Panda Power: Chinese Musical Wins Big at Daegu Festival!

The 19th Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF) just wrapped up its 18-day run, showcasing musical theater from around the globe.

Taking home the grand prize was the Hungarian production “Nikola Tesla: Infinite Energy.” This spectacle brought the legendary inventor’s story to life with cutting-edge stage technology.

The award for Best Original Musical went to “Shakespiece,” a Korean production that explores the possibility that Shakespeare may not have been a single author. This DIMF-supported show is giving us something to talk about.

The Chinese musical “Panda” won the Best Foreign Production award. This Korean-Chinese co-production follows the journey of a panda family, delivering a message about harmony with nature.

In the acting department, Jang Eun-joo won the Best Leading Actress award for her portrayal of a woman with dementia in “My Love Oksoon.” Meanwhile, Song Yoo-taek and Shin Jae-beom shared the Best Leading Actor award for their roles in “Seol Gong Chan” and “Sidis: The Right to Be Forgotten,” respectively.

The festival also recognized fresh faces, with Son Woo-hyun and K-pop star Solji from EXID winning awards for their breakout performances in “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” and “Hero,” respectively.

The College Musical Festival section saw Dankook University’s “Elaborate Lives” taking top honors. The festival also recognized works by Chung-Ang University, Kyungsung University, Hansei University and Baekseok University, highlighting the promising future of musical theater.

Kim Hee-chul of the Daegu Arts Center received the Asung Creator Award for his efforts in producing youth-oriented musicals and supporting local theater ecosystems.

Since its debut in 2006, DIMF has been Korea’s platform for international musical theater, fostering creativity and cultural exchange. This year’s festival featured 30 productions from six countries, showcasing Korea’s prominence in the global musical theater scene.