Dr. Lumen turns Tarot's Death card into hope on a hospital ward

A stage capturing the meaning of the Tarot card 'DEATH'

To celebrate its 5th anniversary, Kim Hyun-ho Repertory has prepared its fifth original production, the play 'Dr. Lumen,' which will run from July 29 to August 2 at the Yeollin Theater in Daehakro, Seoul. Set in the internal medicine ward of a university hospital, the work depicts the time spent enduring illness by pediatric leukemia patients, critically ill patients, and the families and medical staff who stand by their side.

The poster for this production continues Kim Hyun-ho Repertory's signature Tarot card concept. Notably, it selects the 13th Major Arcana card, 'DEATH,' as its representative image. In Tarot, this card symbolizes not an end, but a new beginning and a cycle that arrives simultaneously with an ending. Through this imagery, the production team intends to manifest the boundary between life and death, and the hope that continues beyond it, upon the stage.

"Hoping to be the light of companionship walking together"

Director Kim Hyun-ho focused on the value of those who stay by one's side rather than on grand miracles. "The light spoken of in 'Dr. Lumen' is not absolute salvation, but the light of companionship—walking together with one another until the end," Kim stated. "Through this light of companionship, staying by each other's side in a dark tunnel, I hope to deliver a calm consolation to everyone passing through the difficult tunnels of life: 'We are with you in the time you are enduring.'"

The cast features Kim Jin-mi leading a lineup including Shin Hwang-cheol, Ahn Jeong-ung, Yang Hui-won, Yoo Tae-han, Lee Myeong-won, Jeon Eun-ju, Jeong Yoon-soo, Ji Min-ji, Jin Ju-ho, Choe Ji-won, and Hyeon Se-dam. Shin Hwang-cheol, who showed an intense presence in last year's 'Blindness,' and Jeon Eun-ju, known for her wide range of acting, join the cast to add weight to the drama.

A 5th-anniversary stage crafted by GiL

This production is produced by the arts community GiL, with Professor Kwon Ji-hye of Dongguk University's Department of Theater and Film participating as the artistic director to anchor the work. The production team includes production director Choe Young-hwan, creative director Lee Gu-ik, lighting director Jo Su-bin, and sound director Jo Hyo-yeon.

Regarding the choice of this work for the 5th-anniversary production, Director Kim Hyun-ho explained, "I wanted to talk about the most fundamental human dignity and care in life. I believe that deeply empathizing with the pain of others, embracing one another, and the word 'family' exert the most powerful force in any era." Tickets can be reserved through Interpark and the Kakao Channel (search for Kim Hyun-ho Repertory).