Kim Junsu of 'Beetlejuice' Takes on Comedy for the First Time, Says "I Felt Truly Happy"

Musical 'Beetlejuice' Returns After Four Years
Opens on the 16th at LG Art Center

"I love plays that are filled with constant laughter, so I want to take on a real challenge in comedy."

Musical actor Kim Junsu shared these thoughts as he takes on a comedy play for the first time since his debut. He will play the role of Beetlejuice in the musical 'Beetlejuice,' which opens on December 16 at LG Art Center Seoul. Having debuted as an idol singer in 2003 and entered the musical scene with the premiere of 'Mozart!' in 2010, Kim has since taken on strong, dramatic roles in productions such as the premiere of 'Elisabeth' in 2012, 'Dracula' in 2014, 'Death Note' in 2015, and 'Excalibur' in 2019. Now, for the first time, he is challenging himself with a comedy.

At a press conference held on December 1 at the Eliena Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Kim Junsu introduced himself by saying, "Until now, I've mostly played roles where I kill someone or end up dying myself, but actually, I have a strong passion for comedy-so much so that I often ad-lib more than anyone else." He said he rediscovered the joy of comedy while performing in the musical 'Aladdin.' From November last year to September this year, he had a busy schedule performing in 'Aladdin' in both Seoul and Busan for nearly a year.

Actor Kim Junsu, who plays the role of Beetlejuice in the musical "Beetlejuice," is sharing his thoughts on the performance at a press conference held on the 1st at the Elliena Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Photo by CJ ENM

Kim Junsu commented, "Although 'Aladdin' is not a pure comedy, it has many humorous elements. Experiencing those fun moments made me feel truly happy, and since I enjoy taking on new challenges, I decided to fully commit to a comedy play."

The musical 'Beetlejuice' is based on the 1988 film of the same name directed by Tim Burton and had its tryout performance at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C., in 2018. It officially opened on Broadway in 2019, receiving nominations in eight categories at the Tony Awards that year. The first licensed production in Korea was staged in 2021. Kim Junsu said, "I was offered the role for the premiere, but for various reasons I couldn't accept it at the time. I have always regretted not being able to participate in the premiere."

'Beetlejuice' tells the extraordinary story of a couple who have just become ghosts and, in order to drive out the strange family that has moved into their home, team up with 'Beetlejuice,' who is trapped between the worlds of the living and the dead.

Alongside Jung Sunghwa, who played Beetlejuice in the premiere, Kim Junsu and Jung Wonyoung will newly take on the role of Beetlejuice. The female lead is Lydia, the daughter of the new family, a girl who can see ghosts. As in the premiere, Hong Nahyun and Jang Minje will play the role of Lydia.

Jung Wonyoung emphasized the show's vibrant and laughter-filled nature, saying, "Since I was young, I dreamed of becoming a comedian, singer, and actor, and 'Beetlejuice' is the work that fulfills all those dreams."

Jung Sunghwa, who introduced himself as the only veteran among the Beetlejuice actors, said, "My goal is for the audience to first see Beetlejuice as a funny and bizarre demon, but by the end, to feel sympathy for him."

Musical 'Beetlejuice' lead actors Jung Wonyoung, Jang Minje, Jung Sunghwa, Hong Nahyun, and Kim Junsu are taking a commemorative photo at a press conference held on the 1st at Eliena Hotel in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by CJ ENM]

The musical 'Beetlejuice' brings Tim Burton's unique, extraordinary imagination to life on stage with ever-changing sets, flying ghosts, and giant puppets. Jung Sunghwa emphasized, "With incredible stage devices, special effects, and the actors' makeup, the audience will see a stage unlike anything they've seen before." Director Sim Seolin added, "Although 'Beetlejuice' is currently touring in places like the Arab world and Australia, the only original production left is in Korea," highlighting the show's uniqueness.

The production team said their main concern was how to effectively capture the strengths of the original black comedy. To this end, unlike the premiere, comedian Lee Changho participated in the production, handling the comedy adaptation.

Kim Subin, who was responsible for translation and lyrics for both the premiere and this revival, said, "With the age rating raised from 8 and up in the premiere to 14 and up for this revival, we were able to better capture the nuances of the dialogue. Thanks to Lee Changho joining the team, there are now lines that are funnier than we could have imagined. The process was truly fascinating."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.