44th Korea National Theater Festival opens in Busan for first time in 16 years

The city of Busan and the Korea Theater Association announced Thursday that the 44th Korea National Theater Festival will run July 1–26 at venues including Busan Cinema Center, Busan Citizens Hall, Geumjeong Cultural Center, Busan Cultural Center, Baekyang Culture and Arts Center and Gaon Art Hall.

The Korea National Theater Festival traces its roots to the National Regional Theater Festival first held in Busan in 1983, making it the country's largest theater festival and a cornerstone of Korean theater history. The event has driven the development of and exchange among regional theater communities across the country. Returning to Busan for the first time in 16 years — following previous editions there in 1997 (the 15th) and 2010 (the 28th) — this year's festival carries added significance.

The opening ceremony will be held at 8 p.m. July 1 at the Roof Theater of Busan Cinema Center. The opening work is an original musical titled "Je Je — Eo, Je (Eo, Je) and Today." The production dramatically reconstructs the history of Korean theater — from the melodramatic "sinpa" theater of the Japanese colonial era through the inaugural Korea National Theater Festival in 1977, the National Regional Theater Festival launched in Busan in 1983, and the present-day festival — weaving together the stories of key figures who shaped the art form and tracing the growth of regional theater across the country.

Beyond the main competition, in which representative theater companies from all 16 cities and provinces compete, the festival will feature an international exchange program pairing overseas directors with Busan theater companies, a networking festival for young theater artists, and a range of public events — making this edition more expansive and multidimensional than any before.

Busan-born actor Yoo Jae-myung is serving as promotional ambassador, while actor Ko In-beom heads the promotional committee. Tickets are available through Waddama Ticket (waddamaticket.imweb.me), and full details and schedules can be found on the festival's official website (ktf365.org).