Musical Independent Film ‘Gyeongseong Touring Troupe’ Blooms in Jinju

Filmed “short and strong” over just 13 days, edited for a year and a half — completed through the dedication of local actors and staff.

In the Korean film industry—where musical films already face a tough road—there is someone who has taken on the even greater challenge of making one as a regional independent film under difficult production conditions.

That person is director Park Jin-yong (49), a native of Jinju, whom we met on October 14 at his office in Jungang-dong, Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province.

Transitioning from musical director to film director, Park Jin-yong has completed “Gyeongseong Touring Troupe,” a musical film depicting the lives of a traveling theater troupe during the Japanese colonial era — all on a tight budget of 180 million won (approx. $130,000). The film is now gearing up for its theatrical release.

Born and raised in Jinju, Park spent some time working in Busan and Seoul before deciding to return to his hometown, driven by the conviction that he should “create something meaningful in the provinces.”

His artistic journey began with music. Initially planning to study classical music, he shifted to practical music, and later combined that with an interest in acting, which led him to fall in love with musicals, a true “comprehensive art form.”

“In 2014, I founded The Play, a performance art company, and since then I’ve created around 15 original full-length musicals featuring local stories — including Righteous Spirit, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the March 1 Movement. Some are historical dramas, others are youthful fantasies. Since original musicals are rare in the region, each time we staged one, the audience response was strong.”

Park’s interest in film began in 2017, born from a desire to expand his artistic reach beyond the limitations of the regional stage.

His turn toward filmmaking stemmed from a desire to transcend regional limitations and broaden the scope of his work.

However, producing a film in Jinju — practically a cinematic wasteland — was anything but easy.

Although Park received partial production and distribution support from the Gyeongnam Culture and Arts Foundation and the Korean Film Council, the total budget amounted to only 180 million won (about $130,000).

To make up for the shortfall, he had to supplement the funds with profits from cooperative projects and cultural event planning.

“Musicals require a lot of money because of dance and music, so it’s hard to make a profit. I took the income I earned from education programs and cultural events and used it to fund the movie.”

What makes the project even more meaningful is that it was created primarily by local film talent.

Aside from four or five lead actors, about 30 supporting and minor roles were all filled by performers active in Jinju.

Filming took place over just 13 days, including two days at Hapcheon Image Theme Park, and the rest around Jinju.

“It would’ve been a disaster if it had rained even for a single day. We had to shoot as quickly as possible to save on accommodation costs. In Hapcheon, we couldn’t find extras, so the main cast and staff members changed costumes to play background characters.”

The hardest part came afterward — the long delay in post-production due to the tight budget.

“I decided to just shoot first and earn the money later for post-production,” Park said. As a result, he spent a year and a half editing and finishing the film in between other work to keep the project alive.

After a long and patient journey, “Gyeongseong Touring Troupe” was finally completed. The film poses a historical question through the story of a theater troupe that sided with Japan during the colonial era.

“If I had been born in that time, what choice would I have made? Would I have been part of the independence movement—or a collaborator? These people didn’t become collaborators because they wanted to. Some may have betrayed others simply to survive. I wanted to portray them from various perspectives,” Park explained.

At the Seoul premiere on September 30, more than 200 people attended, with many saying it was “far more entertaining than expected.”

Interest has even started to come from Italy, signaling international curiosity about the work.

While the list of theaters has yet to be confirmed, the film is set for its official release on October 24.

Park’s next goal is to adapt “Gyeongseong Touring Troupe” back into a stage musical, newly reimagined for live performance.

“I want to keep creating musicals,” he said. “Through this, I hope to prove that high-quality cultural content can be continuously produced and flourish even in regional areas—breaking the limitations often placed on local art.”

By Park Jeong-heon