A creative play first born in 2010 from a tight-knit team of Korea National University of Arts (K-Arts) Acting Department classmates is making a dramatic comeback 16 years later to meet audiences anew.
Ilho Tunnel turns up the intensity with actors Kang Ki-doong and Nam Yeon-woo—both seasoned across stage and screen—personally adapting, directing, and starring in the production. Fresh off the June 22 premiere of the drama See You at Work Tomorrow!, Kang is set to sprint straight onto the stage, signaling a relentless schedule that’s fueling even more hype for this play.
The story begins in the summer of 1992. Freshly twenty, Ilho heads to a mountainside tunnel construction site, clinging to one promise: to see his father again. In this brutal worksite—where tunnels are carved not with heavy machinery but by human hands—those pushed to the edge by life lean on each other and become one another’s support. Through people holding each other up on the brink of collapse, the play asks, with weight and honesty, what it truly means to “live together.”
This staging gathers a powerhouse ensemble of 17, including K-Arts classmates and veterans and rookies thriving in Daehakro and on-screen. Drawing special attention is actor Choi Yong-jin—mentor to many of the cast during their student days—who joins as Bae, the construction chief drifting through chaos with a clueless air.
The star-studded casting is a major highlight. The role of Ilho, a young man yearning to reunite with his father, goes to Kim Ri-hyun of the musical Fan letter, Kim Ki-taek of the play Herz Klan, and Im Jin-seob of the musical Legendary Little Basketball Team. The role of Mr. Hwang, who endures the loss of his child through poetry, is shared by Nam Yeon-woo of the film Gagman and Min Jin-woong of the film Sugar. As Mr. Kwak, a man clinging to the pit to reclaim his shattered life, Jang In-seop of the drama Eunmilhan Gamsa and Heo Ji-won of the drama Crash anchor the narrative.
Keeping warmth alive in a harsh world, the role of Mr. Jeong goes to Kim Min-ha of the play Geumseong Yeoinsuk and Oh Jeong-taek of Shakespeare in Love. The solitary rebel Bae, who isolates himself, will be portrayed by Kang Ki-doong of the drama Reborn Rich and Yoon Park of the drama Don't Call Me Ma'am, both delivering commanding presence.
Adding to the impact, Muhyeon of the drama Lee Doona! and Park Se-jun of the drama Flex X Cop transform into Thoeng, a migrant worker. As Madam Son, the owner of a canteen who serves warm meals to the roughneck crew, Yang Jo-a of the film Mad Dance Office, Sim Yeon-hwa of the play Molta-ui Yudaein, and Jo Eun-jung of the play Mirror are set to enrich the stage with distinct personalities and delicate performances.
As the lineup dropped, netizens reacted wildly: "Is this casting for real?", "Love how diverse the cast is", and "So many familiar faces."
Meanwhile, Ilho Tunnel will run from July 24 to August 30 at Sinchon Theater PLOT. All eyes are on how this solid story—returning after 16 years—will deliver a powerful emotional punch to audiences.