Founders' Meeting of the Korean Musical Society
Establishing the Field of Korean Musical Studies Reflecting Six Decades of History
Aiming for Global Recognition and Systematic Academic Development
"We will systematically organize the 60-year history of Korean musicals and establish a field of Korean musical studies that reflects the unique characteristics of Korean musicals."
Ko Heekyung, Dean of the Graduate School of Performing Arts at Hongik University and the inaugural president of the Korean Musical Society, expressed this commitment at the Korean Musical Society Founders' Meeting and Inaugural General Assembly held on the 16th at the Artist's House in Jongno-gu, Seoul.
As the global stature of Korean musicals continues to rise, the Korean Musical Society has officially launched to systematically research Korean musicals and lay the foundation for the industry's development. On this day, experts from the musical academia, education, and industry sectors held the founders' meeting, appointing Professor Ko Heekyung as the first president and Professor Won Jongwon-Korea's first musical critic and Dean of SCH Media Labs College at Soonchunhyang University-as the first vice president.
Ko Heekyung, Dean of the Graduate School of Performing Arts at Hongik University, is giving remarks at the Korean Musical Society Founders' Meeting and Inaugural General Assembly held on the 16th at the Artist's House in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Korean Musical Society
The Korean Musical Society plans to carry out a variety of activities, including hosting academic conferences, publishing academic journals, and building international networks, with the aim of advancing the Korean musical industry into one of the world's top three markets and academically spreading the Korean Wave in musicals. President Ko Heekyung stated, "We will hold a founding academic conference in January next year and publish the inaugural issue of our journal in June."
President Ko presented three specific future goals for the Korean Musical Society: establishing Korean musical studies; discovering and systematizing musical education and research systems; and building exchange and cooperation networks with countries that have leading musical markets, such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia.
President Ko emphasized, "Despite the explosive expansion of the Korean musical market and the international recognition following the Tony Award win by the original musical 'Maybe Happy Ending,' the field of 'musical studies' has yet to be clearly established as an independent academic discipline. Through diverse academic activities, the Korean Musical Society will develop musical studies that closely reflect the genre-specific, historical, and industrial characteristics of musicals. Based on this, we will establish systematic research and education systems to nurture competitive academic and practical talent."
As President Ko noted, the Korean musical market surpassed the 400 billion won mark in annual sales for the first time in 2022 (424.9 billion won), followed by 459.1 billion won in 2023 and 465.1 billion won last year, continuing its growth trend. This upward trajectory is expected to continue this year. According to the Center for Performing Arts Support, musical ticket sales in the first half of this year reached 237.6 billion won, a 5.0% increase compared to the same period last year.
President Ko reiterated, "As the market grows, I believe the desire for robust theoretical research will also intensify. Our society, standing at the starting line, will establish the canon of Korean musicals."
On the 16th, attendees are taking a commemorative photo at the Korean Musical Society Founders' Meeting and Inaugural General Assembly held at the House of Artists in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Korean Musical Society
Next year marks the meaningful 60th anniversary of Korean musicals. The beginning of Korean musicals is traced back to 1966, when the Yegrin Orchestra staged "Saljjagi Obseoye," based on the classic novel "Baebijangjeon."
President Ko stated, "Since next year marks the 60th anniversary of Korean musicals, the founding academic conference in January will serve as an occasion to review this six-decade history. We will properly recognize, name, and forecast the brilliant achievements made by our predecessors and colleagues in the Korean musical scene over the past 60 years."
Approximately 50 leading experts representing Korea's musical academia and industry attended the founders' meeting, including Lee Jongkyu, Chairman of the Korea Musical Association; Song Seunghwan, Artistic Director of PMC Production; Yoo Heesung, former Chairman of the Seoul Performing Arts Company; Nam Kyungjoo, Professor at Hongik University; Lee Taewon, Professor at Myongji University; Kim Junhee, Professor at Hanyang University; Lee Sunghoon, CEO of Shownote; Song Kyungok, Professor at Myongji University; Lee Gyechang, Professor at Yongin University; Choi Seungyeon, critic; Hyun Sujeong, critic; and Hong Jungmin, Professor at Dongguk University.
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