A news conference to announce the upcoming Broadway debut of the musical "Kpop" is held on March 30 at the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in New York's Manhattan area. From left are the musical's director Teddy Bergman, KCC Executive Director Jo Yun Jeung, Luna from the K-pop girl group f(x), and co-composers Helen Park and Max Vernon. (Yonhap News)

By Kang Gahui and Lee Jihae

A musical featuring the global sensation K-pop will debut in November on Broadway in New York.

The production team for "KPOP" on March 30 held a news conference at the Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in New York's Manhattan borough, saying, "We will host the premiere of the musical 'KPOP' this year on Oct. 13 and the first performance on Nov. 20 at Broadway's Circle in the Square Theater."

The musical is about K-pop superstars who pour all of their efforts into putting on a special one-night concert. The story features the process of training aspiring stars by Korea's large entertainment agencies and the racism and prejudice they face in the U.S. market, the global home of pop music.

Debuting in September 2017 off Broadway, "KPOP" has since enjoyed immense popularity with a string of sellouts. 

An off-Broadway theater has under 500 seats and is considered the gateway to advance to Broadway.

Luna from the K-pop girl group f(x) plays the musical's lead role of Mwe. She previously starred in the Korean editions of the hit musicals "Mamma Mia" and "In the Heights," and "KPOP" will mark her Broadway debut.

Producers Tim Forbes and Joey Parnes said in a statement, "The driving force of this production of 'KPOP' has always been to fuse the vibrant, joyful, and wildly entertaining world of K-pop with the powerful storytelling of a Broadway musical. The result is something that no one has ever seen before on stage, complete with epic production values, catchy songs, passion, and heart."

KCC Executive Director Jo Yun Jeung said, "K-pop has become Korea's greatest cultural ambassador," adding, "We are extremely proud and happy to bring to Broadway this important and highly popular part of Korean culture."

kgh89@korea.kr