News bites: April 22, 2025

14 April 22, 2025April 22, 2025

by tccolb

IU, Byun Woo-seok, Noh Sang-hyun, Gong Seung-yeon

With casting now finalized, MBC has officially announced production for 21st Century Prince’s Wife, imagining a constitutional monarchy in South Korea where IU (When Life Gives You Tangerines), Byun Woo-seok (Lovely Runner), Noh Sang-hyun (Pachinko 2), and Gong Seung-yeon (Karma) are our story leads. The fantasy-ish romance is expected to soon start filming and will be broadcasting in early 2026. [MBC]

There’s still plenty in store for 2025 and casting continues for MBC’s Judge Lee Han-young, with Baek Jin-hee (The Real Has Come) now in talks to join Ji Sung (Connection), Won Jin-ah (Unicorn), and Park Hee-soon (Squid Game 2) in the legal timeslip’s lineup. Adapted from the popular webnovel by the same title, the series is planning to air in the weekend slot later this year. [Newsen]
MBC’s Oh My Ghost Clients came out with their first poster as well, soliciting Jung Kyung-ho (Crash Course in Romance) to offer his attorney services to a less visible crowd. Also starring sister-in-law Seol In-ah (Twinkling Watermelon) and content creator Cha Hak-yeon (Castaway Diva), the supernatural comedy will be launching on weekends starting May 30 next month. [MBC]

Gu Kyo-hwan (Parasyte – The Grey) and Go Yoon-jung (Resident Playbook) are reviewing offers for a new drama called Everyone Struggles with Their Self-Worth (roughly translated). Exploring the film industry in what I expect will be a thought-provoking journey, what with PD Cha Young-hoon (Welcome to Samdal-ri, When the Camellia Blooms) at the helm and scripts penned by Park Hae-young (My Liberation Notes, My Ajusshi). [Newsen]
Kim Young-kwang (The Haunted Palace) and Chae Soo-bin (When the Phone Rings) have reportedly been paired in a new fantasy rom-com called Charge Me Up (roughly translated). Production for the webnovel adaptation has PD Park Su-won (Work Later, Drink Now 2, Birthcare Center) attached to direct and is aiming to release on an international streaming platform. [JTBC, Xports News]
On tvN, preparations are underway for First, for Love, lining up Yeom Jung-ah (No Way Out – The Roulette), Park Hae-joon (When Life Gives You Tangerines), Choi Yoon-ji (The Trunk), and Minkyu (Missing Crown Prince) to take us through a heartwarming tale about romance, family, and growth. Slated to broadcast later this year, the series has PD Yoo Je-won (Love Next Door, Crash Course in Romance) directing and writing by Sung Woo-jin. [10 Asia]

Required fields are marked *

2. I love me some Ji Sung. I would prefer if we have more of court cases than not.
3. Normally I avoid ghost themed dramas irrespective of the cast. But, I'll give this a honorable watch of 2 episodes and see if Jung Kyung-ho and Seol In-ah convince me to stay nonetheless.
4. So Screenwriter Park Hae-young is coming back with another piece. I'll wait to see more of the cast. The current ones ain't enough to draw me in.
5. After Imoogi, I'm prepared to see him in a romcom.
6. I'm carefully dipping my toes here. The cast is solid. But the production crew is my worry. I liked CCIR, but LND was a total mess of the cast.

Required fields are marked *

2 OldLawyer

April 23, 2025 at 12:03 AM

Is 21ST CENTURY PRINCE'S WIFE a remake of PRINCESS HOURS?

Required fields are marked *

Wish

April 23, 2025 at 12:23 AM

No it’s completely unrelated. It has the same theme as reimagined Korea as a constitutional monarchy but that is where the similarities end. The script was a winner for the annual MBC drama script contest.

Required fields are marked *

PYC

April 23, 2025 at 7:45 AM

Thanks for the clarification (and it does sound like Goong).

Required fields are marked *

OldLawyer

April 23, 2025 at 10:56 AM

Thank you. I really did not think that GOONG needed to be remade but happy to hear that it simply borrows the same dramatic situation. IU picks good projects, so I am encouraged to hear this.

Required fields are marked *

Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊

April 23, 2025 at 1:25 AM

I was thinking it’s the closest we will get to the remake that was promised years ago. It is probably better to go with the new story with some similarities than have something tainted with the negative responses associated with the Princess Hours. I was looking forward to the updated version so I am keen to see this one as I like the concept.

Required fields are marked *

3 Wish

April 23, 2025 at 12:27 AM

GYJ is clearly the next big thing. From ShinLee to Hong Sisters and now Park Haeyoung in less than a year. Happy for her and it’s only a matter of time she takes her best actress award at Baeksang. I’m excited for her future.

Required fields are marked *

4 Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊

April 23, 2025 at 4:50 AM

Looking forward to hearing more about these as this is a first that we have a mixed genre batch and yet they all could be added to my watchlist so I need to know if there is something lurking that would lead to them being swiftly removed.

The two that I am most interested in are Everyone struggles with their self-worth and 21st Century Prince’s wife.

Required fields are marked *

5 Unaspirated

April 23, 2025 at 4:53 AM

1. I’m here for whatever this turns out to be. It might end up a lot of different ways, but I bet none of them will be boring (or ugly, for that matter)!

2. Legal *yawns* timeslip 👀

3. I’m interested enough to read the weecaps, but not interested enough to risk watching until I get a lot more feedback.

5. This, on the other hand, I don’t need any more information about. Just let me know when it airs and I’ll bring the popcorn!

Required fields are marked *

6 PYC

April 23, 2025 at 7:50 AM

The biggest news here is a new drama penned by Park Hae-young. And the two leads are solid.

The new Ji Sung drama sounds like Connection with a time-travel twist. I’d much prefer him to take on something entirely different, eg character-driven or slice of life / professional drama.

Required fields are marked *

7 A

April 23, 2025 at 5:15 PM

All these projects got me excited. especially projects 1,4 & 5! The people behind the scenes are the ones behind some of my favs like My ajusshi & Work later!

Required fields are marked *

8 The Kdrama Enthusiast

April 23, 2025 at 11:03 PM

Comment was deleted

Required fields are marked *

9 The Kdrama Enthusiast

April 23, 2025 at 11:20 PM

I love Noh Sang-hyun but it's a fantasy (no thanks) and he's not the lead (whyyyyy?)

Will not be watching Judge Lee as I'm not a fan of Ji-sung and have never seen a drama of his for this reason

No ghosts for me, because I'm not a fan of Jung Kyung-ho and the premise doesn't sound interesting enough to me to make me watch it even in JKH wasn't in it

No fantasy rom-coms for me, thanks.

First, for Love doesn't interest me.

Koo Kyo-hwan in an upcoming drama? Yesss! Been a minute since I saw him on my screen. Not since last year's Parasyte: The Grey. Looks like this is the only one I'll be checking out on this list.

Required fields are marked *

10 🌸 Seeker 🌸

May 2, 2025 at 6:33 AM

1. Glad to know the rumors of Byeon Woo-seok and Lee Ji-eun dropping out were just that - rumors. Okay then, hit me up with a fairy tale. If nothing else I am happy and willing to be swept off my feet by this Prince Charming and the Pretty Princess-to-be.

2. Ji Sung Oppa, legal timeslip drama. Sold. 👨‍⚖️

3. Er, can we get a cameo from The Midnight Studio OTP. The FL was also a lawyer, no. 😂🤟

4. Seems like a slice-of-life melo. Sure, bring it on.

5. Oh my cat!! That OTP and SOLD!! 😊❤😍

6. The casting is good. The "heartwarming tale about romance, family, and growth" seems cliché but sometimes clichés when well done can actually be heartwarming. So good luck to the Team. Hwaiting!!