The Department of Performing Arts at Incheon National University will present the play King Lear free of charge for three days, from Thursday, June 5 to Saturday, June 7, at the performance hall in Building 23 on the university’s Songdo Campus. This production is a creative reinterpretation by INU students of the play King Lear, a modern adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic King Lear by playwright Kim Kwan.

As the 93rd regular performance of the Department of Performing Arts, the cast and crew consist of third-year students under the guidance of Professors Ha Byung-hoon (Directing, Acting), Ma Chan-ho (Directing, Acting), and Lim Il-jin (Stage Design, Production).

Synopsis

A place where the will of heaven is the law, and all order moves according to the voice of the sky.

There, Lear—closest to the heavens—dares to defy that order.

The shattered fragments become sharp shards, inflicting wounds both small and fatal on all connected to him.

Scattered power, twisted loyalty, and the tragedy of a family entangled.

The splinters of broken order pierce every heart, and on blood-stained ground, only regret and silence remain.

Whether that death is a sorrow or an eternal rest—only the dead can answer.

Director’s Note & Artistic Intention

Though we are all born only to return to dust, the characters of Lear return not as soil—but as chaff: hollow, foolish, and blown away.

Shakespeare’s King Lear is a timeless tragedy that transcends era and culture, portraying the universal struggles of human nature, power, and familial conflict. This production is based on Lear by Kwan Kim, a Korean adaptation that reimagines the classic through the emotional, linguistic, and familial values of Korean society.

Drawing from Confucian ideals such as filial piety and traditional power succession, we sought to reconstruct Lear through the lens of Korean sensibilities. Moreover, by casting women in roles traditionally played by men, we have woven in the contemporary discourse on gender and women’s social status.

Elements of Korean traditional performance—such as madangnori, native instruments, and folk aesthetics—have been incorporated to highlight the richness of Korea’s cultural heritage. Although the setting suggests ancient Korea, our Lear ultimately reflects modern society, inviting the audience to see their own image within this ancient tale.

The staging merges traditional forms with modern interpretation, creating a visual tension where the past and present collide. Through this, we aim to portray how outdated authority clashes with present-day humanity.

Lear’s downfall, in this context, is not merely personal—it serves as a metaphor for crumbling values, fractured communities, and the fragility of authority in times of social transformation. As Korea navigates its own evolving societal identity, we hope this work offers viewers a moment of reflection and self-examination through the lens of this enduring tragedy.

The play Lear will be performed free of charge for all seats across four showings:

• Thursday, June 5 at 7:30 PM

• Friday, June 6 at 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM

• Saturday, June 7 at 3:00 PM

All performances are open to both Incheon National University students and the general public. Reservations for external guests open on Sunday, May 25 at 12:00 PM. Details on how to make reservations will be available on the official SNS accounts of the INU Department of Performing Arts.
(Inquiries: Department of Performing Arts, Incheon National University, +82-10-5755-3638)

The Department of Performing Arts at Incheon National University, established in 2010, aims to foster creative talents leading the performing arts of the 21st century. Its mission is to nurture not only artists who will represent Korea but also those who will thrive on the global stage. The department emphasizes education focused on the globalization of Korean performing arts by cultivating professional artists capable of engaging in original and innovative artistic work.