Musical 'Death Note' Stars Go Eun-sung & Kim Junsu Make Dazzling Return, Deliver Intense Catharsis

Actors Go Eun-sung and Kim Junsu are back in the musical "Death Note". Joining the long-run engagement continuing through May, the two wrapped their first performance on the 10th to roaring cheers. With relentless, high-voltage energy, they commanded the stage and kept eyes locked from start to finish.

Go Eun-sung sharpens Light Yagami’s absolute conviction in his own “justice,” unveiling a more evolved take than past seasons. As audience reactions like “Go Eun-sung’s voice is made for Light” and “His vocals alone cut straight through Light’s whole arc” suggest, his solid projection and explosive power meticulously build Light’s transformation into a self-proclaimed “judge.” Beyond vocals, Go’s controlled breathing and firm delivery add striking weight to every decision Light makes.

In the face-offs with L, even the slightest shift in Go’s expression hints at psychological dominance, cranking up the chill-inducing tension between two geniuses and turning the stage ice-cold in the best way.

Kim Junsu’s L is back even more intense. With tighter character analysis and precision, he nails everything from L’s signature posture to the small habit of tapping his fingers. His attempts to read Light’s mind go beyond deduction, amplifying L’s razor-sharp observation and agility. On top of that, his unmistakable tone etches L’s split-second calculations with crystal clarity―never wavering for a beat.

Audience reactions poured in: “We just witnessed an even more magnetic, powerful ‘XIA-L’ than last season,” “A stage so overwhelming it topped the legendary ‘XIA-L,’” and “Now I get why Kim Junsu is called the identity of "Death Note".”

About the duo’s stages, fans raved: “A stage that outdoes last season―intense on top of intense!” and “Can’t even imagine how great the chemistry will be with the other casts.”

Driving the heat is the cast’s deep affection and trust in the work and its characters. Drawn to the story’s razor-edged dive into the line between good, evil, and justice, the returning leads―proud “successful fans” of the piece―team up with the new season’s additions to deliver seamless synergy. With this final lineup, the show aims to spark even bigger fireworks by blending rock-solid chemistry with fresh energy.

First reimagined in 2022 by OD Company Co., Ltd., the musical "Death Note" adapts the Japanese manga of the same name. After a genius high-schooler, Light Yagami, obtains the Shinigami’s notebook―the “Death Note”―he tries to purge society’s evil in the name of justice, triggering a breathless battle of wits with the master detective L. Demanding fierce psychological warfare and complex emotional beats, "Death Note" is a thrilling challenge for any actor. Immersive staging that feels ripped from the original world, comic-inspired framing, and addictive numbers that intricately weave the characters’ inner lives all double the show’s pull.

"Death Note" runs at the D-Cube Link Art Center through May 10 (Sun). Sandeul takes his final bow on the 14th (Sat), with Choi Seo-yeon closing on the 22nd (Sun). In the roles of Light Yagami: Kyuhyun, Go Eun-sung, and Lim Kyu-hyung; and as L: Kim Junsu, Kim Sung-cheol, and Tang Jun-sang will keep the stage blazing to the very end.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)