Ae-rang’s alluring voice fills the stage and a government official named Bae Bijang can’t take his eyes off of her bewitching figure. He had promised his dead wife to remain faithful to her, but now he’s head over heels in love with Ae-rang, the lady of pleasure. This is how the love story in “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” begins.

Currently in play at Seoul Arts Center in southern Seoul, Korea’s first home-grown musical “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” made its debut on October 26, 1966. Yegreen Troupe had produced the show with a star-studded cast of the legendary diva Patty Kim and other famed singers and actors of the time. It was no surprise that the nation’s first creative musical comedy was a huge hit. Here’s Ms. Kim Min-jeong, who co-directed the musical.

“Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” is Korea’s first creative musical, adapted from a Korean folk song titled “Bae Bijang Taryeong.” The power of a classic remains strong over time and that’s where the strength of “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” comes from. When it first debuted in 1966, it drew 16,000 people over seven showings. It was absolutely amazing to record that number in just seven shows. It was as hot as an idol star’s concert of today. It is a fun show filled with dance, songs, satire, and wit.

The debut production had employed some 300 performers, which included fifty drummers who put on a spectacular double-ended drum group dance. During the 1960s when most Koreans didn’t know a thing about a musical, “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” represented a landmark event in the history of Korean performing arts. This is why October 26th, the day “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” was first performed, was designated in 1994 as the Day of Musical in Korea.

“Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” was adapted six times over the past 47 years since its debut. The last time it was performed was in 1996 when Seoul Performing Arts Company produced it under the title “Ae-rang and Bae Bijang.” Now the musical’s seventh adaptation has made it to the stage seventeen years after the last production. The most noticeable difference in the latest version is the addition of technological elements to make the show more visually stunning. Here’s Ms. Kim Min-jeong, co-director of the show.



It’s fantastic. We use nine projectors for our visual effects. Most other productions use two to four projects, but we have nine, placed all around the theater to create more vivid and three-dimensional images. The audiences are amazed at the reality of the images, because they were expecting two-dimensional footages. They really enjoy this new experience. We also use colorful and splendid costumes and modern variations of old folk songs. These are what set us apart from past productions.

This production was co-directed by the Broadway choreographer and director Gustavo Zajac to better appeal to foreign audiences. Bringing his expertise to the musical, the co-director said this Korean-style musical is a very interesting piece and was confident that it would rival any other foreign production on the global stage.

Since it has a lot to do with Korean dance, Korean culture, and the Korean location of Jeju Island, I think the subject matter would interest foreigners. And the plot is basically a love story, which is international. It is set against Korea, but everyone understands it as a universal love story. I think foreigners would empathize with it, too. I directed the musical “Nine” in Japan last week, and three Japanese actresses came to see it. They didn’t understand the language, but ended up crying at the end. Judging from this, love is an international language that everyone can understand.

Just like the title says, love comes to the hearts of Ae-rang and Bae Bijang cautiously, in small steps. The first act of “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” starts with a scene where Jeju giseng Ae-rang bids goodbye to official Jeong Bijang, who is transferred back to the capital after his tenure in Jeju Island ends. Bijang is the title of a middle-ranking public servant, often an aide to a mayor or governor. As the curtains open, a field of yellow rape flowers fills the stage and a big stone sculpture stands guard on one side.

Ae-rang seems saddened by the parting, but actually she is sick of how noblemen deal with the matters of the heart. Here’s actress Kim Sun-young playing the role of Ae-rang.

Ae-rang is a courtesan belonging to a Jeju government agency. She is quite famous in Jeju Island. She deals mostly with visiting noblemen, but, having experienced their insincere and hypocritical ways, she decides to give them the taste of their own medicine.

Ae-rang asks the departing official to pull out one of his front teeth as a parting token.

She wanted to teach him a lesson, never to let him play with a woman’s heart.



Then Bae Bijang makes his entrance, in front of Ae-rang, who is used to being dumped.

He came to Jeju Island to assist the new governor. He is of pure heart, having promised his dead wife to remain faithful to her, even after death.

To honor his promise to his wife, Bae Bijang stays away from the giseng ladies and even alcohol. The new mayor, tired of his stuffy behavior, calls him out to a nice place to arrange a meeting with Ae-rang.

While the audience is captivated by the picturesque scenery of Jeju Island and colorful hanbok of the cast members, Bae Bijang is smitten by Ae-rang on the first sight. Having completely forgotten about his promise, Ba Bijang can’t stop thinking about the lovely courtesan.

Jeju’s new governor, servants and even other courtesans ridicule Bae Bijang for being tempted by Ae-rang’s beauty, saying Bae Bijang of lofty ideals was nothing but an ordinary man with all the natural urges.

Bae Bijang is tormented by his wavering heart, more so since his dead wife appears in his dream to make him feel guilty. This scene uses a hologram to project the dead wife on the stage. Here’s the musical’s co-director Kim Min-jeong to tell us more.

The actress who plays the dead wife was shot from various angles and a fan was blown in her direction to make her clothes flutter in the wind. A hologram is so hard to make. There are so many factors to consider, like the angles and color variations. It took a long time to shoot the hologram. It’s shown for only twenty to thirty seconds on stage, but it took much preparation and many days to make the detailed thirty-second segment.

In addition to the hologram, “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” employs the 3D mapping method to use the stone statue as if it is a member of the cast. Here’s the show’s co-director Kim Min-jeong to explain.

Three-dimensional mapping involves projecting an image on any surface or object. Using this method, we projected an image of face on the stone statue, making him appear as if he is blinking his eyes or sticking out his tongue.

A big black statue stands in a field of yellow rape flowers. Without the special effect of 3D mapping, it would have been a mere unnoticeable prop on the stage, but with the images projected on its rough surface it becomes an endearing mascot of “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily.” The 3D mapping technique has been used to create a waterfall.



Bae Bijang falls head over heels in love with Ae-rang, but she is determined to get him in trouble. But realizing that Bae Bijang is different from other callous noblemen she despises, she gradually opens her heart to him as well. This development is different from the classic folk tale on which the musical is based. Here’s actor Hong Kwang-ho playing the role of Bae Bijang.

The musical “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” is different from the classic “Story of Bae Bijang,” although the musical is based on the folk tale. In the original story Bae Bijang’s wife is alive and well and Bae Bijing is a player eagerly seeking carnal pleasure. The story ends with Bae Bijang humiliated for being such a cad. It’s a satire of the pretentious life indulged by noblemen. But in the musical Bae Bijang’s wife is dead and he has given up on love after his wife’s death. Ae-rang is also an experienced courtesan, who gave up on ever being really loved. The musical follows how these two people open up their hearts and fall in love.

Only the bare bones of the original Bae Bijang story are kept in the musical. Instead of the deceptive and wanton Bae Bijang, the musical features a romantic figure who overcomes all odds to win his love. The music and lyrics were taken directly from the debut performance. Although the scores are 47 years old, they don’t sound at all outdated or boring. It’s amazing how high quality and witty the lyrics are, passing the test of time of nearly half a century. Here’s actress Kim Sun-young in the role of Ae-rang to explain more.

Stage lighting and costumes were really changed from the original production, but the music and dialogues were kept almost intact. I was naturally worried when while we were rehearsing. Shouldn’t we change the music and script to suit the modern trends? But I was ashamed of thinking so when the musical made it to the stage. The original piece was so perfect that if we tried to change it too much, it would have ruined the whole production. I was really surprised at the end that this love story had survived the passing of time.

The technologically updated version of “Sweet, Come to Me Stealthily” merges the beautiful scenery of Jeju Island shown through the 3D mapping method with the splendid costumes, well-arranged music scores, and impressive performances of the cast. There was not a moment of inattention during the 140-minute performance. All the audience members were delighted by the wit displayed in the Korean classic and left the show humming the catchy melody of its aria “Come to Me Stealthily.”