South Korea is celebrating a historic win in the Tony Awards, with the acclaimed Broadway production “Maybe Happy Ending” taking home six prestigious awards, including Best Musical. The musical, which premiered in Seoul nearly a decade ago, tells the story of a romance between two humanoid robots living in an apartment building on the outskirts of Seoul. This achievement has cemented South Korea’s status as a cultural powerhouse, with the country now having won the four most coveted awards in US entertainment.
The musical’s success is a testament to the country’s growing influence in the entertainment industry. “Maybe Happy Ending” was nominated for 10 awards and also won Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. The Tony wins have given South Korea EGOT status, joining the ranks of esteemed award-winning countries. Previously, South Koreans had won Emmy awards for television, with “Squid Game” winning in 2022, Grammys for music, with soprano Sumi Jo winning in 1993, and Oscars, with the film “Parasite” winning four awards in 2020.
South Korean lyricist Hue Park and American composer Will Aronson took home the Tony for Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical. Park and Aronson, who met as students at New York University, had written the musical in both English and Korean before its Broadway debut in 2024. Former “Glee” star Darren Criss, who played one of the robots, Oliver, won Best Lead Actor in a Musical, marking his first Tony win.
The musical’s success has sparked widespread celebration and pride among South Koreans. “This is amazing!” one post on Threads reads. “I heard the Broadway version got even more polished. I’m so proud that Korea is becoming a true cultural powerhouse.” Another post reads, “This feels like a dream come true for the Korean Wave,” comparing the win to other notable achievements, such as “Parasite” winning the Oscars and “Squid Game” winning the Emmys.
“Maybe Happy Ending” has been praised for its innovative storytelling and incorporation of Korean elements, such as Jeju Island, fireflies, and hwabun (a plant pot), which were retained in the Broadway version. The musical has been revived several times in South Korea and abroad, showcasing the country’s rich creativity in the global entertainment industry.