▲ Cast and production members of the musical "Maybe Happy Ending" are seen in this photo from the 78th annual Tony Awards, held at Radio City Music Hall in New York on June 8, 2025. (Yonhap)

 

   SEOUL, June 9 (Yonhap) -- The Korean original musical "Maybe Happy Ending" -- the winner of six Tony Awards, including the top honor, Best Musical -- proved Monday that a piece of powerful cultural content armed with great storytelling and innovative art and design can resonate far beyond its borders.

 

   Making Korean cultural history, the creative show won the prestigious awards for Best Direction, Best Book, Best Original Score, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role and Best Scenic Design out of its 10 nominations.

 

   A joint creation of writer Park Chun-hue, also known as Hue Park, and composer Will Aronson, the show was born in Seoul's Daehangno district, a long-standing center for musical and theater performances.

 

   "This is surreal. ... This is all thanks to our fans, whom we call the fireflies," Park said in an interview after receiving the award. He jokingly added, "All the bickering, fighting and yelling at each other in two languages -- Korean and English -- was ultimately worth it," speaking of his long-running collaborator, Aronson.

 

▲ A scene from "Maybe Happy Ending" is seen in this photo provided by NHN Link. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

   

   The musical follows Oliver and Claire, two obsolete helper bots living in near-future Seoul, who develop an unlikely connection while exploring the possibilities of their existence.

 

   First conceived through a local cultural foundation's program in 2014, it premiered in 2016 at a 300-seat theater located in Daehangno, Seoul. Upon its release, the musical was lauded for its innovative setting, fresh concept and subtle emotional depth.

 

   For its local audience, the triumph proved that Korean musicals have the potential for broad international appeal, similar to the country's successful films, music and literature.

 

   To be fair, this success was not achieved overnight. Korean musicals have been striving for years to expand into overseas markets. Last year, for example, producer Shin Chun-soo brought "The Great Gatsby" to Broadway, and "Marie Curie" became the first Korean original musical being performed on London's West End.

 

   Winning six Tony Awards means, more than anything else, that the prowess of domestic musical production has been acknowledged on a global scale.

 

   "It is quite meaningful that the country is recognized for its musical production capabilities since musicals are a holistic art form," said Won Jong-won, a media professor at Soonchunhyang University in Asan, about 85 kilometers south of Seoul. "The news is as shocking as 'Parasite' winning an Oscar or 'Squid Game' winning an Emmy."

 

   Musical critic Choi Seung-youn expected the victory would help Korean original musicals have easier access to global markets.

 

   "Korean content has already established a strong reputation for originality overseas, and musicals are poised to become a part of that," she said. "I think it will forge new paths for Korean musical stars and reshape how international audiences view Korean musicals."

 

   At a press conference for the upcoming "Squid Game" Season 3 in Seoul earlier in the day, director Hwang Dong-hyuk said he was "pleasantly surprised" to hear the news.

 

   "Among the four major awards ceremonies -- the Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tonys -- I always thought the Tonys were the most distant," he said. "So I am incredibly proud to hear a Korean musical won such prestigious awards there."

 

   Hwang received best director in a drama series at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2022.

 

   jaeyeon.woo@yna.co.kr

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