'Yumi's Cells' becomes a musical in 2026, showcasing Yumi's life and love through her inner cells, with a star-studded cast.

The webcomic and drama that captivated fans worldwide, 'Yumi's Cells', will be newly released as a musical in the summer of 2026. The production companies SEM COMPANY and Studio N announced the launch news of the musical 'Yumi's Cells', which will open on June 30 at the Seoul Arts Center's CJ Towol Theater, along with the lineup of main cast and a poster created by the globally renowned visual artist Yuni Yoshida. The musical 'Yumi's Cells' is a restructured work that depicts the daily life and love of an ordinary office worker, Yumi, from the perspective of the cells in her mind. The original work by author Lee Dong-gon, which has recorded a global total view count of 3.5 billion on NAVER WEBTOON and has established itself as a bible for the MZ generation, has already proven its impact through dramas and animations, making it a super IP (intellectual property). This musical adaptation began from the collaboration between SEM COMPANY, which has showcased productions like 'Mrs. Doubtfire' and the play 'Macbeth', and Studio N, which leads the video adaptation business of NAVER WEBTOON, strategically collaborating since 2021 for five years. This performance is particularly significant as it marks Studio N's first musical, following their success with films, dramas, and animations based on webcomics, such as 'Sweet Home - My World of Despair', 'My Daughter Became a Zombie', and 'Jungnyun: Star is Born', leading the global content market. By combining SEM COMPANY's production know-how and expanding into the realm of performing arts, they aim to further enhance the value of the original IP. The world of 'Yumi's mind', already beloved through various media, is expected to be perfectly realized in the physical space of the stage, providing exciting enjoyment to the audience. The cells in her mind, each with different personalities, will lively move around and conduct Yumi's emotions, increasing the dynamism through the glamorous performances and addictive numbers unique to musicals. It is anticipated to go beyond mere visual enjoyment, depicting daily worries and love from the cells' perspective in a delightful and warm manner, delivering deep empathy and healing to the audience. The casting leading the work is also attracting attention. Tiffany from Girls' Generation and Kim Ye-won are named for the role of Yumi. Tiffany, who has proven her skills in musicals like 'Chicago', will delicately portray Yumi's inner struggles between work and love. Kim Ye-won, who has showcased stable performances in numerous stages like the musical 'Werther', is expected to present the most human and lovable Yumi with her unique clear singing voice. Additionally, the role of the mysterious cell 109, which does not appear in the original work, will be played by Leo from VIXX and Jinwoon from 2AM, stimulating curiosity. Leo, who has become a hit-maker in the musical world through productions like 'Memphis' and 'Frankenstein', will showcase a unique interpretation of the character, presenting a mysterious appearance that adjusts the tension of the play. Recently, Jinwoon proved his singing and acting skills simultaneously in the movie 'God's Orchestra' and will challenge the musical stage for the first time through this work, vividly portraying the enigmatic charm of 109. Joining them are Kim So-hyang and Yulia, who will play the love cell that conducts Yumi's emotions with a strong presence. Kim So-hyang, who has showcased overwhelming singing ability in musicals like 'Anna Karenina' and 'Evita', will realistically convey the weight of the love cell with her irreplaceable presence. Yulia, who has shown diverse charms in musicals like 'Dreaming Peach Blossom' and 'Evita', will perfectly blend Yumi's complex psychological changes with her rich vocal range and delicate emotional expression. Attention is also focused on the production team. Yang Jung-eun, who served as the artistic director for the 2025 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) summit and the general director for the opening ceremony of the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, has taken on the direction. Along with composer Choi Jae-gwan, music director Kim Sung-soo from the musical 'Gyeongbokgung Love Song' and the Netflix series 'Squid Game', and writer Kim Garam, top-class creators have gathered. They plan to maintain the identity of the original work while combining musical numbers and performances to elevate 'Yumi's world in her mind' into performing arts. The official poster produced by Yuni Yoshida, which was released this time, showcases the identity of the work. It symbolizes Yumi's inner cells with a blue heart object and highlights heart-shaped pink lips. It foreshadows the expansion of the original imagination into a real world on stage, raising expectations. The musical 'Yumi's Cells', anticipated as a major work of 2026, is set to have its first ticket sales at the end of April, with performances running from June 30 to August 23 at the Seoul Arts Center's CJ Towol Theater.