In Shanghai, some Chinese theatre-goers say they are turning to licensed South Korean musicals, often finding them more accessible than Western shows. Audience members described being drawn into performances such as Interview, a psychological thriller they attended in a Chinese adaptation. One attendee, Tina Zhang, said she only learned after the show that the production was originally from South Korea, adding that she found the plot tightly structured and engaging. Another viewer, Xu Jianing, said Interview was the best Korean adaptation she has seen, praising vivid character portrayals, seamless connections across the story, and a balance between maintaining the core storyline and allowing room for performers’ interpretations, including elements that encourage audience thinking.
The articles note that over recent years, multiple licensed South Korean musicals have received a warm reception in China. They attribute part of this appeal to cultural overlap between the two countries, which they say helps Korean productions reach audiences more easily than Western counterparts. The reports describe a growing trend in which licensed Korean titles attract viewers through engaging narratives and production choices that resonate with local audiences.
