The ballet Prince Hodong, sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism as a part of the Nation Branding project, is an original work based on a traditional tale, The Princess Nakrang and The Prince Hodong. Sung-nam Lim, the 1st Artistic Director of the Korea National Ballet, choreographed Prince Hodong in 1988 and Byung-nam Moon, the Deputy Artistic Director, newly interpreted it as a 21st century ballet. Although there have been many dances created based on Korean literature over the last 50 years of the Korea National Ballet, the ballet Prince Hodong is itself a great piece of art because the tale Prince Hodong consists of a dramatic plot. Prince Hodong is based on our cultural text and with the themes - the nations, war, love, betrayal, and death - this magnificent and splendid work is composed of 2 acts and 12 scenes which represents a combination of delicate modern techniques and classical sentiment. Prince Hodong is a ballet which presents a good example of the globalization of Korean culture in the 21st century by combining western artistic culture with Korean traditional culture.

Synopsis

The legend of Prince Hodong and Princess Nakrang is told in Goguryu texts that are over a thousand years old from the Three Kingdoms era. By the time of Goguryu’s third ruler, King Daemunshin, Goguryu peaked as a powerful nation. Nakrang, on the other hand, allied with China’s Han dynasty and possessed Jammyungo which played itself whenever danger approached the nation. Because of Jammungo, Goguryu was unsuccessful in its attempts to conquer Nakrang.

First Act

Goguryu attacks Nakrang with a huge army, but the legendary drum Jammyungo alerts Nakrang’s army and they successfully defend their country. After losing in the battle, Goguryu’s King Daemushin prays to his gods and orders his son, Prince Hodong, to attack Nakrang once again.
Queen Wonbi tries to get intimate with her stepson, Prince Hodong. But Prince Hodong ignores her attention and leaves with his soldiers to explore the eastern part of his country. While exploring the countryside, Prince Hodong enters a hunting contest and catches a white deer, which is considered as a godly creature. This leads to an invitation by Nakrang’s King Choiree to visit his country, where Prince Hodong meets Princess Nakrang for the first time.

Second Act

Hodong and Nakrang get married in an extravagant wedding ceremony and swear to love each other till death. But Hodong leaves for Goguryu and Nakrang awaits his return with tears. In the meantime, General Pildeh confesses his love for Princess Nakrang, but Princess Nakrang doesn’t even give him a second glance. After returning to Goguryu, Prince Hodong sends a secret letter to his wife, Princess Nakrang, asking her to tear apart Jammyungo so that Goguryu can conquer Nakrang. Torn between her husband and her father, Princess Nakrang finally decides to tear apart Jammyungo, and this leads King Choiree to kill his own daughter.

Goguryu

• Prince Hodong: Age 20. He is the 3rd king of Goguryu, and was born from the second wife of King Daemushin. Intelligent and brave, Hodong deeply respects his parents and country. However, he faces a tragic end while procrastinating between his love for a woman and that for his country.
• King Daemushin: He conquered vast lands and is the esteemed leader of Goguryu. But to Hodong, he is a cold-hearted father.
• Wonbi: She is the first wife of King Daemushin and is extremely ambitious. She is attracted to Hodong, the son from a different queen. She conspires to make her son, Prince Haewoo, the king.

Nakrang

• Princess Nakrang: Age 18. She is the only child of King Choiree. Instead of her own country, she chooses love. She is so beautiful that she is famous even in Goguryu.
• King Choiree: Age 50. Though gentle and weak, King Choiree is committed to the people of his nation. Fate brings him to kill his daughter who tears Jamyunggo apart.
• General Pildeh: Age 25. If there is Prince Hodong to Goguryu, there is General Pildeh to Nakrang. He has the intelligence of a scholar and bravery as a warrior.