The Last Empress () is a Korean musical about the Empress Myeongseong of Korea, based on the play The Fox Hunt by author Yi Mun-yol. It debuted on December 30, 1995 at the Seoul Arts Center.
The musical was created by musical director Yoon Ho-jin, who came up with the idea after watching a production of Cats in London. Yoon urged author Yi Mun-yol to write a play about Empress Myeongseong, leading him to write The Fox Hunt in 1994. The play was adapted into a musical by playwright Kwang Lim-kim.
The musical's songs were composed by Kim Hee-gap, with lyrics by Yang In-ja (translated by Georgina St. George). The musical was produced by the Seoul-based company Arts Communication (A-Com).
The original production at the Seoul Performing Arts Center reached one million ticket sales by March 1, 2007. The musical was performed several times in South Korea, including a production in 2021. In 2025, to celebrate the musical's 30th anniversary, The Last Empress reopened at the Sejong Center in South Korea, playing from January to March.
The musical also played overseas at the New York State Theater, Lincoln Center, in 1997 and 1998, to favorable reviews. It also played in London's West End in 2002, the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles in 2003, and at Toronto's Hummingbird Centre in 2004. The Last Empress was the first Korean musical to be played at Western venues.
Principal casts +Character Original20212025Empress MyeongseongKim So-hyun, Shin Young-sookKim So-hyun, Shin Young-sook, Cha Ji-yeonGojongKim Sun-tak, Son Jun-hoKang Pil-seok, Son Jun-ho, Julian Jootaek KimHong Gye-hunOh Jong-hyukPark Min-seong, , Lee Chang-subYang Jun-mo, Park Min-seong, Hyunghun BaekDaewongunSeo Young-jooLee Jeong-yeol, Lee Jeong-yeol, Seo Young-jooMiuraKim Do-hyung, Choi Min-cheolKim Do-hyung, Moon Jong-won
See also Empress Myeongseong (TV series)
References
External links 'Last Empress,' Musical Echo of Korea's History by Don Kirk, International Herald Tribune (March 27, 1998) Making of an Asian hit: A Korean royal tragedy in the Broadway style by Ricardo Saludo, Asia Week (December 18, 1998) New York Times review 1998 New York Times review 1997 LA Weekly review Asiaweek article