Actor Song Il-kook shared why he signed on for the musical "Hague" and what he hopes to bring to the stage.
At the press call for musical "Hague," held at 2 p.m. on April 8 at Daehangno Uniplex Hall 1 in Dongsoong-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Song Il-kook―who plays Lee Sang-seol―explained why he appears on stage more often than in dramas or films: "Actors are chosen for roles, so there were times I couldn't appear in dramas for a long stretch. Above all, I simply love being on stage," he said.
He also highlighted a deeply personal reason for joining the production. On taking part in a show that foregrounds the anti-Japanese spirit of the Hague envoys, Song said, "Given my family's historical background, this project was an obvious choice for me. I've long been involved in memorial projects and promotion activities, so taking part in a work like this feels natural."
"For over 10 years, I’ve studied while traveling with college students to anti-Japanese historic sites and Goguryeo heritage sites. I also personally visited locations related to Lee Sang-seol, which makes this even more meaningful," he continued. "The main setting of the musical is a train. General Kim Jwa-jin’s birthplace and memorial hall are also right by the railroad, so I felt a curious personal link."
He also spoke to the message of the piece. "Because our country remains divided between South and North, I don’t believe our liberation is truly complete yet. With serious issues like the Northeast Project and historical distortion, we need to know our history correctly and be prepared," he emphasized.
Song acknowledged the challenge of tackling a musical. "The singing isn’t easy, so keeping up with my younger colleagues can feel daunting," he admitted. "As an actor, it wasn’t an easy choice, but I’m learning a lot through this production."
Meanwhile, musical "Hague" is based on the 1907 Hague envoy incident and portrays the Korean Empire’s diplomatic outcry and drive for independence. It is currently running at Daehangno Uniplex Hall 1.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Kyung-youn)