Kim Gu's Life Revived Through Hip-Hop and Rap... Seoul Performing Arts Company's 'Baekbeom' Opens Nov. 14

Marking the Seoul Performing Arts Company's 40th anniversary and the 150th anniversary of Kim Gu's birth

Multiple actors portray Kim Gu in a "collective character portrayal"

At the National Theater through Nov. 21; interactive AI exhibition also on offer

"Baekbeom," a creative song-and-dance drama that tells the life story of independence activist Baekbeom Kim Gu through hip-hop, rap and dynamic group choreography, opens on Nov. 14 at the Haeoreum Grand Theater of the National Theater of Korea in Seoul.

The Seoul Performing Arts Company is presenting the production to mark the 40th anniversary of its founding and the 150th anniversary of Kim Gu's birth. Based on a musical of the same name staged at Theater Yong at the National Museum of Korea in 2020, it has been reimagined as a creative song-and-dance drama combining singing, dance and acting. Before its Seoul run, the production had its premiere on Nov. 6 and 7 at the Grand Hall of the Daegu Student Culture Center.

2026 Daegu Performance of “Baekbeom,” Commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Seoul Performing Arts Company. Seoul Performing Arts Company

Based on "Baekbeom Ilji" ("The Diary of Baekbeom"), the production follows Baekbeom's life from his boyhood as Kim Changam to his time as independence activist Kim Gu and chairman of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, and his efforts to unite his homeland after liberation. It sheds light not only on him as a hero of the independence movement but also on the inner life of Kim Gu as a person who wrestled with doubts and conflicts while living through a turbulent era.

The production's most distinctive feature is that multiple actors portray the character of Kim Gu together. It is staged using a form of "collective character portrayal," with actors of different genders and ages, from their 20s to their 50s, taking on the role of Baekbeom. They bring the character to life through different voices and movements, expanding the story beyond Kim Gu's personal life to encompass ordinary people who devoted themselves to independence and the creation of a new nation.

All members of the Seoul Performing Arts Company take the stage to portray Baekbeom's life through dynamic group choreography and music. Moving away from the traditional biographical format for a great historical figure, the production uses contemporary music, including hip-hop and rap, to offer a fresh perspective on a historical figure.

A free exhibition where visitors can experience Kim Gu's life and the significance of the independence movement will also be held during the run. An interactive exhibition incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) will be open in the first- and third-floor lobbies of the Haeoreum Grand Theater at the National Theater of Korea, starting 90 minutes before each performance. Visitors can discover which independence activist best matches their personality and take part in activities such as exploring the activists' writings and deciphering codes. The exhibition will also feature "My Pledge for Independence," where visitors can use AI to create black-and-white portraits of themselves, as well as a collaborative program that brings together visitors' photos to create a commemorative image.

The exhibition, jointly planned by the Seoul Performing Arts Company and Millennial Works, was made possible with support from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts Management Service.

"Baekbeom" runs for 125 minutes and will be performed through Nov. 21. It is open to elementary school students and older.

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