National Theater Company of Korea to open season with 'Manseon' in March
The National Theater Company of Korea kicks off its 2025 season with “Manseon: The Yearning of a Fisherman,” a landmark work in Korean realism drama, set to run from March 6 to 30 at Myeongdong Theater.
First staged in 1964, “Manseon” portrays the struggles of working-class families overshadowed by industrialism, centering on the tragic downfall of a household caught between economic desperation and an unyielding pride in their seafaring way of life.
Written by Chon Seung-sei, the play earned him the New Artist Award at the inaugural Korean Theater and Film Arts Awards, now the Baeksang Arts Awards, in 1965. It was also made into a film of the same title in 1967.
Set in a small fishing village on Korea’s southern coast, the play follows a fisherman Gomchi and his family as they battle poverty and harsh seas.
Burdened by mounting debt and forced to rent his boat at extortionate rates, Gomchi finds himself trapped in a cycle of despair. His wife urges him to leave the sea behind and start anew, but driven by stubborn pride and unrelenting hope for one last great catch (“manseon” in Korean refers to a boatful of fish), he sets sail once more with his young son.
The highlight of the production is its dramatic climax, where 5 tons of rain pour down onto the set, creating a striking visual of the chaos of a storm engulfing a boat at sea.
After its premiere, “Manseon” remained largely absent from the stage until its revival in 2021. Initially planned as a celebration of the theater company’s 70th anniversary in 2020, the production was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, with performances in 2023 and now in 2025, it has become a staple in the company’s repertoire.
English subtitles will be available for performances on Thursdays and Sundays, except on March 23.
hwangdh@heraldcorp.com
