The stage production of Life of Pi was abruptly cancelled just five minutes before curtain call, leaving audiences stunned.
The performance, scheduled for 7:30 PM on February 10 at the GS Arts Center in Seoul, marked Park Jung-min's long-awaited return to the theater stage after approximately nine years.
However, shortly before the show began, production company S&Co posted a notice inside the venue announcing that the performance could not proceed due to a technical malfunction.
110% Refund Offered, But Frustration Remains
The company pledged to refund 110% of the ticket price and issued an apology to attendees. Despite the compensation, dissatisfaction among audience members persisted.
Reports indicate that many theatergoers had traveled from outside Seoul specifically to see Park Jung-min. Adding to the frustration, his scheduled performances have consistently sold out, with only restricted-view seats typically remaining available.
The lack of detailed explanation initially intensified criticism. The production company later clarified that the cancellation stemmed from a malfunction in certain lighting equipment discovered during final technical checks.
According to the organizers, the lighting devices failed to operate for unknown reasons, and the decision to cancel was made with safety as the top priority. They also promised to investigate the exact cause of the malfunction and provide further updates.
Life of Pi tells the story of a boy stranded in the Pacific Ocean who survives aboard a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. The production has been running since its December premiere.
