abandon everything and return to his hometown. Before leaving, he meets Seol Chung-ran, a grieving mother, and shares a drink with her. At her request, he encounters Seol Gong-chan, who has possessed Seol Gong-chim, Seol Chung-ran’s son.

Seol Gong-chan, through his possession of Seol Gong-chim, aims to reveal the secrets of the afterlife. When his attempts go unheard, he takes Chae-su with him to the afterlife. After witnessing a different reality, Chae-su returns to the living world to share his insights and write ″Seol Gong-chan Jeon.″ However, the unconventional nature of his work leads to hardships, resulting in its ban and destruction. Despite this, those who experienced ″Seol Gong Chan Jeon″ found enlightenment and resolved to strive for a better world, a theme that resonates even today.

Song Yoo-taek, who performed at the previous DIMF concert, has been cast as Seol Gong Chan. Block B’s U-kwon and Victon’s Lim Se-jun are also part of the cast. Actors Park Young-soo and Baek In-tae will portray Chae-su, the Joseon Dynasty writer who seeks a peaceful era in the afterlife and writes ″Seol Gong Chan Jeon.″

Yoon Seok-won and Yoo Seul-gi will take on the roles of Seok-san, the Joseon Dynasty shaman and history teacher who opens the story. Park Si-in and Park Sun-young will play Cho-hee, Seol Chung-ran’s daughter, who, despite her intelligence and kind nature, pursues her dreams in the afterlife, something she could not achieve in her lifetime due to societal constraints. Actor Kang In-dae will portray Seol Chung-ran, the father of Seol Gong-chan and Cho-hee, who succumbs to grief over the loss of his children.

Kim A-young, Yeo Eun, and child actor Yoon Do-young will play Yeomra, the judge of the afterlife who sends Seol Gong-chan to the living world to reveal its true nature. This diverse cast will showcase a range of characters, transcending gender and age. Actors Ji Won-sun and Won Chan will take on dual roles as Seol Gong-chim and his possessed cousin, as well as Yeonsangun, the tyrant overthrown in a coup.

The musical ″Seol Gong-chan″ marks the reunion of writer-director Chu Jeong-hwa and composer/music director Heo Su-hyeon, who have previously collaborated on works like ″Sisyphus,″ ″Frida,″ ″Ludwig,″ and ″Smoke.″ A representative from Ebi Company expressed gratitude for the support from KT&G Sangsang Madang, DIMF, and other organizations, emphasizing their excitement to present ″Seol Gong Chan″ with such a talented creative team and cast. They believe this work will resonate deeply with audiences, much like the enduring story of the banned ″Seol Gong Chan Jeon.″

Tickets for ″Seol Gong Chan″ will be available for purchase in August.