Why Kim Junsu Took On 'Beetlejuice,' His First Black Comedy Musical

Kim Junsu wanted to settle something. After 16 years on the musical stage, the singer and actor took on his first black comedy role with "Beetlejuice," and he emphasizes that the choice was deeply personal.

"Every project has been a challenge, and I've thrown myself into each one," Kim shared. "But people kept saying I just pick roles I know I can do well. I wanted to prove with 'Beetlejuice' that Kim Junsu can pull off this kind of character, too."

Kim spoke in a recent interview at a cafe in Seoul's Gangnam district about "Beetlejuice," directed by Matt DiCarlo and Sim Seol-in. Based on Tim Burton's iconic 1988 film, the musical features Kim in the title role—a mischievous ghost trapped in the netherworld for millennia, desperate to find a living person to say his name three times so he can finally exist.

This marks the first black comedy of his extensive musical career. He noted that even his close friends questioned why he wouldn't just stick to the well-reviewed, dramatic roles that cleanly fit his established image. "That's not who I am," he countered. "If I get comfortable, I stop having fun."

He also addressed a critique that has trailed him for years. "I think I became the actor I am today by taking on characters that didn't obviously suit me," he reflected. "Yet, every time a show ended, some would comment that my range isn't actually that wide, arguing that I just select roles tailored to my strengths. That always hurt." With "Beetlejuice," he wanted a completely different reaction: "I wanted people to say, 'Oh, Kim Junsu can excel in this genre, too.'"

"Beetlejuice" demands fast-tempo numbers and dialogue that often borders on rapid-fire rap. Kim drilled the lines meticulously until they felt entirely natural. "The pacing is so fast that I work exceptionally hard to keep every single word clear," he explained. During rehearsals, he deconstructed the monologues, breaking them down to find his own rhythm before building the pacing back up.

"There were so many lines and the tempo was so quick, I must have asked myself ten times why I agreed to do it," he said with a laugh. "But I kept telling myself to push through, that it would get easier. Looking back, I'm incredibly glad I took the leap."

On stage, Kim remains fiercely in character while simultaneously bouncing off the audience through spontaneous ad-libs. While breaking the fourth wall can easily disrupt a character's immersion, Kim believes this specific role welcomes it. "I don't think there are many characters who can react to the audience in real time the way Beetlejuice does," he noted. "Ad-libs that would normally break the flow actually work here because it aligns perfectly with his unpredictable nature." The character's chaotic, playful streak gives him room to improvise, and audiences readily accept it as part of the theatrical experience.

The heavy production also relies on massive sets and intricate special effects. "Unexpected technical mishaps are bound to happen," Kim said. "But Beetlejuice has this 'so what?' attitude built into his persona, so I've come to trust that I can roll with anything." When an onstage mistake occurs, he seamlessly turns it into a comedic bit with the crowd. "These days, it almost feels disappointing when a show ends without a minor mishap," he added playfully.

"Beetlejuice," which opened last December, is now approaching the end of Kim's scheduled run. He noted that he has loosened up significantly since the tense early performances. "At first, I'd worry about how to get the show back on track if an ad-lib went slightly off the rails," he recalled. "Now, I have room to play. I react to the audience on instinct, and the energy between the stage and the seats clicks much better."

"I used to find my catharsis in powerful vocals," he mused. "Now, it's the collective sound of the audience laughing. I always loved hearing people sniffle during sad scenes, but with 'Beetlejuice,' seeing all those laughing faces means more to me."

What he hopes for from the theatergoers is ultimately simple. "I want them to laugh hard and leave the theater feeling light," he said. Some fans have shared that they used a half-day of vacation just to catch a matinee show. "I know exactly how much effort that takes, and I'm deeply grateful," he said thoughtfully. "If I can give those people one genuinely good laugh to clear their heads, that's everything to me as an actor."

"I told myself that if I could pull this off, no role would scare me again, and I successfully built my own distinct version of Beetlejuice," he concluded. "Taking on a completely new genre and a character that breaks the traditional mold—I think this is going to be a true turning point in my career."