The Daehak-ro favorite that had audiences buzzing is coming back to the stage.
On the 5th, content studio Library Company announced that the musical 긴긴밤 will launch a new season in January 2026. The piece follows Noden, the last northern white rhino on Earth, and a young penguin hatched from an abandoned egg as they weather countless long nights and set off together in search of the sea. Based on Luri's novel of the same name, which won the grand prize at the 21st Munhakdongne Children's Literature Awards, the book has sold more than 500,000 copies since its 2021 release, becoming a bestseller.
The musical 긴긴밤 opened in 2024 to raves from audiences and critics alike, posting a 75 percent paid seat occupancy rate and a 9.9 audience score. Going beyond a simple fairy-tale arc, it digs into loss, healing, solidarity and growth, earning nominations for the grand prize and Best Production (under 400 seats) at the 9th Korea Musical Awards. That momentum carried into its March 2025 encore run, which again topped a 70 percent paid occupancy rate, confirming its box office pull.
For the 2026 revival, many of the premiere and encore cast members return, bringing a deeper, more layered emotional performance grounded in their intimate understanding of the show. Woo-jin Hong, Jung-woo Kang and Hyeong-hun Lee play Noden, while Joo-eun Choi, Ga-eun Seol, Eun-young Choi and Ha-yoon Lim portray the Penguin. Geun-sik Park and Yu-hyeon Do take on Angabu and Wimbo, and Dong-hun Yoo and Gyu-hak Lee are cast as Chiku, rounding out a richer stage.
This season's poster keeps the premiere's visual framework but spotlights the "sea" that Noden and the Penguin are destined to reach, resulting in imagery that feels more vivid and emotive. By expanding the production's mood in visual form, it is expected to amplify the original's impact.
The musical 긴긴밤, set to move audiences once again, runs from January 21 to March 29, 2026, at Link Art Center Dream 1 Hall.