Song Joong-ki in talks to lead K-drama My Youth; Pachinko actress Kim Min-ha set for A Week Before I Died – Korean drama casting latest

One of the Korean drama industry’s biggest stars mulls a return to the screen after becoming a father, while one of the industry’s newest lights takes on her first leading role after her breakout global debut.

Read our latest K-drama casting round-up for more details.

1. My Youth

Vincenzo star Song Joong-ki is reportedly in talks to headline the drama My Youth, the latest project from Run On screenwriter Park Si-hyun. This would be his first drama since becoming a father in 2023.

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Few details of the series have been shared so far, but it is known that Song’s agency, High Zium Studio, is also involved as a producer, which suggests that it is very likely he will take part in the show.

Song’s last drama role was in the hit Reborn Rich, which peaked with a 26.9 per cent rating, the second highest viewership ever recorded by a Korean cable drama.

Last year, Song also featured in a supporting role in the thriller Hopeless, which screened last May at the Cannes Film Festival.

Song Joong-ki in a still from “Reborn Rich”.

The actor has two other feature films on the way: the 1990s-set crime thriller Bogota: City of the Lost, which was partly shot on location in South America, and the Netflix film My Name is Loh Kiwan, in which he will play the title role as a North Korean defector.

2. Love on a Single Log Bridge

Kingdom actor Ju Ji-hoon is mulling over an offer to star in the series Love on a Single Log Bridge. Should he sign on, it would be his first romantic drama in 18 years, since the MBC drama Princess Hours.

The series will follow a man and a woman who loved each other passionately during their youth but were forced to break up owing to the circumstances of their families at the time. Fifteen years later, a twist of fate reunites them.

Ju’s agency confirmed that the offer had been made but that it is one of several projects that the actor is currently considering.

The series is being written by Im Ye-jin, known for Love in the Moonlight and The Tale of Nokdu, while directing duties will be taken on by Park Joon-hwa, who directed Alchemy of Souls and What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim.

Ju is also known for his film work, which includes the hit Along with the Gods films and last summer’s action-comedy Ransomed, which reunited him with Kingdom director Kim Seong-hun.

3. A Week Before I Died

In her first confirmed leading role since Pachinko, Kim Min-ha will co-star with Gong Myung in the drama series A Week Before I Die, which will be aired on the Korean streaming service Tving.

Kim Min-ha in a still from “Pachinko”. Photo: Apple

Based on the novel of the same name written by Seo Eun-chae, the series will mark the drama debut of director Choi Ha-na, who previously made the film More Than Family with Krystal Jung of the K-pop outfit f(x).

Kim will play Jung Hee-wan, a 24-year-old woman who has lost the will to live. Gong is on board to appear as Kim Ram-woo, Hee-wan’s childhood friend and her first love. Six years after he dies, he appears once again before Hee-wan as a grim reaper, telling her that she has one week to live.

He also tells her that he can give her a peaceful death if she calls his name three times. But the lonely Hee-wan would rather spend time with him and makes a bucket list of things to do with Ram-woo before she dies.

4. To My Haeri

Following the finale of the hit series Welcome to Samdal-ri, Shin Hye-sun is reportedly considering an offer to appear in the drama To My Haeri as her next role.

Shin Hye-sun in a still from “Welcome to Samdal-ri”.

Shin has been approached to play the part of Joo Eun-ho, a television announcer who develops a dissociative personality disorder following the twin blows of her brother’s disappearance and her break-up with her long-term partner.

The series is being written by Han Ga-ram, known for the drama When the Weather Is Fine with Park Min-young, and produced by Studio Power, which previously made the Disney+ series Connect.

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Best known for her leading role in the period drama smash hit Mr. Queen, Shin has recently appeared in the fantasy drama See You in My 19th Life and the high school action-comedy Brave Citizen.

Shin will also soon be seen in the thriller Following alongside Byun Yo-han, which is currently awaiting release.

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