A Tribute to KPOP’s Broadway Takeover

Mixed Asian Media - December 12, 2022

Below is the intro and select photos from an interview with Kevin Woo, Min, and BoHyung from Broadway’s KPOP. This interview was a collaboration between JoySauce and Mixed Asian Media, published by JoySauce.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE FULL INTERVIEW ON JOYSAUCE

Creative Direction & Photography by Lauren Nakao Winn

Intro by Sam Tanabe

Co-Creative Direction & Styling: William Noguchi

Hair: Isaac Davidson

Make-up: Sarah Fiorello

South Korean pop culture has permeated the American scene. BTS Army is around every corner, mothers across the country tearfully watch Crash Landing on You, and bathroom cabinets are full of Korean skincare favorites. The Korean wave is strong. It was only a matter of time before it washed over the Great (slowly getting less and less) “White” Way. The global phenomenon that is K-pop music took over New York City in the form of its very own Broadway musical this fall and played its final performance over the weekend on December 11, 2022.

With music and lyrics by Helen Park and Max Vernon and book by Jason Kim, KPOP the musical introduced audiences to RBY Entertainment, a Korean record label about to make its big NYC debut. The label is home to a solo artist (MwE), the boy band (F8), and a girl group (RTMIS) — each with their own perspectives on the road to becoming idols. KPOP was first exhibited through an immersive Off-Broadway run at Ars Nova in 2017, where audiences were able to view and interact with each group’s story by moving through various rooms. Set on the thrust stage at Circle in the Square, the Broadway production was unable to transfer that interactive magic, but KPOP still flaunted the genre’s musical hooks, precise choreography, and captivating formations through concert-style production numbers.

Part of KPOP’s allure certainly lied in seeing hallyu stars on the Broadway stage — and there was no lack of Korean stardom in this cast. Luna, former member of the girl group f(x), captivated as the fictional idol, MwE. Kevin Woo (from the boy band U-KISS) dazzled as a standout in F8, Min (from JYP’s girl group MISS A) served authentic idol energy, and BoHyung (solo artist and former member of SPICA) delivered the vocals you expect from a K-pop star.

JoySauce and Mixed Asian Media had the unique opportunity to collaborate on getting to know some of the cast’s K idols a little better. Kevin, Min, and BoHyung were able to step away for an exclusive photoshoot and interview on their journeys to K-pop stardom and Broadway. This interview was conducted before both KPOP announced its closing, and the release of a poorly-worded review from the New York Times. Although the show’s run was short-lived, global intrigue in K-pop music, celebrities, and stories will endure forever.

To read the interview and see more photos, CLICK HERE.