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Misaeng writer returns with new fantasy manhwa adaptation

I’m sure it’s no surprise that drama writer Jung Yoon-jung (Misaeng, Monstar, Arang and the Magistrate) is a hot commodity these days; Jung has announced that her next project will be another manhwa adaptation, this time a fantasy historical drama. While that sounds like a huge departure from her last hit adaptation Misaeng, she’s also the writer who filled the quirky supernatural world of Arang and the Magistrate with colorful gods, reapers, ghosts, and humans, and created a full mythology that was engaging, suspenseful, and just plain fun.

The new project is an adaptation of the manhwa series Habaek’s Bride, better known in English as Bride of the Water God. (Habaek is the name of the god, and he’s technically a river god, but that’s the title you’ll find the translations of the comic books in.) The original manhwa by Yoon Mi-kyung was published in Wink magazine in 24 volumes over the last 8 years.

The story is about a young woman who comes from a poor family, and gets paid to take the place of the girl who’s supposed to be sacrificed to the water god from their village that year. But instead of taking her as a sacrifice, the water god falls in love with her and takes her as his bride. He’s been cursed by his first love to transform into a child by day and a man by night, and so even his bride doesn’t realize that both are the same man.

It’ll be a fantasy historical romance drama about the epic love between a god and a human, and will traverse the earthly and god realms much like Arang and the Magistrate did. I really loved how whimsical that drama was, and there have been very few supernatural shows that were so solidly written, so I’m excited to see that the writer is returning to that genre. Listen, I know it’s early to start casting, but Yoo Seung-ho is back from army duty now, and he made such a good god in Arang. Who better to play a man and a boy than a man-boy? You know you want to…

Bride of the Water God is in early development, with no broadcaster attached yet.

Via DongA

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same here! I was so obsessed with it. hopefully they find someone worthy to play Habaek.

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Song Joong Ki anyone?

Seriously, he has the ability to look ethereal, but also manly at the same time.

No idol actresses please. They should cast a fresh, newbie actress - no to Park Shin Hye, as well. It's sad that I can't think of a young K-actress, when the young male stars list is booming with many names.

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Yes, I definitely don't think they should get a Kpop idol but I wouldn't mind seeing Sandara Park from 2NE1. How about Park Min Young? I am not a Lee Min Ho fan but I wouldn't mind them to reunite in a project like this.

Another young actress that I always have in mind is Kang Min Ah from Jang Ok-Jung. But I think more Kpop idols are overshadowing actual actors/actresses which is a shame. Maybe the outlet now to get into acting is joining a Kpop girl/boyband. Sad really...

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Yes, I vote for Song Joong Ki! I really liked his acting in Innocent Man and if this adaptation is as good as Misaeng, I'm all for it!

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I would love SJK but I would love Yoo Seung Ho even more. I totally fell for him in arang even if his role was small, I want to see him as a god again <333

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Gong Yoo?

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Gong Yoo should be taking In Time With You adaptation?

Really like Arang and the Magistrate too! Excited for this, hope the casting is daebak! :)

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Omg with Ha Ji Won?! YES!!!! I approve!!!!

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Omg same here, I'm super excited for this! I haven't actually finished reading it though lol...

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me too!

The art was so beautiful and detailed and is probably the start of my love for Goryeo-era clothes. But after a while it got difficult to follow the million and one gods and crisscrossing backstabbing conspiracies and extra wives.

(it's really makjang but really gorgeous)

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I only knew about (and read) manga when my daughter showed me the manhwa, "Bride of the Water God. (And I was hooked.)

I'm looking forward to seeing this, too.

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Yaaaaaaaay!! Super excited for this, I pray they follow through and they follow through awesomely! :D I bought the manga when I went overseas but couldn't complete it, tried looking for an anime/animated adaptation or a collection of manga on the net, but no luck. Finally.. hopefully, I can know the whole story. :D

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I have not been so stunned-excited since I found the I Hear Your Voice writer was on the Healer team. And even then, maybe not this much. Oh, this manhwa was so gorgeous, how WILL they do it?

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My choices would be

YOO SEUNG HO
LEE JUNG KI
GONG YOO
LEE MIN HO
SONG JOONG KI

Actresses? In no order...

KANG MIN AH (Jang Ok, Jung...she might be too young?)
PARK BO YOUNG
SANDARA PARK
PARK MIN YOUNG
SHIN MIN AH

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I really wouldn't mind seeing TOP from Big Bang. He's surprisingly becoming a better actor than I've ever anticipated. It'd be nice to see him act in a big production drama.

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Good list! I'd add:

Choi Jin Hyuk (assuming army duty doesn't interfere)

Han Groo (Would like her even better in this role than the vampire drama)

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Agree with your list <3 and as others have said below I'd add : Ji Chang Wook & Park Hae Jin, Kim Bum
& for actresses : Jung So Min, Yoo So Hee, Moon Chae Won, Kim So Eun Lee Sung Kyung, Kyung Soo Jin

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How did I miss MOON CHAE WON?! YES!!! HER!

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I am all for Moon Chae Won in this.

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Do you know where I can read this manhwa - English version? Any websites?

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Just search up 'bride of the water God chapter 1' or something like that into Google - there should be a few links that pop up!
I read it off mangafox (ITS VVVVV GOOD BTW although it's pretty long)

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You can see in mangahere.com and the title is bride of the water god. That tonic can be your favorites, i think

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Kissmanga, mangafox, mangahere are your friends :)

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I have seen it up online but never got around to reading it, maybe I should..or maybe a shouldn't...would it help or spoil when watching the drama, that is the question.

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Misaeng writer! Wohoo....:)

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i heard that this manga is famous. alot of fans recommend me to read but i never did.

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It has a lot in common tonally and theme-wise with Arang; though it starts out slightly Beauty and the Beast, there is always a high snark level from all the characters.

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I hope MBC picks this.

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I'm excited. The story line is very exciting. Hope the execution can be as good. And I agree totally, Yoo Seung ho would be perfect for this! Fingers crossed. :-)

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yoo seung ho -though I am a huge fan -is still too young in my book to play this manly role... I'd like to see someone a bit maturer -either lee minho, choi jin hyuk, ji chang wook, or wonbin to play the water god

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And cast a solid child actor to play the child role... The premise of the manhwa doesn't sound like it would translate well into a drama though... I guess we'll see

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Yeah, I don't see how this can work out at all. It's all great in manhwa perhaps, but the child part is potentially awkward plus the budget that they'll have to allocate to it so that it doesn't look like a joke is going to be ridiculously huge.

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Agree 100%

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It could work if the actress can do comedy.

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The child part is supposed to be awkward. There is no question anyone wants or should want anything but a symbolic marriage there, and the kid is completely baffled why the humans keep literally throwing women at him.

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Oh! I think I read this a few years ago...

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I'm so in, it's actually ridiculous.

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The manhwa has beautiful art, that was what kept me reading it. I wonder how that part of it will translate to screen..

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they'll have to spend a bomb on costume design, that's for sure. And sets. That whole world is so lushly detailed, MBC's generic sageuk sets won't really cut it.

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Oh goodness I hope they do the sets correctly.

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The bright side is, there is actually a fairly small cast and number of locations at the beginning. And it's not like there are ready made palace sets MBC has access to.

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Oh my my ..Arang and Monstar are one of my very dear shows ... I am already sold .. Bring it on ..

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I've always had this on my minds to-read list but I kept forgetting about it. Maybe I'll try to track it down and do so at last. Yes to Yoo Seung Ho! Wonder if he would take on that historical after doing a historical movie, though.

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I would love this one for sure because i adore him ,imagine the sad looks...but they must make a more happy ending than the original,won't be able to take it if let's say he is the lead and doesn't get to live with his girl till the end :(

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We should read it and see how it goes. Though her is a god so technically, I think it's the girlfriend that has to worry. >_>

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I loved this manhwa. Need to pick it back up now. The art was so beautiful. I'll trust the writer but we need a good PD and director on board to bring in the magic.

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Ohhhhhhhhh read some years ago the manhwa,didnt keep with it but i read the ending...hmmm not the happiest there...very bitersweet i must say,not to name it sad for my taste...curious who will be the leads

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I think it is an expensive production because it need to use special affects and costumes. One of Big 3 MBC,SBS,KBS should do this rather than tVN. It sounds really weird to act a popular actor like Lee min Ho or Lee Jong suk. Kim soo hyun already had other drama producer. I think they will use newbies actors.

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I just hope the leads they pick can act and have good chemistry.

My dream pairing for this would be a reunion of Lee Jun-ki and Shin Mina because he is smoking hot in sageuks and she is very believably the most gorgeous woman on earth, and if it does go to broadcast tv they might just have the budget for big-name leads.

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Wouldn't that be amazing if they were cast for this. I loved them together in Arang & the Magistrate. Lee Jun Ki does look pretty hot in hanbok. ?

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Yes yes and yes! No one looks as godly in sageuk attire like Lee Jun-ki and I'm really missing Shin Min-a.

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If he hasn't already picked one, this would be a great drama for Song Joong Ki.
Goo Seung Hyun could play the daytime character.

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Ooh, I forgot about SJK but I think he's already doing that Kim Eun Sook drama

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I AM SCREAMING INSIDE AT THIS NEWS

I loved this manhwa because the art style is so beautiful, and rumours about a drama adaptation have been around since maybe 2009? I remember grumbling about no drama adaptation of it just last year.

And now I find it's going to be adapted by the writer behind my #1 and #2 favourite dramas of all time.....this is really Christmas come early.

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Another drama to look forward to! Gaaah 2015 is going so well with all the new dramas slated to be premiered the next few months and not to mention the awesome castings.
Looking forward to the casting of this!

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I. SERIOUSLY. CANNOT. WAIT. FOR. THIS.

I remember being obsessed and mesmerized by this manga ages ago, because of its beautiful art and premise. However, had to drop it due to the slow scanlations and the eventual weird meandering plot. Hope the drama doesn't fall under the same pitfalls.

SO. EXCITED!!!!!

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As soon as I saw the pic in the front page I jumped. I.loved the manhwa while I was still reading it and the art was breathtaking. I remember this was in works a long time ago but it fell through. I twould be amazing if the production can actually do justice to the aesthetics. and yeah, I'm really glad its the writer of A rang but it would be fantastic if they can rope in the director too

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As for actors, I'm.not sure if YSH would be right and I don't know if he'd want to play a similar role again. I think Kim Woo Bin might be a good choice or any other new actor with good acting chops

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Kim woo bin is considering Hong sisters drama jeju island Gatsby. Just think others. How about his best friend Lee Jong suk? ?

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without being picked up by any station nor having even half of the script developed (i'm not even talking about how big this manhwa's adaptation budget should be to), this drama probably would be aired in second half of the year at best. and LJS last year played in two dramas in a row. KWB could do the same, if he and production company would like to work together.

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Ooh that sounds like a fun drama, sorta, maybe. Although I have to say I'd rather have someone like Song Joong-ki do this than Yoo Seung-ho. But too bad I'm quite certain SJK is doing KES's drama.

Or maybe they should pick someone older. I haven't read the original source but Go Soo is God-like looking and intense. I can totally see him in something like this. Or Gong Yoo. So many good dramas coming out, I feel like I'm 'shopping' actors on every casting post haha.

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I am picking this Manhwa up today! I MUST read it. MUST!!!!

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Omg such exciting news! For once I've actually read a manhwa that's up for adaptation! As others have said I hope they can bring the lush visuals to life on screen, whilst avoiding the pitfalls of the plot which just got way too convoluted and nonsensical in the latter stages.

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woah brilliant i always loved the premise of bride of the water god but the manga got too long-winded and boring after a while, hopefully since the drama series would be short (they won't make it more than 20 eps right?) they can extract the best out of the plot and improve upon it from there. That much I can expect from this author.
so yay happy it'll be adapted for the screen, and excited to know who'll be cast :D

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They're gonna have to find someone to play little Habaek, right?? XDDDD I'm so excited for this!! No insta-love (unlike most saeguks ?)

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Oh wow, I didn't realize writer Jung Yoon-jung was also the writer for Arang. Totally another reason to watch Misaeng.. x]

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High marks for drama writer Jung Yoon-jung. Absolutely love...love...love Arang & the Magistrate, Monstar, and Misaeng.

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This has me so so excited!! I don't know if it's the weather or this news but I'm grinning from ear to ear right now. Please have a good cast! And I agree that these fantasy fusion pieces tend not to be solidly written.....so it will be a nice change.

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Woah, this is completely awesome news! Misaeng writer plus another supernatural premise plus a really cool manhwa= *BEYOND EXCITED*!!!!

The manhwa was really beautiful and had an interesting premise. The only reason I didn't finish it was the frustrating lack of emotion the artist was able to show in the characters- seemed like everyone's expression was the same in every panel. Hopefully I won't have the same problem with the drama, lol. Please cast good actors!!

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The male lead needs to be someone taller tbh. I remember all the rage on soompi about this manhwa ages ago. I was wondering why they didn't adapt this to TV yet and now years later, here we are. The art is just oh so gorgeous even though I barely remember the plot. I remember just scanning through the chapters for the art. Lee Min-ho could pull this off or any of the model actors.

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Oh my God. OH. MY. GOD. Is this really happening? Are the drama gods finally answer my prayers or something? Wait. I gotta breathe before I faint from too much excitement. breaathee......... ok.
YAAAAAAY!!!! I've been a loyal yet silent reader on this site for quite a while, but this time, I just have to comment on this news. I mean, this manhwa is like super gorgeous! And if this turn out as good as Arang, I think I can die as a very happy drama/manhwa fan ;)

On a side note, can we have Lee Jun Ki back on this? Habaek is very pretty (even if he's a guy), so I think someone like Lee Jun Ki would be perfect for this role.
Or Joo Won. He might be a nice choice to portray Habaek grouchiness :)

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Lee Jun Ki HAS TO take the scholar vampire role though. He just has to....

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Is it too much if I hope that he do both? I mean... how cool is that if he play a mighty god in one drama and being a smexy badass vampire in another... *sigh* a girl can dream right? ;)

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I don't think I want to see Yoo Seung Ho in Haebek role although I love him so much.

The lead should be someone tall, charismatic, and god-ly looking.

Ji Chang Wook fits all these criterians.

Or. Won BIN!!!!!

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yeah but if they go with the original i can't bear to see him broken loosing the one he loves

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He is considering a movie... Will he consider a drama at same time with his ongoing musicals???

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'Tall'. Haahhaah
That's the ONLY thing ysh doesn't have that habaek should have. Unfortunately :(

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I trust they'll cut out all the messiness

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I could see MinHo, Lee Jung Seok or Ji Chang Wook for this role.

You need someone tall for sure.

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My favorite couple for this drama based on the pics are:

1- Lee Minho- Jung So Min (they will be adorable!)

2- Ji Chang Wook - Jung So Min (same as above)

3- Park Have Jin - Jung So Min

I love that girl.

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Park Hae Jin and Jung So Min would be nice to watch O:

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I must be the only one not impressed with her. -_-

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waaaa... this is like my fav manhwa!! hopefully they casts great actor and actress to play the leads.

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There is rumor producers want Yoona and Lee Min Ho to be leads in this drama ,so they can sell it more easily to China.

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why does every drama these days need to be produced for "Chinese market?"

if selling the rights to China is the most important thing for the production house, fine, do it without airing on Korean TV.

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I'm usually a silent reader on Dramabeans but....

OH MY GODDDDDD!!!!! I have been waiting for a drama adaptation of this manhwa since for forever!!!!!! I always thought that it would make such a pretty drama because the clothing in the manhwa is so descriptive and beautiful!

LOL, I totally did not read what was written up there and just came right to the comment section because I got too excited at seeing the picture of Soah and Habaek.

PLEASE, let me love the casts if this ever happen for real!!!

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No More Lee Min Ho....plzz
Man's too Stiff!

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Thaaaaaaaank God. Someone finally says it

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haha! Yess! You got my point right there... Thanks

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what about Yoo Ah In? or Seo In Guk?

I wasn´t a fan of Arang at first, but it was mainly about the execution of some supernatural elements. like the river etc. since it had Ninja Teacher tho, I did not pay much attention to the writing

I seriously couldn´t keep to Misaeng. just not my cup of tea

I heard of this mahnwa, it came up when I searched aaction/adventure/ supernatural, but I haven´t read it

I´ll watch if there are ninjas.

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I'm so excited for this news! It made my day! I would love to see my favorite LJS play the main role. :)

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So so excited! I really love this manhwa. :) Hope there's a good cast (because I'm sure the writing will be great).

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Yoo seung ho please.....

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omgosh this manhwa!! and yoo seungho would be perfect for this!

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you need a guy to pull off those historical costumes and very few can pull them off

i would recommend park hae jin, ji chang wook or lee soo hyuk

someone clean shaven with god-like looks

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oh my god, please please please. in love with this manhwa. so excited to see who they would cast

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If this were a film, I'd say Kang Dong Won. With that hair he had in Age of Rampant. He was superbly otherworldly there.

For a drama, not too sure! But yeah, I'd want solid casting in all the important roles.

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Kang Dong Won would do great justice as the Emperor. I love both main leads but also have a soft spot for the Emperor who only had Yanghee in his head. Can't wait to see this! :D

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I would love to see Kang Dong Won in a drama. He is another like Lee Jun Ki who is beautiful in a sageuk. KDW can pull off both the manly and the beautiful look. Duelist comes to my mind. Shin Min Ah too!

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I would LOVE it if they put Joo Ji-hoon and Shin Mina (my girl crush!) together again, though it's highly unlikely. What a great comeback it would be for JJH. And they have super hot chemistry together.

Oh well, a girl can dream...

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Omg I used to obsess so much about this manhwa ahhhhhhhkkkkk!!!!

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Park Hae Jin would be perfect as Habaek

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agree

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Super agreee ?

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This sounds really GOOD! I'm excited. Fingers crossed for this idea to be fully realized.

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that its like Ladyhawke movie

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Since yoo seung ho and park shin hye already had lotte cf together, how about their pairing again in this drama? This gonna be awesomeeee

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