The production presentation of the opening performance of the 2025 Sound Festival, jointly produced by the Jeonju World Sound Festival Organizing Committee and the National Theater, was held at 2 p.m. on the 10th at the Sky Theater of the National Theater.

The production presentation was attended by Lee Wong-jun, the chairman of the Sound Festival Organizing Committee, Park In-geon, the director of the National Theater, and other co-production officials. It featured key production personnel such as director and playwright Yona Kim, Herbert Muramore (stage design), Falk Bauer (costume design), Benjamin Lutke (video/live camera), and Frank Schenbalt (stage/costume assistant), introducing the concept of the joint production and the direction of the work.

"Shimcheong" is a large-scale production involving over 130 performers, including former members of the National Changgeuk Company. Director Yona Kim, who received acclaim for directing the National Opera's "Tanhoizer" last year, challenges his first pansori-based work by taking on both the script and direction.

With a reputation for breathing new life into classics and presenting contemporary discourse, expectations are high for a new interpretation of the pansori "Shimcheongga." The production portrays the protagonist "Shimcheong" as a figure representing all the social underdogs of this land who have been oppressed without being able to voice their own opinions or exert their strength, resisting the Confucian values ingrained throughout the original story.

Han Seung-seok will handle the composition, and composer Choi Woo-jung will serve as co-music directors. German creative teams will contribute to the stage art, presenting a modern stage setting.

Park In-geon, the theater director, expressed gratitude to the Sound Festival for making the joint production decision first. He stated, "As this is the first joint production for the National Theater, we will strive to promote this work globally by expanding its scale."

Lee Wong-jun, the organizing committee chairman, emphasized, "It is a great moment to see the production presentation materialize after nearly two years of incubation. Joint productions are not common in Korea, so there have been challenges, but we hope for much support and encouragement for this new endeavor."