Hwang Jung-min, the award-winning actor who exhibited his versatility in his recent film, "Happiness," returns to musical stage early next year after a four-year hiatus. The OD Musical Company, one of local musical productions in Korea, said that Hwang will take the role of Guido Contini, a film director facing a midlife crisis, in the Korean adaptation of the Broadway musical, "Nine."

The musical will hit the stage on Jan. 22 for a seven-week run at the LG Arts Center in Yeoksam-dong, southern Seoul.

Based on an Italian play by Mario Fratti which was inspired by Federico Fellini's autobiographical film "8 1/2," the musical tells a story of a 40-year-old man entangled in a web of romantic difficulties in early-1960s Venice.

The Broadway production, directed by Tommy Tune and choreographed by Tommie Walsh, opened in May 1982. It eventually won five Tony Awards, including for best musical of the year.

In 2003, the remake of the musical, which starred Antonio Banderas as Guido, hit the stage. The performance earned him a Tony Award nomination.

Hwang is to lead a cast of more than a dozen women in the Korean production of "Nine;" perhaps he hopes to be like Banderas, who mesmerized the audience with his major "Italian charm" four years ago in New York.

In this story, the women in the Italian director's life include his wife, mistress, leading lady, mother, first sexual encounter, and producer. They swarm around the once-lauded director as he attempts to revive his career and get some inspiration by escaping to a Venetian spa.

Hwang, according to the OD Musical Company, was fascinated by the performance of Banderas during the Tony Awards which he saw on TV, and that motivated him to play the role of a struggling film director.

"I feel really thrilled and excited. I will do my best because this is the musical I really wanted to do," said Hwang through the musical production company.

He has often been commenting on his return to musical stage: "I want to give a stimulus to my acting career by returning to the musical stage, a place that feels like home."

Before his movie career, Hwang was known as stage actor who performed in a number of dramas and musical productions. The 37-year-old actor debuted in the drama called "Subway Line 1," a long-running hit musical which produced a number of top actors like Seol Kyung-gu ("Oasis") and Cho Seung-woo ("Tazza"). The actor also performed in several musicals before gaining recognition as 'versatile movie actor.' The musicals he has played in include "Broadway 42nd" (2004), "Jesus Christ Superstar" (1997), and "Cats" (1999).