Park Chun-hue, aka Hue Park, is the writer and lyricist of the acclaimed hit musical "Maybe Happy Ending." (NHN Link)

By Yoo Yeon Gyeong

Musical writer and lyricist Park Chun-hue, aka Hue Park, is Korea.net's Person of the Year for 2025 for expanding the boundaries of the country's performing arts.

He led the advance of original Korean musicals on the world stage and won the Tony Award, the world's highest honor in performing arts.

Original musical takes Broadway by storm

"Maybe Happy Ending" on June 8 clinched six Tonys -- Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Lead Actor, Best Book, Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) and Best Scenic Design -- at the awards ceremony held at Radio City Hall in New York.

The work was also nominated for 10 Tonys, a record high for a Korean musical, and claimed most of the top honors in its category including Best Musical.

Co-created by Park and composer Will Aronson, "Maybe Happy Ending" explores the emotions and love between Oliver and Claire, two humanoid helper robots, who fall in love in a futuristic Seoul. Debuting in Korea in 2016, the musical opened in New York's Broadway in November last year to rave reviews in the U.S. for its popularity and artistry.

"Maybe Happy Ending" writer and lyricist Park Chun-hue, aka Hue Park, on June 8 poses with two of his work's trophies at the annual Tony Awards ceremony at Radio City Hall in New York. (Yonhap News)

Korean sentiment achieves global resonance

The musical's strength is its expression of Korean sentiment. The Korean word hwabun (flower pot) is used as the name of a pet plant. Viewers follow the journey of the two helper robots to experience universal feelings such as love, memory, existence and loneliness.

At the core of the work is a delicate story based on unique Korean sentiment.

After its breakout success on Broadway, "Maybe Happy Ending" has earned accolades at home and abroad as a trailblazer in Korean musical history. More than a mere cultural export, it demonstrates the potential of Korean storytelling and sentiment to move audiences around the world.

Opening window of Korean culture

Alongside international recognition, Park's accomplishments have earned kudos at home. He won Young Artist of the Day on Nov. 7 at the Order of Cultural Merit awards ceremony at Modu Art Theater in Seoul. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism lauded him as "a creator proving that Korean-style creations can succeed on the global market."

Park's breakout year further punctuated the massive leap Hallyu (Korean Wave) took this year worldwide.

dusrud21@korea.kr