'Dead Poets Society': Cha In-pyo and Yeon Jung-hoon on Their Debut Stage Performance: "I Am the One Practicing 'Carpe Diem'"

*This content was translated by AI.

The film 'Dead Poets Society' has been reborn on the Korean theater stage.

On the afternoon of the 21st, a press conference for the play 'Dead Poets Society' was held at NOL Theater Daehak-ro Our Card Hall, Dongsung-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Director Cho Kwang-hwa, music director Lee Dong-jun, and actors Cha In-pyo (playing John Keating), Oh Man-seok, and Yeon Jung-hoon attended the event.

When asked about their views on 'education', Cha In-pyo stated, "I believe education helps individuals realize how they live."

Yeon Jung-hoon said, "What we mean by 'Carpe Diem' is not YOLO (You Only Live Once), but rather to 'enjoy the present moment' in any situation. Just as soldiers say, 'If you can't avoid it, enjoy it,' I believe one should enjoy whatever situation arises without regret later."

Cha In-pyo and Yeon Jung-hoon make their debut in theater through 'Dead Poets Society'. Cha In-pyo remarked, "I am following the director's and senior actors' guidance as best as I can," while Yeon Jung-hoon added, "This production will occupy a significant portion of my acting career. I am truly practicing 'Carpe Diem.'"

Park Ji-il shared, "Cha In-pyo's mother, who is over 80 years old, sent me a special message saying, 'I finally got to see my son's performance for the first time. His representative work will no longer be 'Love in Your Arms' but now 'Dead Poets Society.'"

The premiere of the play 'Dead Poets Society' is the first official licensed production in Korea based on the script by Tom Schulman, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay after its 1989 film release. Set in 1959 at Welton Academy, an elite boarding school in New England, USA, the story follows new English teacher John Keating and a group of boys searching for their identities amidst an exam-focused reality.

The original film achieved global acclaim under director Peter Weir's profound direction and Robin Williams' acting, highlighting the tragedy of youth who fail to be respected as independent individuals due to authoritarian educational practices and parental ambitions. The work is renowned for Keating's famous line to his students, "Carpe diem" (Seize the day), and the climactic scene where students defy the headmaster's oppression by standing on their desks and shouting, "O Captain! My Captain!"

In the play, the powerful performances of veteran actors blend seamlessly with the energy of newcomers. Cha In-pyo, Oh Man-seok, and Yeon Jung-hoon portray John Keating, the teacher who inspires students to think independently, delivering emotionally deep performances that anchor the production. Alongside them, young actors Kim Rak-hyun, Lee Jae-hwan, Chan-hee (SF9) as Neil Perry, and Kim Tae-gyun, Moon Sung-hyun as Todd Anderson, vividly depict the close mentor-student bond on live stage amidst resistance against an oppressive reality.

The play 'Dead Poets Society' will run from the 18th to September 13 at NOL Theater Daehak-ro Our Card Hall.

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*This content was translated by AI.