News bites: January 17, 2023

Cute character posters have dropped for The Heavenly Idol, showcasing our high priest Kim Min-kyu (Business Proposal) and idol group manager Go Bo-kyul (Hi Bye, Mama!). As Kim fumbles his way through song and dance, the fantasy rom-com will be lighting up our screens next month, starting February 15 in tvN’s Wednesday-Thursday slot. [News1]

Yoo In-soo (Alchemy of Souls 2) has been added to the cast of JTBC’s Bad Mom, joining Ra Mi-ran (Dr. Park’s Clinic), Lee Do-hyun (The Glory), and Ahn Eun-jin (The One and Only). With Yoo playing the town’s resident troublemaker, who has a pure soul when it comes to love, the healing comedy will be broadcasting later this year. [Newsen]

Coupang Play’s Bait has come out with its second poster and video teaser, featuring the crime-thriller’s leads Jang Geun-seok (Switch), Heo Sung-tae (Big Bet), and Lee Elijah (Delayed Justice). Launching next week on January 27, production for the drama has been led by PD Kim Hong-sun (Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area) and screenwriter Kim Jin-wook (Jesters: The Game Changers). [News1]
The pretty, pretty cast of tvN’s Our Blooming Youth are featured in new character posters and we finally get to see some romance in the newly released teaser. Slated to air on February 6, the fictional sageuk stars Park Hyung-shik (Sountrack #1) and Jeon So-ni (Dr. Brain) along with Pyo Ye-jin (Taxi Driver), Yoon Jong-seok (Crime Puzzle), Lee Tae-seon (Next Door Witch J), and rookie Heo Won-seo (Real:Time:Love 4). [Osen (1), (2)]

Park Ji-bin (Blind) has confirmed casting for The Murderer’s Shopping Mall (working title), which is still in the planning stages with Lee Dong-wook (Bad and Crazy) and Kim Hye-joon (Connect) headlining the series. Based on a novel by Kang Ji-young, the author also wrote the original story for tvN’s adaptation of The Killer’s Shopping List, which Park appeared in as well. [Sports Kyunghyang]
Park Ji-hoon (Weak Hero Class 1) is reviewing an offer to play the lead role of Seon Woo-jin in a new thriller called Bastard. The webtoon adaptation will tell a dark tale as it follows the life of high school student Woo-jin, who lives alone with his murderous and psychopath father. [News1]
The second season of SBS’s Taxi Driver has started the promo train with our returning dark heroes Le Je-hoon (Move to Heaven) and Kim Eui-sung (Under the Queen’s Umbrella) as well as a newly uniformed Pyo Ye-jin (Taxi Driver). With most of the cast reprising their roles — along with newcomer Shin Jae-ha (Crash Course in Romance) — the vigilante story continues this coming February 17. [SBS (1), (2), News1]