On July 30, drama industry officials confirmed that actress Moon Ga-young will portray Huh Su-a in the upcoming historical television drama Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid (tentative title), a young servant from a pro-Japanese household in 1920s Gunsan. Illiterate and unfamiliar with affection, Su-a finds comfort in the sea, imagining herself a fish. Her peaceful world is shattered when a tragic accident at sea robs her of her voice, leading her down a path of sorrow, silence, and ultimately, vengeance.
A production insider stated, “We carefully considered which actors best embodied the core spirit of the story. Moon Ga-young and Choi Woo-shik have been finalized as the main cast. Both are positively engaged with the project, and we believe their chemistry will enrich the narrative.”
Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid is a reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid, set in 1926 Gyeongseong (modern-day Seoul) . The drama chronicles the relationship between a woman who sacrifices everything to protect a man fighting for his homeland. With a unique blend of historical struggle and romantic tragedy, the series offers a bold reinterpretation of the classic fairy tale.
Renowned filmmaker Hur Jin-ho will direct the series. His previous works are celebrated for their emotional depth and refined storytelling. Choi Yoon-man, acclaimed for his cinematography in My Mister and Song of the Bandits, will oversee the visual production. The series is produced by Take One Studio, known for high-profile drama and webtoon adaptations.
However, netizens react strongly to the casting choices, expressing disappointment over the stark differences between the actors and the original webtoon characters.
- Moon Ga-young doesn’t suit the role—her image is too urban.
- She gives off more of a classy lady vibe… She just doesn’t fit the character of Soo-ah…ㅠㅠ
- It’s not about whether we like the actors or not, it’s that their image doesn’t match the webtoon… Choi Woo-shik is especially off, lol.
- If they had gender-swapped the roles, I’d understand… Who even did the casting?
- If they were going to completely change the characters’ images, why even use the webtoon? Just make an original story.
- Neither the male lead nor female lead ever came to mind for these roles.
- How badly do they not match the characters that people are reacting like this?ㅠㅠ I usually enjoy Moon Ga-young’s dramas tooㅠㅠ
- Her face is too glamorous to play the original female lead. That kind of glamorous image doesn’t suit the character.
As debates continue, many viewers are now questioning whether the drama can stay true to the spirit of the original webtoon despite the controversial casting.
Daum
You must be logged in to post a comment.