Rap musical Socrates Paradox returns Sept 10 with full 2026 cast lineup

Rap musical Socrates Paradox opens September 10 and runs through November 29 at NOL Seogyeong Square Skon Theater 1 in Seoul.

The show, produced by HJ Culture, centers on the Athenian court defense of philosopher Socrates against accusations by young poet Meletos—corrupting youth and blasphemy against the gods. An elderly philosopher and his accuser clash over ideology. Hip-hop and rap drive the score.

Director Lee Dae-woong and writer Yu Hye-jeong created the work, which premiered in early 2022 at Daehangno. This 2026 run is the show's return season.

Eight actors split the two lead roles. Jung Min, Kim Do-bin, Jo Pung-rae, and Moon Gyeong-cho play Socrates. Choi Ho-seung, Hwang Min-soo, Lee Jong-seok, and Lee Jun-woo play Meletos. Hwang Min-soo returns after strong audience response in the previous season.

HJ Culture called the production "a high-difficulty work" requiring actors who can "perfectly digest vast philosophical messages" alongside "the intense energy unique to Black music." For 2026, the company promised audiences "maximized genre pleasure of popular art while presenting more densely layered drama and reinforced completeness."

(A rap battle set in ancient Athens sounds unhinged until you remember the original trial was already pure theater.)