In case you missed the news, Crash Landing On You is going to be a musical!
Scheduled to hit the stage in Seoul in the middle of 2022, the musical adaptation of the phenomenal global hit k-drama is made possible through a collaboration between production companies T2N Media, Pop Music, and Studio Dragon. In a statement, Pop Music Co., Ltd. CEO Kim Jin-seok said, "We have completed a copyright contract with Studio Dragon, and we are going to select major staff members and start casting.”
With CLOY the Musical already receiving a lot of attention from actors and overseas production companies, speculation is running wild on who will be cast. While that remains a mystery, it's fun to imagine who among the TV drama's original cast members could reprise their roles on stage. After all, a number of them have musical theater backgrounds.
Here are some of CLOY's cast members who are talented singers as well as actors:
Oh Man-seok
Crash Landing on You's main villain, the corrupt and evil North Korean military officer Cho Cheol-gang, will live on in infamy as one of the baddest bad guys in k-drama history. That's thanks to the convincing portrayal by Oh Man-seok, a highly-respected theater actor and alumnus of the prestigious Korea National University of the Arts.
While he performed in such beloved musicals as The Rocky Horror Show (2001), Grease (2003), and Singin' in the Rain (2004), he's most well-known as the "First Korean Hedwig," having taken on the titular transgender role in the rock musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch in 2005.
For a different side of Cho Cheol-gang, watch him and fellow Hedwig Yoo Yeon-seok performing "Wig in a Box" from Hedwig in 2017.
Kim Jung-hyun
Another famous alumnus of Korea National University of the Arts' acting program, Kim Jung-hyun started his professional acting career in theater before making his onscreen debut. He recently recorded an OST track for his latest hit drama, Mr. Queen. Will he reprise his role as the ill-fated Gu Seung-jung/Alberto Gu?
Cha Chung-hwa
Yet another theater-trained actor in the talented CLOY ensemble cast is Cha Chung-hwa, best known to fans as Yang Ok-geum of the North Korean ahjumma squad. A graduate of Sangmyung University with a degree in Drama, Cha Chung-hwa recently got to show off her singing skills in the bamboo forest of Mr. Queen.
Here she is belting it out on the popular singing competition King of Mask Singer.
Yang Kyun-won
Yang Kyun-won stole many scenes as snarky North Korean soldier Pyo Chi-su, Yoon Se-ri's favorite frenemy. His standout performance earned him a Baeksang Arts Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. With his charming vocals, it's easy to imagine Pyo Chi-su bursting into song.
Hyun Bin
And last but definitely not the least is Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok himself, the one and only Hyun Bin. While he has obviously put his theater degree from Chung-Ang University to good use by starring in over 20 dramas and movies, Hyun Bin also has a talent for singing. He recorded OST tracks for his dramas Friend, Our Legend (2009) and Secret Garden (2011), and is known to serenade his supporters during fan meets.
While the overwhelming popularity of CLOY has kept its cast busy with new dramas, we can still hope that some of them will be part of the musical adaptation. At the very least, the thought of seeing this wonderful cast
— whom millions around the world have grown to love —reunited for opening night, is something to look forward to.
Time to book those tickets to Seoul, Noonas!
