Source: Segye Ilbo · 연예

What happened

According to Segye Ilbo, JooE (주이), formerly of Momoland, made her first musical-theater debut in the original show Caffeine (카페인). She appeared in the work’s opening performance at The Good Theater (더굿씨어터) in Seoul, playing lead Se-jin (세진). Segye published the report on August 28, 2026.

Known as a singer on concert stages and variety programs, JooE is using this run to stretch into live theater and broaden her performance range.

The breakdown

Caffeine is an original creative musical set mainly in a cafe called “Love is…” where coffee and wine coexist. The story follows Se-jin, a morning barista, and Ji-min, an evening sommelier, who bicker across the cafe without meeting until Ji-min appears as Jeong-min, sparking an unexpected shift.

Se-jin is bright and confident. Each morning she writes “Love is…” on a chalkboard and adds her thoughts about love. Segye says JooE carried that personality through expression and speech, using witty faces and a light tone to match the show’s upbeat mood and stay in sync with her co-star.

Because Caffeine is a two-actor show, both performers carry the entire run — stage presence and chemistry directly shape the piece. Segye notes that even on a first musical outing, JooE expressed Se-jin’s individuality and handled several numbers with a clear vocal tone, drawing on her singing background.

After the premiere, Segye reports positive audience chatter: comments cited include solid tone and expressions for a debut work, and praise that was cute with growth worth watching.

Through her agency, JooE said she was glad to complete the first performance safely as Se-jin and thanked staff and her fellow cast member. She added it still does not feel real, but she wants to keep growing through the remaining performances.

Segye recalls her 2016 Momoland debut and hits including “Bboom Bboom” and “BAAM.” Ticket prices, run dates, and English supertitles are not reported.

Why it matters outside Korea

K-pop alumni entering small-cast original musicals is a different lane from the licensed imports that dominate Seoul’s marquee theaters. Caffeine is a two-person, cafe-set romance — closer to chamber theater than a franchise spectacle — and Segye treats JooE’s move as a credibility test on a minimal stage, not a celebrity cameo in a large ensemble.

For fans tracking idol career pivots, the story shows how Korean entertainment desks still frame live singing and acting chemistry as the bar, even in a modest venue. The morning barista / evening sommelier split offers a compact contrast with the megahall musicals many foreign visitors book first.

What travelers and expats should watch

• Venue scale: The Good Theater signals an intimate Seoul playhouse, not a megahall like Charlotte or Blue Square. Expect tight staging and two-performer reliance rather than large set changes.
• Language and access: Segye does not mention English subtitles. Confirm supertitles and seat availability on the venue or ticketing page before booking; two-actor shows can sell out quickly when a known singer leads.
• Performance grammar: The chalkboard “Love is…” ritual and day-shift / night-shift split are core plot devices — not a concert-only setlist.

Context

Read this as a former Momoland singer testing musical craft in a two-person original at a Seoul playhouse, not as a K-pop comeback single or a large licensed opening. Segye’s through-line is range expansion: JooE is using Caffeine to prove she can hold a stage through dialogue, duet chemistry, and sustained character work, with early audience reaction and her own remarks as proof points, not a finished verdict.

Source

Segye Ilbo · 연예: “주이, 뮤지컬 ‘카페인’으로 첫 무대…배우로 새로운 도전” — Korean original; venue, role, plot setup, format, audience quotes, and JooE agency statement from Segye; paraphrased for briefing; read the original for photos and full Korean text.