Ten years after its Korean premiere, the musical adaptation of "Death Note" continues to captivate audiences with its haunting exploration of justice, morality, and the dangerous human desire to play God. The production has returned to D-Cube Link Art Center in southwestern Seoul, proving once again why it remains one of the most eerily relevant theatrical works in Korea's musical theater landscape.
Adapted from the acclaimed Japanese manga and anime series, "Death Note" has established itself as a consistent hit in Korea's musical scene since its 2015 debut. The show has maintained strong ticket sales and popularity, with OD Company taking over production duties in 2022 to continue the legacy of this dark psychological thriller.
The storyline faithfully follows the original manga, centering on Light Yagami, a brilliant but disillusioned high school student who stumbles upon the Death Note – a supernatural notebook with the terrifying power to kill anyone whose name is written within its pages. Convinced that he can cleanse the world of evil, Light begins systematically executing violent criminals with nothing more than a pen stroke. However, his vigilante crusade soon attracts the attention of L, a young detective whose intellectual capabilities match Light's own, setting up an intense psychological battle between the two masterminds.
The current 10th-anniversary production marks a significant shift with its completely refreshed leading cast. Long-time "Death Note" stars Hong Kwang-ho and Kim Jun-su, who had become synonymous with the roles of Light and L in previous seasons, have stepped aside to make way for a new generation of performers. The role of Light Yagami is now shared among three actors: Zo Hyung-gyun, Lim Kyu-hyung, and Kim Min-seok from the musical duo Melomance. Meanwhile, the complex character of detective L is portrayed by Kim Sung-kyu from K-pop boy band Infinite, Sandeul from B1A4, and Tang Jun-sang.
At the October 29 performance reviewed, Zo Hyung-gyun delivered a compelling and confident portrayal of Light, bringing his distinctive vocal quality and measured intensity to anchor the production effectively. Kim Sung-kyu took on the role of L that evening, successfully capturing the detective's characteristic slouched posture and quiet eccentricity while adding a fresh, more humanized interpretation to the character. While his stage presence appeared to still be developing, his refined vocal control – honed through years as Infinite's main vocalist – demonstrated considerable promise for growth as the extended run continues.
The supporting cast proved equally impressive, with actor Yang Seung-ri delivering a standout performance as Ryuk, the shinigami or god of death. Yang's imposing physical presence combined with grotesque theatrical movements and ghoulish humor brought an unpredictable energy that dominated every scene he appeared in, providing crucial moments of dark levity during the show's more intense passages. Lee Young-mi offered a beautiful contrast as Rem, the other shinigami, displaying elegant composure and powerful soaring vocals that added significant emotional depth and weight to the narrative.
Visually, the production continues to showcase one of its greatest strengths through innovative design elements. The creative team employs a tilted stage configuration alongside sweeping LED projections that transform minimal set pieces into vivid, immersive worlds ranging from bustling Shibuya-style pedestrian crossings to animated idol concert venues. Particularly noteworthy is the tennis match scene between Light and L, which utilizes 360-degree LED technology shifts to create an ingenious blend of light and illusion, transforming what could have been a simple dialogue exchange into a moment of creative kinetic tension that captivates the audience.
At 160 minutes in length, the musical necessarily condenses the extensive source material into a tightly structured narrative, which occasionally comes at the expense of deeper character development that might benefit first-time viewers unfamiliar with the original story. However, the production successfully compensates for this limitation by maintaining a laser-sharp focus on the story's central and most crucial philosophical question: examining how easily righteousness can transform into tyranny when moral judgment is placed entirely in fallible human hands.
The production is scheduled to run at D-Cube Link Art Center in Seoul's Guro District through May 10, 2026, giving audiences an extended opportunity to experience this thought-provoking musical adaptation.
