Reports confirming the casting of Moon Geun Young and Yook Sungjae as the leading stars of "The Village," have been met with mixed reactions from domestic audiences. On September 2, Korean outlets including Sports Chosun confirmed that the BtoB member was cast as the leading man of the upcoming SBS series.
In the series, which is also known as "The Village: Achiara's Secret," Yook will portray Park Woo Jae, a policeman who is tasked with solving a murder. He appears in the series alongside seasoned actress Moon Geun Young.
A report published by Enews provided quotes from the 20-year-old acting idol, who was initially reluctant to take on the role.
"I was cautious leading up to my decision to appear," said Yook, in his interview with Enews. "I will work hard, so that I do not compromise the reputations of Moon Geun Young sunbaenim (an honorific term of repect for seniors) and the other great actors."
Audiences praised Yook for his role in the teen drama, "Who Are You: School 2015," but a greater significance has been placed on his ability to act opposite Moon. In addition to "Who Are You: School 2015," he previously appeared as Sooksookie in "Reply 1994" and as Kang Min Gu in the weekend drama, "Plus Nine Boys."
Moon earned the title of Korea's little sister after emerging as a breakout star in projects like the 2000 series "Autumn in My Heart" and the film, "A Tale of Two Sisters." She will portray Soo Yoon, an educator who accepts a teaching assignment in a small village that is plagued by mysterious murders that result in burned corpses.
The top comment on the Sports Chosun article analyzed the difference between Moon and Yook, in terms of acting experience. "The male lead is way below the female lead," said a commentator, in a post translated by the forum, Netizen Buzz.
Critics of "The Village" casting noted that Kim Jae Wook and On Joo Wan were cast as supporting and second lead characters, respectively.
Kim is known for his roles in "Coffee Prince" and "Who Are You." Kim has an extensive acting resume which was established after his debut in the 2002 series, "Ruler of the World."
On Joo Wan will portray Seo Ki Hyeon, the director Of Haewon Steel, in the series. He previously appeared in "Punch," "The Idle Mermaid" and "The Blade and the Petal."
The series will be directed by Lee Yong Seok (The Great Seer) and written by Do Hyun Jung (Can Love Become Money). "The Village" will premiere after the hit medical drama, "Yong Pal."
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About the writer: Adrienne Stanley is a contributing editor for KDramaStars. She is also a contributing writer for KpopStarz, MTV Iggy, Viki and CJ Entertainment's KCON blog. Her passions include a love of K-pop and Asian drama. When she is not writing, she is hanging out on Twitter (@retrogirladdy).
