그들이 뮤지컬계를 평정하고 있다. 아이돌 출신 가수들이 각종 버라이어티 쇼, 드라마, 영화, 그리고 뮤지컬계까지 진출하면서 이들에 대한 평가가 엇갈리고 있다. 그 중, 수준급의 가창력뿐만 아니라 연기력과 퍼포먼스 능력까지 갖춰야하는 뮤지컬 배우로써 성공적인 변신을 한 아이돌들은 누가 있을지 살펴보자.

1. 김준수 (JYJ)



아이돌 그룹 JYJ의 멤버 김준수는 2010년 “모짜르트” 작품과 함께 공식적인 뮤지컬 데뷔를 했다. 가창력뿐만 아니라 연기력과 춤 실력까지 인정받은 그는 점차 뮤지컬계에서의 입지를 확장해 나간다. “천국의 눈물”과 “엘리자베스”에 까지 캐스팅 된 그는 최근 한 온라인 커뮤니티에서 시행한 설문조사에서 “뮤지컬 배우로써 가장 성공할 것 같은 아이돌” 1위로 뽑히는 등 많은 이들의 기대를 한 몸에 받고 있다.

2. 옥주현 (핑클)



걸그룹 1세대 “핑클”의 메인보컬로 1998년 데뷔한 옥주현은 2005년 “아이다”의 주연으로 뮤지컬계에 발을 들였다. 누비아의 공주 역할로 각종 “신인상”을 거머쥔 그녀는 이후, 뮤지컬 대작인 “엘리자베스,” “시카고,” 그리고 “레베카”등의 주인공으로 발탁되며 무대를 휘어잡고 있다.

3. 제시카 (소녀시대)



대한민국 대표 걸그룹 소녀시대의 멤버 제시카는 2007년 데뷔했다. 2년동안 그룹과 솔로활동을 활발히 벌인 그녀는 2009년 “금발이 너무해”로 첫 뮤지컬 무대에 올랐다. 그녀는 2013년 제 7회 “더뮤지컬어워즈"에서 “인기스타상”등을 받으며 뮤지컬 배우로써의 성공 가능성을 내비치고 있다.

4. 바다 (S.E.S)



요정이라 불리던 S.E.S의 바다도 성공적인 뮤지컬 배우로의 행보를 걸어온 아이돌 중 한명이다. 1997년 데뷔한 그녀는 2003년 “페퍼민트”라는 작품을 통해 처음으로 뮤지컬을 시도했으며, 당시 아이돌 중 처음으로 뮤지컬배우를 시도한 가수였다. 이후, “미녀는 괴로워,” “노트르담드파리,” “42번째 브로드웨이”등 저명한 무대에 주연으로 오르며 그녀의 입지를 굳혔다. 바다는 오는 7월 “스칼렛 핌퍼넬”을 통해 1년만에 뮤지컬 무대로 컴백한다.

5. 조규현 (슈퍼주니어)



한류 스타 슈퍼주니어의 멤버 규현은 2010년 뮤지컬 “삼총사”의 “달타냥” 역할로 캐스팅 됐다. 슈퍼주니어 멤버로써의 활동 외에도 솔로 트랙 발매와 각종 드라마 OST에 참여, 그리고 “라디오스타” MC로써도 활약하며 여러 방면에서의 가능성을 보여줬던 그이다. 최근 제 7회 “더뮤지컬어워즈”에서 제시카와 함께 “인기스타상”을 수상하며 뮤지컬 배우로써의 기량도 마음껏 뽐내는 중이다.

(진은수 인턴기자/ 코리아헤럴드)

<관련 영문 기사>

Top 5 idol-turned-musical actors in South Korea

Pop singers in South Korea enjoy taking on new challenges to expand their careers in the entertainment industry into various fields. Musicals are one such avenue. The profession, which requires talent not only in singing but also in acting and dancing, is sometimes considered overly arduous for idols to manage. However, there are a few who overcame these underestimations of idols’ talents and successfully became competent musical actors.

1. Kim Jun-soo (JYJ)

A member of K-pop group JYJ and also known by his stage name Xia, Kim Jun-soo made his debut on the musical stage in 2010 with a leading role in “Mozart.”

Soon he was acknowledged for his skillful singing talent as well as his well-polished acting and dancing skills. He received the “Best New Actor” award at the Musical Awards and the Korea Musical Awards in 2010. Kim continued to perform on stage with “Tears of Heaven” and “Elizabeth.”

Recently, the hallyu star was voted the “idol singer with the most potential to become a musical actor” in an online community poll.

2. Jessica (Girl’s Generation)

Jessica is a member of K-pop girl group Girl’s Generation, which debuted in 2007 under S.M. Entertainment.

After building up her singing career as a vocalist in the nation’s most popular girl group, the 25-year-old singer expanded her range onto the musical stage in 2009. 

Her first musical was “Legally Blonde,” which won her the “Popular Star” award at the Musical Awards in 2013.

3. Cho Kyu-hyun (Super Junior)

Cho Kyu-hyun is a member of Super Junior, which debuted in 2006 with the digital single “U.”

The 26-year-old has shown off his singing ability on solo tracks and contributions to TV series’ soundtracks. He has also appeared on variety shows to show his potential as a future MC of a talk show.

In 2010, Kyuhyun was cast as “D’Artagnan” in the musical “Three Musketeers,” which generated positive responses from audiences. 

He next appeared in “Catch Me If You Can,” a musical based on a true story, which won him the “Popular Star” award in 2013 along with Jessica.

4. Ock Ju-hyun (Fin.K.L)

Debuting in 1998 as the main vocalist of Fin.K.L, which was among the first generation of idol groups in South Korea, the 34-year-old singer successfully transformed herself into a professional musical actress in a bid to pursue her solo career.

Ock made her first step into the musical industry with “Aida” and received a “Best New Actress” award in 2005 for her role as a princess of Nubia. 

Since her successful debut, she has performed in several other prominent musicals such as “Elizabeth” and “Rebecca” in 2012 and 2013, respectively. 

Among the countless awards showing her achievements she won “The Best Actress” award at the Korea Musical Awards in 2012 and the “Best Musical Actress” award at the Golden Ticket Awards in 2013. 

Ock is now more widely recognized as a musical actress than an ex-idol singer.

5. Bada (S.E.S)

Also debuting as a main vocalist of a three-member idol girl group, S.E.S in 1997, Bada is known for her powerful stage manner and unique vocal tone. 

In 2003, Bada officially made her debut as a musical actress with “Peppermint,” taking on the leading role. She gained fame for being the first idol-turned-musical actress at the time. 

Afterwards, she performed in musical “200 Pound Beauty,” as well as “Notre-Dame de Paris,” Legally Blonde” and “42nd Broadway.”

She has won every award a musical actress could wish for in all sorts of musical awards ceremonies including the 15th Korea Musical Awards and the Musical Awards in 2008 and 2009, respectively. 

Bada will return to the musical stage after a year of hiatus with “Scarlet Pimpernel” in July.

Jin Eun-soo, Intern reporter
(janna924@heraldcorp.com)



진은수기자@heraldcorp.com