Korean musical theater reaches the world at 19th DIMF

Korea's southeastern city of Daegu is hosting its annual International Musical Festival and this year the event takes place amid fresh enthusiasm as it follows news of a South Korean original musical winning six Tony awards including Best Musical.

Byeon Ye-young files this report.

This summer, Daegu once again transforms into a stage.

Korea's largest musical festival, The Daegu International Musical Festival, or DIMF, brings creators and audiences together from all over.

This year, showcasing 29 musicals from home and abroad.

"The dress rehearsal for this year's closing performance, Panda, is about to begin. This Chinese production blends dazzling acrobatics with traditional martial arts, a real treat for the eyes."

A visual and musical spectacle, Panda tells a heartfelt story about love, coexistence, and the care we owe to nature.

It's a piece that's beloved by Korean audiences.

This reading performance, part of DIMF's musical incubation program, offers young talents a rare chance to present their work.

Some pieces even go on to become full-scale productions with funding and support.

"I received a lot of overall support from DIMF throughout the production process.

But what helped me the most was getting direct feedback from the mentor instructors.

That was incredibly helpful in developing and improving the piece."

"I think the best part of this program is getting to meet great creators, working alongside talented actors, and simply having opportunities like this.

For actors like me, that's one of the most valuable aspects."

With global success stories like Maybe Happy Ending, DIMF is more than just a festival.

"As DIMF approaches its 20th anniversary next year, our hope is that musical fans from around the world will come to Daegu.

To make that happen, we believe it's essential to connect the festival with tourism.

Our goal, and also our challenge, is to grow DIMF into a truly global musical festival."

It's a symbol of what's possible for Korea's creative industry.

Byeon Ye-young, Arirang News, Daegu.