Lee Dong Wook stars as first male gumiho in Korean drama
Korean actor Lee Dong Wook will surely heat up your Kdrama marathon as he transforms into a legendary gumiho in Tale of the Nine-Tailed, set to premiere on cable channel tvN today, Oct.7, airing Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Written by Han Woo Ri and directed by Kang Shin Hyo, the drama follows the story of a gumiho, named Yi Yeon, who once ruled as the guardian spirit of Baekdudaegan. The fantastical being settles in the modern day and lives in the city in human form. He acts as a judge who punishes evil beasts that disturb the human world.
In his quest, he meets Nam Ji Ah, a gutsy director who is determined to hunt down the mysterious gumiho. Making things a little bit complicated will be Yi Rang, Yi Yeon's half-brother.
Lee Dong Wook brings to life Yi Yeon. Kdrama fans would recognize and have seen him in various dramas including Hotel King, Touch Your Heart, and Blade Man, among others.
Actress Jo Bo Ah, who portrays Ji Ah, is known for her acting in recent dramas Forest and My Stranger Hero.
Actor Kim Bum completes the lead cast as he plays Yi Rang. This will be Kim Bum's comeback drama after a four-year hiatus; his last drama was Mrs. Cop. This also marks his first drama after completing his military enlistment. He rose to stardom for his role as So Yi Jung in Boys Over Flowers, the Korean adaptation of the popular drama Meteor Garden.
Known recently for his portrayal as the grim reaper in Goblin, Dong Wook is set to break gender stereotypes as he becomes the first male gumiho ever portrayed in Korean TV history.
In Korean mythology, it is believed that a fox lives a thousand years and then turns into a gumiho. The creature often wanders at night, transforming into a beautiful woman to seduce unsuspecting men. When they least expect it, she returns to her true form and eats their livers or hearts.
Through the years, the legend has changed, especially on how the gumiho can become human. Some stories tell that a gumiho must eat 100 hearts or livers; others state that she should marry a man without him discovering her true nature within 100 days.
But it is always played by Korean actresses in dramas. Most popular portrayals include actress Kim Tae Hee in Forbidden Love (2004), and actress Shin Min Ah in My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (2010).
The drama Tale of the Nine-Tailed will take over the slot of Flower of Evil, a thriller drama starring Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won.
