[Breaking] Ji Chang Wook joins the cast of upcoming TVING drama “Queen Woo” (2025)

On 12 July, representatives from OTT (over-the-top) media service TVING announced that the casting lineup for its upcoming drama “Queen Woo” (우씨왕후) has been completed, with Ji Chang Wook joining hands with actors Jeon Jong Seo, Kim Moo Yeol, and others.

Jeon Jong Seo, Kim Moo Yeol, Ji Chang Wook, Jung Yoo Mi, Lee Soo Hyuk and Park Ji Hwan will enter a bloody chase for the throne in “Queen Wu” (working title). The original TVing series “Queen Woo” (directed by Jeong Se Kyo, screenplay by Lee Byung Hak, produced by And Marq Studios, Compass Pictures, CJ ENM Studios, and TVING) will be a chase action drama in which Queen Woo, being the target of five tribes seeking power due to the sudden death of the king, struggles to establish a new king within 24 hours.

While Jeon Jong Seo predicted the birth of a queen character that has never been seen before as the Queen of Goguryeo, Kim Moo Yeol, Ji Chang Wook, Jung Yoo Mi, Lee Soo Hyuk and Park Ji Hwan have joined to complete the dream casting. “Queen Woo” sees a fierce battle break out following the death of the Goguryeo region’s ninth King. The rivalry includes efforts to marry one of the King’s brothers, and Woo Hee becomes the first woman in Korean history to become Queen two times.

The role of Woo-hee, played by Jeon Jong Seo, is as the Queen of Goguryeo, who has beauty and intelligence, but has not gained any power because she was born as a female member of a Korean-American family. The only person to rely on in the desolate palace is King Go Nam Moo, but as such a husband is given a desperate crisis, not only his status but also his family is threatened.

Ji Chang Wook will play the role of Go Nam Moo, Woo-hee’s husband and King of the Heavenly Kingdom. Go Nam Moo is the king of Goguryeo, who has the brains to lead 5,000 soldiers and defeat the 30,000 soldiers of the Han Dynasty. He is a perfect king with the corresponding dignity and benevolence, but his sudden absence soon brings blood to the palace. Ji Chang Wook plans to express in depth the fate of the character Go Nam Moo, who becomes a source of conflict as the praised Seong-gun (a ruler who is noble and virtuous).

Kim Moo Yeol will play Eulpa-so, the Prime Minister of Goguryeo and Daemak-ri (the highest-ranking post involved in military and personnel affairs). Eulpa-so has the ability to overcome the weakness of being a descendant of an indigenous family and climb sup to the position of Daemak Ridge (Prime Minister). Although he takes charge of state affairs in the trust of King Go Nam Moo, there is an unresolved desire in his mind. Attention is drawn to Kim Moo Yeol’s performance, which will portray the complex inner side of Eulpa-so, which is placed between loyalty to the king and the lust for power.

Jung Yoo Mi transforms into Woo-hee’s older sister Woo-soon. Woo-soon, who has the most beautiful beauty in the North (who has produced queens from generation to generation), lost her position to her younger brother Woo-hee. Accordingly, Woo-soon became the maid of her younger brother and entered the palace to regain her fate. Whether Woo-soon will be able to take her place as Queen Consort, attention is focused on the transformation of Jung Yoo Mi, who will complete Woo-soon’s struggle.

Lee Soo Hyuk adds to the tension of the power war by playing the role of one of the three princes, Go Bal Gi, the successor to the throne of Goguryeo. Go Bal Gi, who has a fierce and mean temperament, begins to express his greed that had been suppressed by fear of his older brother Go Nam Moo (later King Go Nam Moo) when he was given the opportunity to take the throne. As a result, attention is focused on Lee Soo Hyuk, who will realize the high-balance character with hot greed like lava under a cool face.

Park Ji Hwan plays the role of Mu-gol, the great modal (leader) of Wangdang, the King’s military unit. Mu-gol, a brave warrior who skillfully deals with any weapon, is a commander who protects King Go Nam Moo with his loyalty built up by a long war. Park Ji Hwan will redouble the fun of watching with colorful action while wearing Mu-gol’s majesty on a terrifying speed train.

It is expected that these actors will play a solid world view based on the records of Queen Woo, who maintained power by choosing a criminal marriage (a very rare marriage custom in Korea, where a widow marries her late husband’s younger brother to maintain the family line if her husband dies).

The original TVING series “Queen Wu” will be released on TVING in 2024. Filming is expected to begin in October 2023.

For those of you not familiar with the platform, TVING (티빙) is a South Korean online streaming service operated by TVING Corporation, a joint venture of CJ E&M/CJ Group, Naver and JTBC. The platform streams dramas, entertainment shows, animations, exclusive films made for television, specials and documentaries.

Credits: MK.co.kr; MaxMovie; SportsKhan; Asiae.co.kr