Squid Game’s Wi Ha-joon courted for Little Women; Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’s Shin Min-a to star opposite Lee Byung-hun; big-budget Netflix series eyes Kim Nam-gil – K-drama casting latest

After Squid Game introduced Korean dramas to a new global audience, several major series are in the pipeline or in production

Our Blues, a romantic drama set on Jeju Island, promises an A-list cast including Shin Min-a and Lee Byung-hun: Mouse’s Lee Seung-gi is eyeing a new series

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Wi Ha-joon from Squid Game has been courted to appear in new K-drama Little Women, one of a number of new major Korean series in the pipeline. Photo: Netflix.

Published: 5:23pm, 22 Oct 2021Updated: 5:24pm, 22 Oct 2021

In the aftermath of the staggering success of Squid Game, all eyes are on the Korean television production market for more new content, and right on cue, a rash of major new projects has been announced over the past couple of weeks.

From a disaster story to a big-budget period action-romance, and from a prestige drama to a series with one of the most impressive casts ever assembled for the small screen, the horizon remains bright for K-drama fans.

Here are some of the latest casting announcements for upcoming Korean drama series.

Little Women

Following his breakout performance as the police officer from Squid Game, Wi Ha-joon has been courted for a role in the drama Little Women, which has already cast Nam Ji-hyun (The Witch’s Diner) and Kim Go-eun (Yumi’s Cells).

The story follows the friendship among three sisters, and will be directed by Kim Hee-won, who was behind Money Flower and this year’s hit drama Vincenzo. Teaming up with Kim will be acclaimed writer Jeong Seo-kyung, known for her collaborations with director Park Chan-wook on The Handmaiden and Thirst, as well as for Believer and the drama Mother.

Studio Dragon will produce the show, which should go into production later this year before being shown on Korean channel tvN in the first half of 2022.

Our Blues

The upcoming drama Our Blues has assembled an eye-popping cast, which will include Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-a, Cha Seung-won, Lee Jung-eun, Han Ji-min, Kim Woo-bin and Uhm Jung-hwa.