Korea's theater scene is marking a milestone this year as three steady-selling hits that have held up for a decade return to the stage and seize audience attention. The musicals Death Note, Maybe Happy Ending, and Fan Letter are back. Different in genre and tone, they share one thing: they have stayed lodged in audiences' hearts for 10 years. Here's why.
Death Note, which opened on October 14, kicked off the 10th-anniversary run. Since its June 2015 premiere, the show has racked up season after season and is one of the rare Korean musicals to sell out every performance, every seat. Based on the Japanese manga, Death Note follows genius teen Light Yagami, who gets his hands on a shinigami's notebook—the 'Death Note'—and tries to purge evil from society, while master detective L doggedly tracks him in a fierce battle of wits.
Because the 10th anniversary felt symbolic, many expected the return of the 'legend cast' that powered past blockbusters—Hong Kwang-ho, Kim Junsu, and Kim Sung-cheol. But the August casting announcement flipped expectations: Cho Hyung-gyun, Kim Min-seok, and Im Kyu-hyung took on Light Yagami, with Kim Sung-kyu, Sandeul, and Tang Jun-sang listed as L. Fans had hoped for the classic L-and-Light lineup, so the new faces sparked shock and concern. Once the curtain rose, however, praise poured in for immersive performances and LED-driven staging, and the production has been going strong.
Adding fuel to the buzz, Kim Sung-cheol will return as L in January after three years away, and Super Junior's Kyuhyun—marking his 15th year in musicals—will join Death Note for the first time as an additional cast member.
The original Korean musical Maybe Happy Ending—the first Korean production to win six Tony Awards—also celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Set in a near-yet-distant future, the show tenderly tracks helper-bots Oliver and Claire, engineered to assist humans, as they stumble into that most human of feelings: love.
From its casting reveal, Maybe Happy Ending promised a pitch-perfect blend of legend performers honoring a decade-long journey and exciting fresh additions, stoking anticipation well before opening.
The Oliver roster features Kim Jae-bum, Shin Sung-min, and Jeon Sung-woo, alongside Claire actors who helped propel the show's current popularity—Jeon Mi-do, Choi Soo-jin, Park Ji-yeon, and Park Jin-joo—and James actors Lee Si-an and Go Hun-jung. New faces include Jung Hwi as Oliver, Bang Min-ah as Claire, and Park Se-hoon as James—twelve cast members in all greeting audiences.
Since opening on October 30, Maybe Happy Ending has sold out every performance, reaffirming its status as a well-made crowd-pleaser. Theatergoers have gushed, saying, "Getting tickets was brutal," and, "It makes me cry every time and leaves me warm inside," with the show serving cozy-hearth vibes in the cold of winter.
Finally, Fan Letter, which opened on the 5th, also marks its 10th year. Since its 2016 premiere, the musical enters its fifth season this year and even ventured to Taiwan in 2018—the first original Korean musical to do so with an invited run by the Korean cast—earning love at home and abroad. Its star-studded lineup made waves long before opening.
Set in the 1930s under Japanese colonial rule, Fan Letter draws on episodes from the literary circle Guinhoe, home to writers like Kim Yu-jung and Yi Sang. Centered on genius novelist Kim Hae-jin, who burns with pure passion for literature; aspiring writer Jung Se-hoon, who idolizes his work; and Hikaru, Hae-jin's muse and a writer with secrets, the show spins a seductive tale of artistic fervor and love.
This season, Kim Jong-gu, Kim Kyung-soo, and Lee Kyu-hyung return as Kim Hae-jin, with newcomer Enoch joining. Jung Se-hoon is played by Moon Sung-il and Yoon So-ho, with Kim Ri-hyun and Won Tae-min newly cast. Hikaru is portrayed by So Jung-hwa, Kim Hee-eo, Kang Hye-in, and Kim Yi-hoo. The role of Lee Yoon features Park Jung-pyo, Jung Min, Lee Hyung-hoon, and Kim Ji-chul. Lee Tae-jun is played by Lee Han-mil, Kim Seung-yong, and Kim Ji-uk, while Kim Soo-nam is taken on by Lee Seung-hyun, Son Yu-dong, Jang Min-su, and Kim Tae-in. Kim Hwan-tae is portrayed by Kim Bo-hyun and Song Sang-hoon, rounding out a rock-solid lineup.
With a fresh mix of veterans and newcomers—and sky-high interest from the jump—Fan Letter runs through February 22 next year.
Together, these three titles haven't just moved audiences for a decade; they've also raised the profile of Korean musicals internationally. Their 2025 returns prove why people keep coming back, even as time marches on.