Bu Bu Jing Xin remake Scarlet Heart: Goryeo adds princesses, confirms cast

by girlfriday

Kang Hanna, Seohyun

There were no shakeups in the casting for the Korean drama remake of Bu Bu Jing Xin — everyone who was courted signed on, and now Kang Hanna (Mom, Miss Korea) and Girls’ Generation idol Seohyun (Passionate Love) have joined the main cast as princesses.

There has been a title change though, and the drama is no longer called Moon Lovers; it has instead adopted the original Chinese drama’s title Bu Bu Jing Xin and gone with Bobogyungshim: Ryeo. The ryeo (literally meaning “brilliant/shining”) is a reference to Goryeo, the dynasty and time period for the adaptation. Taken literally, this amounts to something like: Step by Step Red Heart (Go)ryeo. You can imagine how awkward this is to translate. So we’re calling it Scarlet Heart: Goryeo, for sense and sanity’s sake.

The fantasy romance sageuk will star IU (The Producers) as a woman from the 21st century who travels back in time to Goryeo, where she will meet and steal the heart of a prince or two (or three, or four… there are a lot of princes). Lee Jun-ki (Scholar Who Walks the Night) plays 4th prince Wang So, future King Gwangjong of Goryeo.

King Taejo, who founded the Goryeo dynasty, had a LOT of children, so Lee Jun-ki will get a whole host of royal siblings. Kang Haneul (Misaeng) will play 8th prince Wang Wook, a smart, ambitious rival who dreams of becoming king someday. Hong Jong-hyun (Mama) has been cast as the 3rd prince Wang Yo, a clever and arrogant young man who gradually raises his ambitions higher.

Lee Jun-ki, IU, Kang Haneul

EXO idol Baekhyun plays 10th prince Wang Eun, a carefree type who just always wants to play. And the two youngest will be played by Nam Joo-hyuk (Cheese in the Trap) as the 13th prince Wang Wook, and Ji-soo (Sassy Go Go) as the maknae 14th prince Wang Jung, who’s loved by everyone.

And now we have princesses to add to the mix, with young rookie actress Kang Hanna and idol Seohyun. Kang Hanna has had more roles in film than in television, with parts in Empire of Lust, Crying Man, Friend 2. She’ll play princess Hwangbo Yeon-hwa, a “Goryeo alpha girl” who is also King Taejo’s eldest daughter. She has a no-nonsense personality and shows a talent for politics — she’ll become a king-maker who protects her family and ensures the successor to the throne.

SNSD’s Seohyun plays a royal on a different family tree — she’s been cast as the last princess of Late Baekje (whose country fell to Goryeo in 936). She hides her identity and becomes a gisaeng who specializes exclusively in song and dance, and she’ll have a hidden agenda for why she became a gisaeng in the first place. Jo Min-ki (Hwajeong) will play King Taejo, and Park Ji-young (Tears of Heaven) will play Lee Jun-ki’s mother. Park Shi-eun (Hold My Hand) has been cast Kang Haneul’s wife, and Answer Me 1988′s dads Sung Dong-il and Kim Sung-kyun costar.

I haven’t really seen Seohyun act, and the number of newbies and idols in this cast does have me a little worried, but overall it’s a large ensemble cast with many minor roles. Fingers crossed that the balance tips in the headliners’ favor, because I’m not worried at all about Lee Jun-ki, IU, and Kang Haneul carrying a drama.

Scarlet Heart: Goryeo will begin filming later this month, and will be 100% pre-produced for a September broadcast on SBS.

Hong Jong-hyun, Nam Joo-hyuk, Baekhyun, Ji-soo

Via E Daily, TV Report, Sports Chosun

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