The nominations are in and Kim Jun-su in his leading role as the devilishly handsome Dorian Gray in the eponymous new original musical has earned him a bid for best musical actor of the year at the upcoming fifth annual Yegreen Musical Awards.

Last month, K-pop mega star Kim and his management agency CJeS Culture unveiled their first original production, “Dorian Gray,” which has also earned itself a Yegreen nomination for “Best Musical of the Year.”

The production is a musical adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s 19th century philosophical novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray.” When first published in 1890, Wilde received severe backlash from the British public, many of whom referred to the literary work as indecent and amoral. The story tells the tale of the alluring Dorian Gray, whose newfound fascination with hedonism leads him to sell his soul in the name of beauty.

Alongside Kim, actors Kang Pil-su (“Aranga”), Koh Sang-ho (“Trace U”), Park Eun-tae (“Frankenstein”) and Jo Seung-woo (“Werther”) are vying for the title of best musical actor.

Kim Jun-su is nominated for the Best Musical Actor award for his role in the new Korean original musical “Dorian Gray,” which has also been nominated for Best Musical of the Year award at this year‘s Yegreen Musical Awards. (CJeS Culture)

The Yegreen Musical Awards are the first to focus on homegrown musical shows. A total of 86 musical works (61 original works and 25 licensed productions) have been selected this year, covering both large-scale and independent low-budget productions staged for more than 10 days in Seoul between July 2015 and October 2016.

“Unlike other awards, this awards ceremony is important because it focuses attention on original location productions,” said Kim Seung-up, president of the Chungmu Art Center and one of this year’s Yegreen Musical Awards judges, during a press conference held in Seoul on Monday.

“It recognizes our efforts to develop new productions, revive old ones as well as obtain international licenses to be able to stage a wide variety of performances in Seoul,” Kim said.

Yegreen Musical Awards judge Han Jin-seob prepares to announce this year‘s musical awards nominees, during a press conference, held at the Chungmu Art Center in Seoul on Monday. (Chungmu Art Center)

In the category of leading ladies, former K-pop star-turned-musical actress Ok Joo-hyun has been nominated for her sinfully seductive role as real-life Dutch exotic dancer Mata Hari in the world premiere production “Mata Hari at the Moulin Rouge” earlier this year.

The highly anticipated grand musical came from the collective minds of Tony Award-winning Broadway megastars: director-choreographer Jeff Calhoun, with music by Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Jack Murphy and writer Ivan Menchell.

“Mata Hari at the Moulin Rouge” has also earned a nomination for the year’s best musical along with “Gone Tomorrow” and “Aranga.”
Actresses Kim So-hyun (“The Last Empress”), Park So-hyun (“Turandot”), Jeon Me-do (“Werther”) and Cha Ji-yeon (“Lost Face 1895”) have also earned nominations for best actress.

The upcoming Yegreen Musical Awards ceremony is slated to be held on Nov. 7 at the Chungmu Art Center in Seoul.

By Julie Jackson (juliejackson@heraldcorp.com)