The casting process for the webtoon-based drama 'A Lover's Seop' has faced multiple hurdles. Previously, Lee Jong-suk (이종석) and rookie actress Choi Yoon-ji (최윤지) were announced as leads, but both subsequently withdrew due to scheduling conflicts, prompting the production team to urgently search for new actors.
Following Korean media reports on September 15 that Hwang Min-hyun (황민현) would replace Lee Jong-suk as the male lead, new developments emerged today (October 1) regarding the female lead. Korean outlets reported that Kim Hye-yoon (김혜윤) is likely to take on the role, marking her first romantic pairing with Hwang Min-hyun.
Regarding Kim Hye-yoon's potential involvement, her agency, Artist Company, stated that she has indeed received an offer from the production team and is currently in active discussions, with no official confirmation yet.
Below are translated comments from Korean netizens
1. Oh, all the actors Kim Hye-yoon partners with become famous.
2. I really like Kim Hye-yoon, but she doesn't quite match Seop.
3. Wow! I thought they'd cast a lesser-known actor, but it's a big name!
4. Huh... the vibe is so different from the original webtoon ㅠ Isn't the female lead supposed to be a tall secretary?
5. Oh... she seems well-suited for the female lead role.
6. News said insiders were already casting, but the agency's official stance is still in discussion.
7. First, she needs to be tall, but Min-kyung...
8. Isn't the female lead set to be an absolute beauty? Just from the novel, she's a tall, glamorous office worker type, hmm...
9. It feels too different from the original.
10. Although she's an actor I like, it's such a mismatch...
11. Min-kyung is described as tall, though...
12. It feels too different from the original; the original calls for a tall person.
13. Wow, it's really such a mismatch.
14. Huh, it really doesn't fit, completely the opposite image...
15. Oh, it's good, but it doesn't match the webtoon.
16. They cast a big name, that's good... Last time it was a rookie I'd never even heard of.
17. I only read the novel, and I think it fits quite well ㅋㅋ because it's not just a cute image ㅋㅋ
18. Wow, I love both of them so much ㅜㅜ
19. The image is too mismatched, isn't it?? The leads have all changed, it's a mess from the start.
20. Huh, the female lead is a tall, slender type.
21. It's really such a mismatch; this is the first time I've seen such mismatched casting recently, and the male lead doesn't fit either.
22. Both the male and female leads are much better than the previous casting.
23. It really doesn't fit, and by the way, Hwang Min-hyun isn't my ideal Seop either ㅠ...
24. The appearance is completely opposite to the webtoon character.
25. But the age gap has narrowed.
26. Wasn't Min-kyung described as tall, with a model figure, wearing a ponytail and a suit? Is this right?
27. They say to cast for image, but it shouldn't be too far off.
28. Doesn't match the Min-kyung I read about in the novel.
29. Hye-yoon's acting is great ㅋㅋ I think it's good.
30. Lee Jong-suk and that rookie actress were better; their height and image were more fitting...
31. Huh, it's too different from the original...
32. So, she'll probably be a sophisticated, capable female lead.
33. Hmm, both leads are questionable... still in discussion.
34. They can just take the story's framework and adapt it; remakes don't always have to be identical.
35. They look like siblings.
32. So the previously rumored actress withdrew; the age range is much lower than 'Tae-yeon's Lie.' If Kim Hye-yoon acts, expectations will be higher, which is the best choice for the production company. Anyway, I don't think Seop's image fits either.
37. I know her acting is great, but it doesn't quite match the image of Seop's female lead ㅠ
38. It feels like the two actors have different vibes.
39. It feels like both castings are off.
40. Please don't touch web novels anymore... both male and female leads don't fit...
41. She's supposed to be a tall, absolute beauty...
42. Although I have a good impression of Kim Hye-yoon, it's too much of a mismatch....
43. The comments are so rude.
44. Why did Lee Jong-suk withdraw? Hwang Min-hyun seems to fit somewhat, but Kim Hye-yoon really doesn't match the female lead's image. However, if they change the tall beauty setting, it could work; there's no rule that she has to be as tall as the original.
45. Both are well-liked actors, that's great.
46. But Kim Hye-yoon's acting is great, so she'll probably fit well when we actually watch the drama.
47. Hye-yoon's acting is excellent; she can bring any role to life.
48. Is it Min-kyung?? She certainly doesn't match the original Min-kyung, but if it's Kim Hye-yoon, she'll carry it with her acting, right?
49. Kim Hye-yoon is truly amazing, but playing Kang Min-kyung's role really doesn't quite fit... ㅠ The initial setting was a tall, hot figure, a sophisticated and capable vibe + a good match with Hwang Min-hyun. Please, she must play it just right... please.
50. I haven't read the original, is Kim Hye-yoon short?
51. It's such a mismatch... the female lead is set to be tall with a model figure.
52. I'm an original fan, but maybe they're just borrowing the basic setting, and the character images will be completely different; what's important is whether the female lead is smart and capable, whether the male lead is handsome enough to be a company model, and whether the romance between cousins can be connected—that's the core.
53. I think the image fits well, and she pairs well with Hwang Min-hyun. I want to see it soon, very excited.
54. Good acting, excellent.
55. I haven't read the original, so I don't know the image, but I feel like the two just don't match.
56. For dramas with an original work, they should at least consider image casting somewhat, not just this one, but most of them...
57. Let the webtoon stay a webtoon.
