Jemulpo Culture Foundation to stage 4 performances at Jemulpo-gu Cultural Center on Sept. 12-13; revised script and new cast members join second run
Behind the success of the 1950 Incheon Landing Operation were people whose names are difficult to find even in official records.
The story of the Kello Unit — an irregular intelligence force that carried out dangerous missions without military rank or the recognition afforded to war heroes — is returning to the stage.
The Jemulpo Culture Foundation will stage the original musical "Kello" from Sept. 12 to 13 at the performance hall of the Jemulpo-gu Cultural Center.
The musical is based on the Kello Unit, which conducted intelligence operations to help ensure the success of the Incheon Landing Operation during the Korean War.
The work focuses on the lives of those who operated in the shadows of a large-scale military campaign that turned the tide of the war, yet were never recognized as regular soldiers and were largely left out of the historical record.
At the center of the story are women from different walks of life who volunteer for the military, each carrying her own personal history. Trained as spies under the command of James, a US Army officer and former CIA operative, they come to know one another not by their real names but by nicknames. Through grueling training and life-or-death missions, what begins as an uneasy fellowship deepens into an unbreakable bond on the battlefield.
The musical follows their contributions to the success of the Incheon Landing Operation and the harsh reality that awaits them after the war ends — denied proper recognition of their service because they were not regular soldiers, and ultimately forgotten by history. Through their story, the work illuminates the gap between heroes whose names were recorded and those who were not.
The production is drawing particular attention as the second staging of the musical, following its premiere last year.
The foundation has refined some scenes and narrative elements from the original production to strengthen the work, and a largely new cast will bring a fresh atmosphere to the stage.
The timing of the performances also stands out, coinciding with commemorations of the Incheon Landing Operation. The production offers a counterpoint to the conventional focus on military strategy and battlefield outcomes, restoring through the performing arts the lives of individuals who vanished from history without a name.
Performances are scheduled for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on both Sept. 12 and Sept. 13. Tickets are 20,000 won ($15) for all first-floor seats and 10,000 won for all second-floor seats.
"Kello is a work that brings back to the stage the lives and friendships of people who were never recorded in the history of war," a foundation official said. "Having refined the production since last year's premiere, we hope to deliver a deeper story and greater emotional resonance to audiences."
gilbert@heraldcorp.com
