Mun Ka‑young & Choi Woo‑shik in Talks for New Historical Romance

Netflix and Korean broadcasters are abuzz with news that Mun Ka‑young and Choi Woo‑shik are in talks to star in the upcoming historical-romantic drama titled Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid, based on a beloved Naver webtoon adaptation of The Little Mermaid set in 1926 Gyeongseong (modern-day Seoul) during Japanese occupation.

Casting & Characters

• Mun Ka‑young is reportedly offered the leading role of Heo Su‑A, a voiceless servant born into a pro-Japanese household in Gunsan. She loves the sea and believes she is a mermaid. Fate steals her voice, propelling her toward a quest for justice and revenge.
• Choi Woo‑shik is currently reviewing an offer to portray Kang Ui‑Hyeon, an independence activist working undercover as a photographer and codebreaker. He runs a photo studio, works covertly against colonial rule, and forms a profound bond with Su‑A.

Production Team

The drama will be directed by Heo Jin‑ho, known for My Mister and When Life Gives You Tangerines, and is based on a webtoon that won the Presidential Award at the 2021 Korea Content Awards.

Film lovers and K-drama fans alike are eagerly awaiting official confirmation. Production is expected to begin later this year, with more casting announcements to come, possibly making this one of 2026’s most memorable romance dramas.