Playing a Tiger's Heart or a Horse's Head? Step Into the World of Puppeteers! | Puppeteers Kang Eun-na and Jung Myung-pil [Curtain Call 317]

Jun 17, 2026

SBS 뉴스 커튼콜: 맡은 배역이 호랑이 심장, 말 머리? 퍼페티어의 세계로 오세요! 공연 장면과 출연진 모습.

Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger that dominated the stage as if it were alive and breathing. What was the secret behind how this puppet, made of a frame and fabric, could move with the perfection of a wild beast? In today's Curtain Call, we delve into the world of puppeteers, who have emerged as a major trend in the performing arts scene. We are joined by Kang Eun-na, a puppeteer who played the burning heart of the tiger in the play "Life of Pi," and Jung Myung-pil, the movement and puppet director.

Jung Myung-pil fell in love with puppetry early on, running a professional theater troupe and working as a puppeteer, while actor Kang Eun-na took to the stage as a puppeteer for the first time in "Life of Pi." How did they handle the "dialogue" of the tiger and the hyena, which does not appear in the script? Were there any difficulties in giving up the human upright gait and living on "all fours" for several months? Do not miss this episode on the magical world of puppeteers, who go beyond simple "manipulation" to breathe soul into their puppets!

�� Highlights from the play "Life of Pi"
�� Puppeteers of the play "Life of Pi"
�� Highlights from the musical "A Thousand Blues"
Video courtesy of Seensee Company, Seoul Performing Arts Company

*This podcast was pre-recorded last month. Please note that the schedules for "Life of Pi," "A Thousand Blues," and the "Jeongseon Puppet Festival" have already concluded.

(Host: Kim Soo-hyun, Culture Correspondent, Lee Byung-hee, Announcer | Guests: Puppeteers Jung Myung-pil, Kang Eun-na | Recording & Filming: Yoo Gyu-yeon | Editing: Jung Yong-hee)

▶ "Kim Soo-hyun's Curtain Call" can be heard on the SBS News website, Podbbang, Apple Podcasts, and various other audio platforms. You can watch the videos in the [Kim Soo-hyun's Curtain Call] playlist on the SBS News YouTube channel. You can also find related content categorized by field on the official SBS culture and arts YouTube channel, [SBS Artlog].

- Listen on 'Podbbang'
- Listen on 'Apple Podcasts'
- Go to YouTube 'Curtain Call Playlist'
- Go to YouTube 'SBS Artlog'
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.