Korea's first priest, Father Kim Dae-geon, revived in dance musical in Dangjin

Dangjin, South Korea, will host a new dance musical, 'Andrea Kim Dae-geon,' to honor the 180th anniversary of the martyrdom of Father Kim Dae-geon, the first Catholic priest in Korea. The performance, scheduled from November 12-15 at the Dangjin Art Center, marks the work's return after its premiere in 2020 and a revival in 2021.

The dance musical blends elements of dance and musical theater to narrate the life and convictions of Father Kim Dae-geon. A representative from the Dangjin Cultural Foundation explained that the production will use movement, music, and stage artistry to convey emotion and narrative, moving beyond dialogue-centric performances to offer a deeper expression of his life and beliefs.

“

We plan to express Father Kim Dae-geon's life and beliefs more deeply through a unique format that conveys emotions and narratives solely through movement, music, and stage art, moving away from dialogue-centered performances.

Born in 1822 in what is now Dangjin during a period of intense Catholic persecution, Kim Dae-geon became Korea's first priest after his ordination in Shanghai in 1845. He was martyred the following year while engaged in missionary work in Korea. In 1984, the Vatican canonized him as a saint.

The Dangjin Cultural Foundation received 150 million won in national funding to produce 'Andrea Kim Dae-geon' as part of a cultural arts center specialization support program. The production is helmed by Choi Seok-yeol, artistic director and resident choreographer of the Iksan City Dance Company, who was formerly the youngest member of the National Dance Company of Korea and a recipient of the Presidential Award at the Korea Dance Awards. The foundation also plans to explore potential cultural exchanges with international art institutions, particularly in Rome and the Vatican, given Father Kim Dae-geon's historical ties to those locations.

“

We hope this performance, being re-staged for the 180th anniversary of his martyrdom, will be a meaningful time to encounter Father Kim Dae-geon's noble spirit and human life anew through modern performing arts.