[On Stage] The Dignity of the 'Musical Queen'... A Fantastic Performance Gift

Kim Sun-young Shines in '4Minutes'
Playing Krueger, a Piano Teacher for Inmates

"Absorbing Bold Stages and Diverse Reactions
Is the Charm of This Original Premiere"

Discovering the Unique Talent of Eccentric Prisoner Jenny
Revealing the True Reason to Keep Living

Final '4 Minutes' Highlight of the Competition Finals
Embracing Each Other, Pouring Talent and Passion on Stage

Musical actress Kim Sun-young. (Photo by National Jeongdong Theater)

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] "Presenting a bold stage that has never been attempted before and absorbing various reactions. That is the charm of original premiere works."

Musical actress Kim Sun-young (47), who is in her 22nd year since debut this year, is called the "Queen" among fans. It's not just because of her explosive vocal power and acting skills. As can be seen from her filmography, her wide spectrum is the secret to earning such a title. She has played every role imaginable for an actress, from bar women to pop stars to first ladies. In 2006, she became the first musical actress to sweep the Best Actress awards at Korea's two major musical award ceremonies. She achieved the same feat again in 2019.

Kim Sun-young is currently passionately performing as Kr?ger in the musical "Four Minutes." Kr?ger is a figure who taught piano to female inmates at Lukau Prison for 60 years after World War II. "Four Minutes" tells the story of Kr?ger meeting Jenny, an 18-year-old girl with a genius talent for piano but serving time for murder. The musical is based on the 2006 German film of the same name.

Recently, Kim Sun-young, whom we met at a cafe near the National Jeongdong Theater in Jung-gu, Seoul, described the musical "Four Minutes" as "a work full of the freshness of an original premiere," adding, "The actors not only acted and sang but also played the piano themselves, trying various challenges." Kim said she gains a lot of inspiration from original musicals full of novelty, although well-polished licensed performances are also good. This is why her range of acting inevitably broadens.

Kim Sun-young, who played the role of Krueger in the musical 'Four Minutes'. (Photo by National Jeongdong Theater)

Kim Sun-young met Kr?ger thanks to actor Yang Jun-mo, who is participating as the artistic director of "Four Minutes." Kim said, "Yang Jun-mo was very shocked after watching the film 'Four Minutes' and wanted to make it into a musical, so I looked into it," adding, "Kr?ger's lines and scenes were especially impressive, and I really wanted to perform that role on stage."

Just before taking on the role of Kr?ger, Kim Sun-young played Eva Hoff, a 78-year-old woman, in the musical "Hope." At first, she felt burdened by playing Kr?ger, who is of a similar age to Eva Hoff, as it might seem like overlapping characters. "I did hesitate for a moment, but as an actor, I never calculated each step when choosing projects. There was a message I wanted to convey on stage through Kr?ger, and that alone was enough."

In the play, Kr?ger lives her whole life with a sense of atonement for her deceased same-sex lover Hanna, who died on the battlefield. The military questioned her whether she knew Hanna was a communist, but she did not reveal the truth. So she locked her body in prison and her heart in the piano, living completely isolated from those around her. Perhaps because of this, Kim Sun-young's singing and acting were restrained compared to her previous roles.

"Kr?ger is an ordinary person who had to worry about her own safety more than the truth. During World War II, homosexuality was as taboo as collaborating with communists. An ordinary person would act like Kr?ger at the moment when they felt their life was ending. A person who had no choice but to flee out of fear. Someone who lived the next 60 years in a dark tunnel. I tried hard to understand those emotions well."

Kim Sun-young (right), who plays the role of Kruger in the musical 'Four Minutes'. (Photo by National Jeongdong Theater)

The character who brought change to Kr?ger is Jenny. Unlike Kr?ger, who pursues beautiful but conventional music, Jenny is a bold and improvisational pianist. She has a difficult personality and often fights with prisoners and guards. Kr?ger recognizes Jenny's talent and trains her, sending her to a youth competition. Through this process, they gradually open their hearts and comfort each other.

"Kr?ger started out as a child raised in a wealthy environment under strict rules and control. She probably obeyed her parents well and was loved, but on the other hand, she must have had many suppressed desires. The first person who helped her relieve those desires was Hanna. Kr?ger saw a similar side in Jenny. Although the piano is the focal point, ultimately, they were drawn to each other's human inner selves."

The highlight of "Four Minutes" is the final "four minutes" of the competition finals. The actors, who have never played the piano before, embody Jenny and perform actual piano playing with a fantastic performance. They do not just press the keys but also tap the keyboard like drums and pluck the strings like a harp. Kim Sun-young praised, "Hwanhee and Suha, the two actors, started learning piano basics from scratch for six months and practiced very hard," adding, "Watching them act and sing, I was convinced they would surpass any senior actors because they did so well." Kim plans to meet audiences with various roles in the future. She said, "After a short break following 'Four Minutes,' I plan to start performances from summer through early next year," adding, "It will be a completely different character from Kr?ger."