Lee Yi-kyung joins Mirror of the Witch as Kim Sae-ron’s protector
by girlfriday
I really like up-and-coming actor Lee Yi-kyung. He’s had everything from bit parts in huge dramas (Descended From the Sun, You From Another Star), to bigger parts in tiny dramas (Because It’s the First Time, Superman Age), to everything in between, and he’s always reliably funny or quirky or just plain good. Next up, he’s planning to reunite with PD Jo Hyun-tak, with whom he worked on Maids, for the new JTBC fantasy sageuk Mirror of the Witch.
The drama is a supernatural retelling of the story of famed Joseon medical scholar Heo Jun, played by Yoon Shi-yoon (Prime Minister and I). In this drama he’s a young man of low birth with exceptional skills in martial arts and sciences who isn’t fully realizing his potential. He’ll fall in love with a princess under a curse, played by Kim Sae-ron (High School: Love On), who’s held captive in her own body by a white-haired witch.
Lee Yi-kyung has been cast to play Kim Sae-ron’s protector, the maknae of seven taoist masters who are part of Sokyeokseo, the government office that practices taoist rituals involving heaven, earth, and stars. His character is gruff on the outside but quietly caring on the inside, and he’ll guard Kim Sae-ron as her oraboni (oppa) and helper. Cute. Wait, doesn’t Kwak Shi-yang (Oh My Ghostess) also have a role as an oppa type who looks out for her? Just how many protectors does one princess need?
They do seem to be going all-out fairytale fantasy with this one, filling a royal court story with evil shamans (Yeom Jung-ah), cursed queens (Jang Hee-jin), and kings with mysterious illnesses (Lee Ji-hoon). And then of course there’s the princess who has to be freed from the old witch inside her own body. I really don’t know what to expect since the story will be so dependent on execution; I just hope their CG budget is big?
Mirror of the Witch follows Friday-Saturday drama Ms. Temper and Nam Jung-ki in May.
Via Sports Chosun
RELATED POSTS
- Fantasy sageuk Mirror of the Witch casts its king
- Jang Hee-jin signs on as cursed queen in Mirror of the Witch
- Fantasy sageuk Mirror of the Witch adds its villainess shaman
- Kim Sae-ron up for first leading adult role with Yoon Shi-yoon
- Rising star Kwak Shi-yang up to join Yoon Shi-yoon in fantasy sageuk
- Yoon Shi-yoon eyes JTBC fantasy sageuk as comeback drama
- Character teasers for youth drama Because It’s the First Time
- The Superman Age: Episodes 1-2
Tags: Kim Sae-ron, Lee Yi-kyung
![[K-drama Treasure Hunt] Heart-fluttery bottle opening](http://d263ao8qih4miy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Kdrama-treasure-hunt.png)
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 Rachel
March 25, 2016 at 10:06 AM
I will always remember him in School 2013.
Required fields are marked *
2 Y.
March 25, 2016 at 10:17 AM
Oh, this means we're having a School 2013 reunion too! :D
I... don't know if I'll be watching this or not. I LOVE all the cast, but I don't like the fact there's a love line with such a huge age difference... This can be an interesting drama... but it can go wrong so easily :/
I guess I'll wait for opinions on the first episodes to decide ^^U
Required fields are marked *
3 aramint
March 25, 2016 at 10:20 AM
ah, Kang Min Jae! I love him in Descended from the Sun. He has various facial expressions and he can be funny as well, like in ep 10. ?
Required fields are marked *
4 Mandy
March 25, 2016 at 10:42 AM
I am so sold on the premise of this drama. It's a little crazy with so much going on but if they have a real hold on the story they want to tell, I feel it'll be fantastic! Very excited, so I hope it can live up to my expectations and not be some other world version of Dr. Stranger (which I loved the plot of initially and then... yea). And the romance... Please don't be squicky, please.
Required fields are marked *
5 Irochka
March 25, 2016 at 10:49 AM
+1 for this! I think he has done a really good job of slowly growing his presence with all the diverse dramas/roles he has chosen. Very fond of him!
Required fields are marked *
6 earthna
March 25, 2016 at 11:07 AM
aw I thought he's going to be a swordsman. :(
Required fields are marked *
7 aznative
March 25, 2016 at 11:10 AM
He was in a few episodes of Cool Kiz on the Block, the swimming competition and was really funny. It's on KBS World's Youtube channel if anyone is interested (at least in USA).
Required fields are marked *
8 Almet
March 25, 2016 at 11:46 AM
Whats wrong with the age gap
in marriage contract lee seo jin is 17 years older than UEE
in neighbourhood lawyer park shin yang is 22 years older than kang sora
Required fields are marked *
Hwari
March 25, 2016 at 12:14 PM
The others are not wrong but here Kim Sae Ron still a minor compared to others.
Required fields are marked *
BunnyIsponny
March 25, 2016 at 12:54 PM
UEE and Kang Sora are not a 2000s line, are they?
Required fields are marked *
Rac
March 25, 2016 at 6:09 PM
Kim Sae Ron is a minor, not legal... :(
Required fields are marked *
9 alpha
March 25, 2016 at 12:03 PM
Despite my love for Yoon Shi Yoon, I can already predict that this drama is destined to be a failure. It will be good enough if it can get the ratings of Moorim School.
All because of that kid this drama is ruined.
No matter how much I cry,, it can't be reversed.
I WANT TO KILL MY SELF. WHY YOU DO THIS YOON SHI YOON??????????????????? WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THIS PIECE OF CRAPPY DRAMA
Required fields are marked *
kuromitsu
March 25, 2016 at 12:37 PM
I'm more inclined to what others said: It's Yoon Shi-Yoon who is miscast.
Required fields are marked *
Chandler
March 25, 2016 at 4:48 PM
I want him in an army come-back drama more than anyone, but I agree that Kim Sae-ron seems like a perfect fit for this drama/role. Yoon Shi-yoon fits too, but I have an easier time imagining another actor, like Yeo Jin-gu, in it than I do another actress.
I wish Yoon had picked something else, but the project still sounds interesting enough for me to check out.
Required fields are marked *
Sogazelle
March 25, 2016 at 2:31 PM
I know everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but If you love Yoon Shin Yoon so much, you could be a little more optimistic.
The drama has not even aired yet.
Required fields are marked *
10 frabbycrabsis loves KBS Drama Specials
March 25, 2016 at 12:27 PM
I love Kim Sae-ron, and I like Yoon Shi-yoon, but I'm a little uneasy about them being cast in a romance together. I hope it's good.
Required fields are marked *
11 Sogazelle
March 25, 2016 at 2:36 PM
I love Lee Yi Kyung and I'm waiting for the day when he gets his chance as a lead.
I believe that he will do a fantastic job seeing how an amazing and charismatic actor he is.
Required fields are marked *
12 Kimchiyo
March 25, 2016 at 6:32 PM
Lee yi-kyung was also remarkable in the LGBT themed movie from Leesong Hee-il, White night. He did a fantastic job portraying a young gay man who is determined to stay in Seoul even though homosexuals face a lot of discrimination and would rather live in the closet than reveal their homosexuality.
Required fields are marked *
newbie
March 26, 2016 at 9:04 AM
+1
Love him since I saw that movie at the Berlinale. And him. <3
Required fields are marked *
13 ShinRaeMi07
March 25, 2016 at 10:34 PM
I think there's a reason behind why they need to cast someone as young as Saeron...maybe she is cursed that she will not age and remain in her very young body.
Required fields are marked *
bluishy
June 1, 2016 at 9:04 AM
yeah. i agree.
Required fields are marked *
14 R_K
March 26, 2016 at 3:52 AM
Lee Yi Kyung et Lee Ji Hoon... so S2013 reunion. I'm sold!
Please, be the hope to an other S2013 reunion between them or/and Kwak Jeong-wook/Lee Jong-Suk/Kim Woobin...!
Required fields are marked *
15 TJ
March 26, 2016 at 7:59 AM
Yeah well, but his character over on DoTS is getting on everyone's nerves. I did think it was funny how they had him wear his IV bag on his head. Anyway, congrats dude on the steady work.
Required fields are marked *
Miranda
March 26, 2016 at 12:05 PM
I think Lee Yi Kyung's character in DOTS is, along with Onew's character, slipping into a gap where netziens and the broader viewership part ways. Kind of like "Reply 1988", where there were viewers who watched it as a romance versus a family drama - two very different responses as the show went on.
Personally I really like the PTSDing doctor/guilt-tripping patient storyline in DOTS. It's a real thing that happens and it's being represented in a somewhat subtle way, which I appreciate. I watch for the romance-banter-drama bits, which I find really well-scripted and phenomenally acted (largely because SJK is part of all of them), but out of all the other possible plot points, it's Onew's crumbling outside of his comfort zone that is the most interesting. And LYK's lazily self-centered, hilarious, opportunistic-but-not-evil kid is kind of perfect for that dynamic, especially as the doctor has become completely unmoored.
LYK's character in DOTS just has no empathy. Not maliciously, he just never, ever ever puts himself in someone else's shoes or considers how his actions might impact them. I see the same thing you're seeing, that people are irritated by his character, but... that's the whole point! And it's what makes that storyline work.
Required fields are marked *
16 Ree
March 26, 2016 at 8:42 AM
He looks like the crazy guy un Cheese in the trap
Required fields are marked *
17 Pearl~ai88
March 26, 2016 at 3:59 PM
Getting more and more excited for this! I could really use a true fantasy done right in dramaland.
Required fields are marked *
18 nozomi
March 28, 2016 at 4:04 PM
I absolutely love this guy. I am looking forward to him transitioning to leading man status in the future. He has talent and a very unique face.
Required fields are marked *