Musical ‘여명의 눈동자’ Faces Controversy: Why Was the Performance Canceled?

[TV Daily reporter Han Seoyul] The production behind the musical Eyes of Dawn — which faced criticism after canceling performances on the day they were scheduled — has issued an apology and is working to contain the fallout.

The company abruptly canceled the 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. shows on the 8th at Converse Stage Arena Yeomyeong in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, offering no clear explanation. The announcement prompted public backlash.

The evening’s performance had been organized as a special invitation for firefighters and their families at the suggestion of lead actor Baek Seong-hyun. The event was intended to honor those who serve the nation, but the last-minute cancellation forced the invited guests to leave disappointed.

Baek issued an apology on behalf of the cast. As one of the lead actors in Eyes of Dawn, I feel a heavy responsibility for this disruption, he said, bowing his head as he apologized to the audience — especially the firefighters who had been invited that day.

Baek explained that the cancellation stemmed from structural issues between the production company and the cast. He asked the public to understand the difficult decisions some fellow actors felt they had to make to protect their legitimate rights.

As criticism mounted, production company Next Sketch released an official statement aimed at calming the situation. The company said it had seen Baek’s apology and pledged to take responsibility by delivering a better production.

Next Sketch accepted full responsibility for the day’s cancellations and offered a formal apology. We bow our heads to the firefighters and their families who attended at Baek Seong-hyun’s invitation, and to all the audience members who came to see Eyes of Dawn, the company said.

The company added that it is developing follow-up measures for the affected performances. It promised ticket refunds for the canceled shows and said it intends to present the first performance featuring Baek Seong-hyun and Park Jeong-ah on March 17.

Next Sketch vowed to do everything possible to prevent a recurrence and promised audiences a reliable production going forward. On behalf of all staff, we apologize once again, the statement read.

While the company did not disclose detailed background information about the dispute, some reports have speculated that the stoppage was related to unresolved payment settlements between the production and the cast. Baek’s reference to structural problems between producers and actors and the necessity of difficult decisions to protect rightful claims added fuel to those suspicions. The theater industry has seen similar cancellations in the past arising from unpaid wages and contract disputes involving actors and crew.

Nevertheless, Next Sketch has not revealed specifics about the conflict and said it plans to resume performances as scheduled beginning with the next show. Industry observers are watching closely to see whether the production can return to a stable run.

Eyes of Dawn is a stage adaptation of the MBC drama of the same name, which explores Japan’s Pacific War. The production recently extended its run and is scheduled to continue performances through April 12.

[TV Daily reporter Han Seoyul news@tvdaily.co.kr / Photo courtesy of Next Sketch]