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The musical *Life of Pi*, featuring actor Park Jeong-min, was suddenly canceled right before its planned show on the 10th, causing anger among fans.

The play was scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. on the 10th at the GS Art Center in Seoul. Nevertheless, the production team informed spectators five minutes prior to the curtain opening that the performance had been called off because of technical problems.

During live announcements, the production company declared, “We will provide a 110% refund for the ticket cost to every ticket buyer” and mentioned, “Personal text messages will be sent one by one.” They also expressed regret, stating, “Once again, we humbly apologize to all audience members who came to watch the show.”

Even with these compensation efforts, audience complaints persisted. The canceled performance was eagerly awaited, as actor Park Jeong-min was set to appear. Social media and blogs were filled with responses like, “It’s ridiculous that the show isn’t happening, not the audience,” “I traveled all the way from Busan, only to find out it was canceled three minutes before,” “I took a day off and made a four-hour round trip—just 110% compensation?” and “It’s frustrating they only announced the cancellation four minutes before the show started.”

One spectator remarked, “The expenses for travel and lodging alone went over 100,000 South Korean won. Should we be thankful for just an additional 10,000 won?” A second person noted, “Without proper on-site assistance and only vague assurances of more information later, people are becoming even more frustrated.” A Japanese fan, who had come to Korea specifically to see the musical, also voiced their dissatisfaction on social media.

*Life of Pi* follows the journey of a young boy named Pi, who finds himself adrift in the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker in a lifeboat following a severe storm during a trip from India to Canada. The production is adapted from Yann Martel’s novel, which has sold more than 15 million copies globally. The musical, which has won five Olivier Awards and three Tony Awards, debuted in South Korea last December and is set to continue at the GS Art Center until the second day of next month.

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