K-pop stars open new chapter in careers with musicals and theatre shows

Ock Ju-hyun (left) acting in the musical 'Rebecca'. Photo: EMK

K-pop stars often make the most of their fame by venturing into a diverse range of second careers, such as acting or business. In recent years, more and more K-pop stars’ names are appearing on the cast lists of major musical productions as idols establish themselves in the highly popular musical scene.

Initially, K-pop stars who landed major roles in musicals were met with hostility, as it was feared that musical actors - actors trained specifically in the genre - could lose out to big-name K-pop stars who enjoyed a huge following.