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| Actors Jung Woo-sung, left, and Song Kang-ho / Courtesy of Artist Company, Sublime Artist |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
Some iconic movie stars will cross over to the small screen amid the changing landscape of the entertainment industry where content streaming services are now at the forefront of big-budget TV series.
Song Kang-ho, who won the Best Actor prize at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for his performance in the film, "Broker," will star in a TV series titled, "Uncle Sam Shik" (working title), whose detailed cast and production schedule have not yet been revealed.
Set in the early 1960s, the 10-episode series follows two men ― Sam Shik and Kim San (Byun Yo-han) ― through their bromance and the obstacles they face during a turbulent time in the country's history.
It is Song's first TV project since his debut in 1990. Song is one of the most iconic movie stars in Korea, with a number of box office hits under his belt, including "Memories of Murder" (2003), "Snowpiercer" (2013), "A Taxi Driver" (2017) and "Parasite" (2019).
Jung Woo-sung, who made his directorial debut at the 47th Toronto Film Festival with his film "A Man of Reason," will also return to the drama scene after 12 years following "Padam Padam" in 2011. He will star opposite actress Shin Hyun-been in the upcoming healing romance drama, "Tell Me That You Love Me" (working title), to be directed by "Our Beloved Summer" (2022) director Kim Yoon-jin and written by "Love in the Moonlight" writer Kim Min-jung.
Actor Seol Kyung-gu, whose film, "Phantom," will hit theaters on Jan. 18, is likely to appear on the small screen for the first time in 29 years if negotiations are finalized over his appearance in the political drama, "Gust of Wind" (working title).
Prolific actor Kim Yoon-seok, who will hit the big screen this year with the period action blockbuster, "Noryang: The Sea of Death," is also in talks to join the drama series, "In the Woods Where There is No One" (working title). It will be directed by Mo Wan-il, who helmed "The World of the Married" (2020).
Streaming platforms are also ushering in A-list actresses signing up for a slew of TV series. Go Hyun-jung will appear in the upcoming Netflix series, "Mask Girl," as a broadcast jockey who is insecure about her looks.
Actress Lee Na-young will take on a leading role in Wavve's original series, "Park Ha-kyung's Travel Diary" (working title). In the upcoming series, she will star as a high school teacher who finds comfort during her weekend getaways.
Lee Young-ae will star in "Maestra" (working title) as female orchestra conductor. Adapted from the French drama, "Philharmonia," it follows a conductor who investigates mysterious happenings involving her orchestra.
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