Producers of several fantasy Korean dramas are seducing major stars, while a big director is assembling a cast of well-known acolytes for an intriguing new show.
Find out about these and more in our latest K-drama casting round-up.
1. Reborn
Byun Yo-han, who is currently on screens opposite Song Kang-ho in Uncle Samsik on Disney+ as well as in the big-screen thriller Following, is reportedly in talks to take on the lead role in the fantasy drama Reborn.
Byun Yo-han (left, with Song Kang-ho in a still from Uncle Samsik) is reportedly in talks for the lead role in Reborn. Photo: Disney+
He has been offered the part of a police officer with the ability to see other people’s past lives.
After gaining attention as part of the cast of the indie hit Socialphobia, Byun broke out as a star in the blockbuster series Mr. Sunshine. Since then he has primarily appeared in films, among them The Book of Fish, On the Line and Hansan: Rising Dragon.
2. Labor Attorney Noh Moo-jin
Hospital Playlist actor Jung Kyung-ho is set to lead the new fantasy legal comedy-drama Labor Attorney Noh Moo-jin.
Jung is expected to play the titular role of a lawyer involved in labour disputes, a sensitive subject in South Korea. Although details are thin on the ground for now, the show will also incorporate elements of comedy and fantasy.
Jung Kyung-ho (above, in a still from Crash Course in Romance) is set to lead fantasy comedy Labor Attorney Noh Moo-jin.
The series is being penned by Kim Bo-tong, who is known for writing the acclaimed Netflix series D.P. Co-writing the series will be Yoo Seung-hee, who previously wrote the film I Can Speak. The drama will be directed by revered filmmaker Yim Soon-rye.
This will be the first drama series for Yim, who debuted in 1996 with Three Friends and is known for films such as Waikiki Brothers, Forever the Moment and Little Forest.
Expected to air on MBC in a Friday-Saturday slot, Labor Attorney Noh Moo-jin is due to hit our screens in 2025.
Han Ji-min (above, in a still from Our Blues) is one of a group of actors in talks for the coming K-drama More Beautiful in Heaven. Photo: tvN
3. More Beautiful Than Heaven
Han Ji-min, Lee Jung-eun, Son Suk-ku and Kim Hye-ja have all been approached to appear in the coming series More Beautiful Than Heaven.
The series will be directed by Kim Suk-yoon, who has worked with all four actors before. Han, Lee and Kim all appeared in his hit series The Light in Your Eyes, Han starred in Behind Your Touch alongside Lee, who was in also in Awl, and Kim featured in Living Among the Rich. Meanwhile, Son was one of the memorable stars of My Liberation Notes.
As yet, no other details about the series have been revealed.
Yeon Woo-jin (above, in a still from Nothing Uncovered) could play the male lead in new drama Quiet Sales.
4. Quiet Sales
Daily Dose of Sunshine actor Yeon Woo-jin has been approached to take on the male lead role in the forthcoming JTBC drama series Quiet Sales.
It was previously reported that actors Kim So-yeon (The Penthouse), Kim Sung-ryung (Kill Heel), Lee Se-hee (Bad Prosecutor) and Kim Sun-young (Crash Course in Romance) were all offered parts in the show.
Set in the 1990s, the series will focus on door-to-door saleswomen who specialise in selling adult products. The series is expected to highlight the conservative climate faced by Korean women during this era.
Kim So-yeon and Kim Sun-young will be among three protagonists who work as saleswomen.
Yeon is expected to play a man born into a wealthy family who went to an Ivy League university overseas but has returned to Korea aiming to become a police officer.
