The Seoul-born musical Maybe Happy Ending claimed six trophies, including Best Musical, at the 78th Tony Awards, marking a historic milestone for Korean performing arts and demonstrating the global rise of K-culture beyond film and music.
At the heart of this success is Seoul’s long-term investment in its performing arts ecosystem. The city has steadily implemented policies supporting artistic creation, infrastructure, and audience development, forming a virtuous cycle that enables performances to flourish.
To strengthen creative output, the city funds hundreds of original projects annually and operates programs such as Seoul Creative Theaters and artist-in-residence support.
Infrastructure like the Seoul Theater Creation Center and Namsan XR Studio offers creators access to rehearsal spaces, technical equipment, and mentoring, while platforms like Re:Stage Seoul promote sustainable production through shared props and costumes.
Seoul also emphasizes audience development. Initiatives such as Performance Spring Day for students, the Seoul Youth Culture Pass, and discounted Friday night tickets aim to make cultural experiences accessible for all age groups.
These efforts are showing results: a 2024 survey reported that 76.1% of Seoul residents attended a cultural event, with live performances and exhibitions surpassing even movie attendance.
Looking ahead, the city will launch its first Seoul Autumn Festa from October 3 to November 11, a new 40-day celebration of pure performing arts.
It aims to brand Seoul as a performing arts capital alongside Broadway and the West End.
