Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid (TV series)
Upcoming South Korean television series
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Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid (Korean: 고래별) is an upcoming South Korean historical melodrama television series written by Lee Han-eul, directed by Hur Jin-ho, and starring Moon Ga-young, Choi Woo-shik, Heo Nam-jun, Gong Seung-yeon, and Kang Han-na. Based on the webtoon of the same title by Na Yoon-hee, the series is set in 1926 during Japanese colonial rule and follows the story of Kang Ui-hyeon, a man sacrificing everything for his country, and Heo Su-a, a woman risking her life to protect him. It is scheduled to premiere on tvN in 2027.
| Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid | |
|---|---|
| Hangul | 고래별 |
| Lit. | Whale Star |
| RR | Gorae byeol |
| MR | Korae pyŏl |
| Genre | |
| Based on | Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid by Na Yoon-hee |
| Written by | Lee Han-eul |
| Directed by | Hur Jin-ho |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Original language | Korean |
| Production | |
| Cinematography | Choi Yoon-man |
| Production company | TakeOne Studio |
| Original release | |
| Network | tvN |
Synopsis
Heo Su-a works as a handmaiden and spends her time swimming in the sea. Her life changes when she finds Kang Ui-hyeon, a wounded independence fighter, washed ashore and nurses him back to health. During a failed assassination attempt by Ui-hyeon’s comrade Song Hae-su, Su-a loses her ability to speak. Driven by a desire for revenge, Su-a travels to Gyeongseong and becomes involved with resistance fighters.
Cast and characters
Main
- Moon Ga-young as Heo Su-a[1]
- A 17-year-old maid who serves the daughter of a pro-Japanese landowner during a turbulent era. After dreaming of a wounded whale, she finds Kang Ui-hyeon, a severely injured independence activist who has washed ashore. She secretly nurses him back to health, risking her own life in the process.
- Choi Woo-shik as Kang Ui-hyeon[1]
- Born to a pro-Japanese family, he goes to Japan to study, where he witnesses the massacre of Koreans during the Great Kantō Earthquake and subsequently joins the independence movement.
- Heo Nam-jun as Song Hae-su[1]
- An independence activist with unwavering conviction, driven by the loss of his family.
- Gong Seung-yeon as Yeo Yoon-hwa[2]
- Daughter of the pro-Japanese Yeo family in Gunsan, where Su-a worked as a maid.
- Kang Han-na as Han Yeon-kyung[3]
- A member of Whale Star, a secret organization, and a prestigious family's daughter. She is a widow who lost her husband to Japanese torture during occupation.
Supporting
- Yoo Jae-myung as Judge Kang[4]
- Ui-hyeon's father.
Production
Development
TakeOne Studio announced in July 2021 that it would produce a drama based on the webtoon Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid by Na Yoon-hee, set against the anti-Japanese resistance movement during the Japanese colonial period. It reimagines Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale The Little Mermaid in a Korean setting.[5] By July 2025, the series was in the final stages of scheduling and casting and would begin preparations for filming. The project, produced by TakeOne Studio, is directed by Hur Jin-ho, with Lee Han-eul as screenwriter and Choi Yoon-man as cinematographer.[6]
CEO Jung Min-chae of TakeOne Company said that adapting the webtoon required a long preparation period and a difficult casting process. Jung stated the drama had a large budget and that filming began once the cast and script were finalized. He also said the script included new interpretations and episodes not in the original work. He stated the production aimed to appeal to both existing fans and new viewers, and expressed confidence in the project.[7]
In March 2026, the production began accepting submissions for product placement.[8]
Casting
The casting announcements began in July 2025, with media outlets reporting that Choi Woo-shik and Moon Ga-young were being considered for the lead roles of Kang Ui-hyeon and Heo Su-a, respectively.[9][10] The next month, Heo Nam-jun was cast as the lead.[11] In February 2026, Gong Seung-yeon was offered the role of Yoon-hwa.[2] Two months later, Kang Han-na was cast.[3] In May 2026, Yoo Jae-myung joined the cast as Ui-hyeon's father.[4]
The main cast was confirmed to include Moon Ga-young, Choi Woo-shik, Heo Nam-jun, Gong Seung-yeon, and Kang Han-na.[1]
Filming
Principal photography commenced on April 24, 2026.[1] The main filming location is Gunsan.[4]
