Actor Song Il-kook openly shared why he keeps returning to the musical stage, revealing his deep affection for the production — and why he’s been off the radar in dramas and films.
On April 8, a press call for the musical The Hague was held at NOL Uniplex in Daehakro, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Attendees included g.o.d member Kim Tae-woo, Song Il-kook, Oh Man-seok, Geum Jun-hyeon, Kang Seung-sik, and Lee Se-on, who discussed the show.
The Hague is based on the 1907 mission of special envoys dispatched to the Second Hague Peace Conference under Emperor Gojong’s secret orders. Song Il-kook plays Lee Sang-seol, who drives the core of the narrative. Produced to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the envoys’ dispatch, the show is drawing attention for its historical significance.
Recently, Song has been far more active on stage than on screen. His last drama was KBS1’s Jang Yeong-sil in 2016, and his last film was Tattoo, released in 2015. On this, Song said, "Actors are chosen for roles — I simply wasn’t chosen," calmly acknowledging reality.
Even so, he made his love for the stage clear. "Being on stage makes me incredibly happy. I’m grateful that there are places that keep inviting me so I can meet audiences," he said.
He also admitted this production was a tough challenge. "The numbers are technically demanding, so the pressure was heavy. It wasn’t easy keeping up with my juniors," he shared. "Still, I’m learning a lot through this production." He added, "I even hesitated because the singing is hard, but I saw it as a new challenge as an actor," showing humility.
Meanwhile, the musical The Hague opened on April 1 and runs at NOL Uniplex Hall 1 in Daehakro through June 21.