Musical star and former TVXQ member Kim Jun-su gets out of his comfort zone with 'Beetlejuice'
Published: 05 Mar. 2026, 10:56
Updated: 06 Mar. 2026, 10:03
Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI
![Actor Kim Jun-su plays the character Beetlejuice in the musical ″Beetlejuice″ playing at the LG Arts Center in Gangseo District, western Seoul, through March 22. [CJ ENM]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/06/23e03537-6bfd-46cd-b2db-59ee007a8b26.jpg)
Actor Kim Jun-su plays the character Beetlejuice in the musical ″Beetlejuice″ playing at the LG Arts Center in Gangseo District, western Seoul, through March 22. [CJ ENM]
Singer and actor Kim Jun-su is widely regarded as one of the most bankable performers in Korea’s musical theater scene. Some even say that the first day he stepped onto the musical stage in "Mozart!", the former TVXQ reshaped the entire musical scene in Korea.
Even 16 years after his musical debut, fans must still fight through a fierce “ticketing war” to score tickets to his shows. The Korean premiere of the musical “Aladdin,” which he headlined, ranked No. 1 in gross musical ticket sales for 2024 and the first half of 2025, according to the Korea Performing Arts Box Office Information System.
The Korean production of the musical “Beetlejuice” has also seen every performance featuring Kim sell out from December to the end of March. For “Death Note,” which runs through May, tickets for his scheduled appearances are already sold out through March 29.
But despite his popularity and talent, he has been knocked for "playing it safe." That, Kim hopes, will end with his new endeavor in "Beetlejuice."
"I wanted the public to stop seeing me as an actor with a limited range," Kim said in an interview at a cafe in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Feb. 23.
Kim is best known as a former member of the popular K-pop boy band TVXQ, which debuted in 2003.
![A scene from the musical ″Beetlejuice″ playing at the LG Arts Center in Gangseo District, western Seoul, through March 22. [CJ ENM]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/06/3a964ed0-ffba-4849-bf5e-5d1639345998.jpg)
A scene from the musical ″Beetlejuice″ playing at the LG Arts Center in Gangseo District, western Seoul, through March 22. [CJ ENM]
“‘Beetlejuice’ was so challenging because it drastically deviated from my previous works. I kept asking myself, ‘Why did I choose to do this?’”
Based on its namesake 1988 film directed by Tim Burton, “Beetlejuice” is a musical about the eccentric ghost and the trouble that unfolds after he meets a human girl named Lydia.
Conventionally, Kim is best known for portraying tragic roles in productions such as “Elisabeth” and “Dracula,” shows much more grounded and less flashy than his new show. He chose to take on an unexpected role of Beetlejuice in the face of a tonal shift — because he sensed a larger shift happening in the audience itself.
![Actors perform in the musical ″Beetlejuice″ playing at the LG Arts Center in Gangseo District, western Seoul, through March 22. [CJ ENM]](https://koreaseafood.online/data/photo/2026/03/06/a50d34fd-2564-4863-af4f-38173a781a95.jpg)
Actors perform in the musical ″Beetlejuice″ playing at the LG Arts Center in Gangseo District, western Seoul, through March 22. [CJ ENM]
“In Korea, productions with darker narratives and lyrical music had long been favored. But seeing the success of quirky, exciting musicals like ‘Kinky Boots’ and ‘Aladdin,’ I felt the audiences’ tastes had changed,” Kim said. “I thought ‘Beetlejuice’ added a unique touch of black comedy to the quirky musical genre, so I decided to challenge myself by stepping into a comedic musical for the first time."
The actor believes his public perception may also have changed after “Beetlejuice.”
“When my casting was first announced, some audience members reacted with confusion. There had been comments that I carefully chose roles that suited me and that I wasn’t an actor with a wide range of acting spectrum. I believed that if I pulled this off, such critics would no longer follow me,” Kim confessed.
Rather than strictly adhering to the original film, Kim added his own touch to bring Beetlejuice to life.
Actor Kim Jun-su reprises the role of L in the musical “Death Note," based on the Japanese bestselling manga of the same name at the Grand Theater of Chungmu Art Center in Jung District, central Seoul on April 8, 2022.
“It may feel somewhat different from the original version, but I tried to add a touch of cuteness, like Casper the Friendly Ghost, instead of portraying him as a grotesque monster," Kim explained. "The production team was on board as well. If I had been forced to adhere strictly to the original film, it would have been difficult for me to take on the role.”
Starting March 10, Kim will also reprise his role of L in “Death Note,” a musical based on the famous manga of the same name. The show focuses on the battle between a genius high school student, Light, and detective L over a notebook that can kill anyone whose name is written in it. Kim has played L since the show’s 2015 premiere and is returning for the fourth production.
“Although it’s the same character, reinterpreting the character from my previous performances is another challenge,” Kim said.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY HA NAM-HYUN [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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