Fusion Play ‘I Am a Good Man’ Reinterprets Korean Classic ‘Heungbu and Nolbu’
What happens when a centuries-old Korean folktale meets modern theater? The answer is “I Am a Good Man,” a new fusion madanggeuk (traditional outdoor play) by The Gwangdae Theater Company, staged Nov. 8-9 at The Theater Plot in Seoul’s Seodaemun District.
The play reimagined “Heungbu and Nolbu” ? a classic morality tale of kindness and greed ? through the lens of modern society. Instead of simply retelling the story of good versus evil, it questioned what “goodness” really means in a world shaped by ambition, survival, and moral gray zones.
Blending traditional and contemporary styles, the production combined the spirit of madanggeuk with physical theater, modern rhythms, and object performance. Percussionists energized the stage with the sounds of buk, jing, and kkwaenggwari, driving the actors’ movements and pulling the audience into the rhythm of the story.
Director Kim Nam-woo described the play as “a performance that doesn’t give answers but asks questions.” Rather than judging who is right or wrong, “I Am a Good Man” explored how stories influence the way people define morality ? and how those lines blur in today’s fast-changing society.
Audiences were not just spectators but part of the “yard,” the shared open space of play and reflection that defines Korean traditional theater. For young viewers curious about classic stories, traditional theater, and creative storytelling, the production showed how even an old folktale can find fresh meaning in the modern world.
Blair For The Junior Times junior/1762916010/1613367844
1. What is the name of the new fusion play?
2. What classic folktale does the play reinterpret?
3. Where was the play performed?
4. Who is the director of the play?
1. Why retell an old story in a modern way?
2. What do you think "goodness" means today?
3. Do you think Heungbu is always good and Nolbu is always bad?
4. How can music help tell a story?
What happens when a centuries-old Korean folktale meets modern theater? The answer is “I Am a Good Man,” a new fusion madanggeuk (traditional outdoor play) by The Gwangdae Theater Company, staged Nov. 8-9 at The Theater Plot in Seoul’s Seodaemun District.
