News bites: June 29, 2023

Lee Hak-joo, Ahn Eun-jin, Namgoong Min, Lee Da-in

It’s a bonanza of new promos kicking off this week, with script reading stills popping up left, right, and center. To start (in no specific order), MBC will be tugging at our heartstrings with the Joseon-era Lovers, starring Namgoong Min (One Dollar Lawyer), Ahn Eun-jin (The Good Bad Mother), Lee Hak-joo (Shadow Detective), and Lee Da-in (Alice). Directed by PD Kim Sung-yong (The Veil) with scripts by Hwang Jin-young (Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People), the fictional sageuk premieres on August 4. [MBC]

(Top photo) Park Sung-woong, Im Ji-yeon, Park Hae-jin

In contrast, SBS will be playing hardball with Park Hae-jin (Showtime Begins), Park Sung-woong (Bloodhounds), and Im Ji-yeon (Lies Hidden in My Garden) in their upcoming thriller National Death Penalty Vote. Broadcasting in a new Thursday time slot, the webtoon-adaptation will be coming to our screens on August 10, with production led by filmmaker Park Shin-woo (White Night) and writer Jo Yoon-young (Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo). [SBS]
A new poster has dropped for Disney+’s action sci-fi Moving, showcasing our young budding superheroes: Lee Jung-ha (Nevertheless), Kim Do-hoon (The Law Cafe), and Go Yoon-jung (Alchemy of Souls ). With a large star-studded cast, led by Ryu Seung-ryong (Kingdom), Han Hyo-joo (Happiness), and Jo In-sung (It’s Okay That’s Love), the 20-episode webtoon adaptation will be launching on August 9. [News1]

Oh Eui-shik (Crash Course in Romance) confirmed casting for SBS’s The First Responders 2, newly joining Kim Rae-won (L.U.C.A.: The Beginning), Sohn Ho-joon (Work Later Drink Now 2), and Gong Seung-yeon (Bulgasal: Immortal Souls) in Season 2. Written by Min Ji-eun (Investigation Couple 2) with PD Shin Kyung-soo (Nokdu Flower) at the helm, the crime-thriller will be returning on August 4. [Osen]
The first script reading stills have also come out for KBS’s Pure Boxer, which stars Lee Sang-yub (Eve) and Kim So-hye (How to Buy a Friend). Uplifiting our spirits this coming August, the underdog sports story is based on an award-winning novel and will be following Heartbeat in the Monday-Tuesday slot. Production is in the hands of Let Me Hear Your Song’s writer Kim Min-joo and PD Choi Sang-yeol – in addition to PD Hong Eun-mi (School 2021). [News1]

(Top photo) Lee Sang-yub, Kim So-hye

JTBC is preparing for August as well, bringing us the fantasy Behind Your Touch with Lee Min-ki (My Liberation Notes), Han Ji-min (Yonder), and EXO’s Suho (Rich Man). As this is K-dramaland, we can expect our leads to also be embroiled in some comedy and romance as they try and solve the mystery at hand. The series takes over the weekend slot after King the Land, premiering on August 12. [JTBC]

(Top photo) Lee Min-ki, Han Ji-min, Suho