Choi Woo Shik may return to the small screen soon, as he is currently reviewing an offer to star in the upcoming drama Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid. The Naver webtoon, which has amassed close to 13 million views, received the Presidential Award at the 2021 Korea Content Awards.
OSEN reported on July 25 that the 35-year-old actor is in talks for the lead role and is showing strong interest in the project.
Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid is set in 1926, during the peak of Japan’s occupation of Korea. It is a historical reimagining of The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen.
The series follows Su-a Heo, a young servant who spends her days working in a coastal village and swimming in the sea. Her quiet, isolated world takes a dramatic turn when she discovers an injured man washed up on the shore.
The man is revealed to be Kang Ui Hyeon, an independence fighter fleeing Japanese forces. Su-a nurses him back to health, but her act of kindness leads to devastating consequences. In a violent misunderstanding, Kang’s comrade, Haesu Song, attempts to kill Su-a, and the attack leaves her unable to speak.
Determined to seek justice, Su-a sets off for Gyeongseong, modern-day Seoul, where her pursuit of revenge entangles her in a city unlike anything she has known.
Director Heo Jin Ho will helm the drama adaptation. The visual style will be crafted by cinematographer Choi Yoon Man, known for Love to Hate You andThe Interest of Love.
If he accepts the role, Choi Woo Shik will portray Kang Ui Hyeon, an independence fighter who forms a complex bond with Su-ah, a teenage servant working under a landowner loyal to the Japanese regime.
Choi has had a busy year, recently appearing in Netflix’s Melo Movie and preparing for the launch of his next series, SBS’s Would You Marry Me.
The drama adaptation is currently nearing the end of its pre-production phase. Casting decisions are almost complete, with filming preparations in progress.
