A record-smashing Korean musical just dropped a surprise for fans.
The musical DEATH NOTE surpassed 500,000 cumulative viewers in just four years since its 2022 new production. To celebrate the milestone and thank fans for their overwhelming support, producer OD Company announced on the 30th that it has locked in a two-week “Special Extended Run.”
Based on the hit Japanese manga of the same name, DEATH NOTE follows the fierce battle of wits between genius high schooler Light and the legendary detective L. OD Company’s 2022 non-replica production—rebuilt from the script and score up through set design, costumes, and direction—sparked a full-on “DEATH NOTE syndrome,” selling out from its debut extension through the 2023 encore run.
At the 7th Korea Musical Awards, it led with 10 nominations and clinched four major trophies, including Best Musical and Best Direction—proving both mass appeal and artistic merit. This season, the synergy between a refreshed cast and returning stars pushed single-season attendance past 150,000 (as of March 11), bringing the cumulative total to a staggering 500,000. It’s a feat that large-scale licensed musicals typically take close to a decade to achieve—accomplished here in just four years—an industry-shaking milestone for the Korean musical market.
As the news broke, fans reacted with fervor, saying things like, “It’s unexpected, but I’m happy we get to watch it even longer.”
With this “Special two-week extension,” DEATH NOTE will now run through May 25. Plus, Kim Min-seok as Light and Sandeul as L are returning for the extended shows, poised to deliver a show-stopping finale.