Casting Confirmation For New K-Drama Triggers Backlash Against Top Stars In Lead Roles

Casting news for an upcoming webtoon-based K-Drama has quickly turned controversial, with fans questioning whether the two lead actors truly match the original characters.

Following reports that Moon Ga Young and Choi Woo Shik have been cast as the main leads of Gorae Byul – The Gyeongseong Mermaid, discussion across Korean online communities like theqoo has intensified, with many readers pointing to the webtoon’s original character descriptions as the root of their concerns.

According to the source material, the female lead, Heo Su A, was never meant to fit traditional beauty standards. The creator explicitly described her as having “short height, tanned skin, freckles, and round eyes,” emphasizing that “she is absolutely not someone with a striking presence or conventional beauty.” Instead, the character was designed as “a small, shabby girl carrying hardships bigger than herself, struggling fiercely to endure them.”

This portrayal has led some fans to question the casting of Moon Ga Young, who is widely known for her polished visuals and elegant image, qualities they argue contrast sharply with the intentionally “ordinary” and weathered appearance described in the webtoon.

Similar concerns have been raised about the male lead, Kang Ui Hyeon, though for the opposite reason.

In the original work, he is written as an almost storybook-like figure: “a refined young man who captivates people at first sight,” with “dark brown hair, clean and defined eyebrows… and eyes like glass beads beneath long lashes.” He is further described as “a handsome young man… tall and slender,” with a soft yet striking presence inspired by The Little Mermaid’s prince archetype.

While Choi Woo Shik is widely respected for his acting, some fans argue that his approachable, boy-next-door image doesn’t fully align with the more idealized, visually striking character depicted in the webtoon.

As a result, reactions online have been mixed. Many commenters emphasized that both actors are talented in their own right—but questioned whether they were the right fit for roles so clearly defined in the original material.

At the same time, others have urged caution, noting that styling, direction, and performance can dramatically transform how characters are perceived on screen.

• “It seriously feels like the casting is reversed…”
• “Ack. Why Choi Woo Shik…”
• “Even their ages are so different… Why?”
• “Eh.”
• “Did they change the characters’ genders?”
• “Let’s just swap the male and female leads.”
• “I haven’t read the original, but it feels like the casting is the opposite of the character settings…”
• “This makes no sense.”
• “I don’t even think it would work if they switched the male and female roles either.”
• “Ugh, not my Gorae Byul!”
• “They don’t fit at all.”

Whether the final production will stay faithful to the webtoon’s vision or reinterpret the characters in a new way remains to be seen, but for now, the casting alone has been enough to spark a full-blown debate.