Actor Joo Jong-hyuk is making his theater debut.
He’s confirmed to star in the play “The French Safe,” which opens March 7, and is in the final stretch of rehearsals.
“The French Safe” unfolds under one rule: when the power cuts at midnight, the safe can be opened. A group with different motives gathers in a secret vault beneath a bank, and chaos ensues. Joo plays a headstrong, act-first “thug” who follows his instincts, hinting at a new side of himself.
After showcasing nuanced emotion in his projects, he’ll now share the same space as the audience, bringing a more direct, high-impact energy. Fans are watching to see how he’ll make this raw, unstoppable character entirely his own.
At a production briefing on February 10 at NOL Seokyeong Square in Daehangno, Seoul, Joo admitted, “Theater was a scary territory for me.” He added, “While reading the script, I wondered if I could really pull it off. But hearing that Director Jang Jin and senior actor Shin Goo, whom I deeply respect, were on board eased a lot of my fear.” He continued, “Day by day, it’s felt like I’ve found a solid team. I’ve received a lot of help from actor Choi Young-joon, who’s double-cast as the ‘thug,’ and the director has been a huge source of strength.”
Joo isn’t limiting himself to the stage. On tvN’s variety show "Perfect Glow," he’s been turning heads with candid, witty charm―and even strong English skills. After teaming up with Ra Mi-ran on the show, the two also announced an appearance on SBS’s variety program "Whenever Possible."
His music hobby is in the spotlight, too. Joo performs as the bassist for the band Unhobby, showing yet another side of his talent. Unhobby launched its first show in February 2024 at Emu Cinema FantaGarage in Jongno-gu, then performed at the opening of the 51st Seoul Independent Film Festival. In November, they held a second solo concert at Hongdae’s Rolling Hall and donated part of the proceeds.
All eyes are on what new face he’ll reveal in his first play.
Joo Jong-hyuk’s play “The French Safe” runs from March 7 to May 31 at NOL Seokyeong Square Skon Hall 1 in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)