With all the amazing webtoons-based dramas that have been released in the past couple of years, we have only become more excited about upcoming K-Dramas linked with webtoons.

The webtoon "The Mermaid I Loved" is a special case because the story was first written as a script for a drama production. The drama production is on its way and the webtoon was pre-released. The drama's production company, Group Eight, thought that in releasing it first as a webtoon they could showcase some of the various deep sea adventures of the story and also help garner attention for the drama.

The romance fantasy adventure webtoon “The Mermaid I Loved” ("내가 사랑한 물고기," literal translation, “The Fish I Loved”), written by Cosmic Bom Bom and Bubal (우주봄봄 and 부발), tells the story of a man whose intermittent transformations into a mermaid become increasingly uncontrollable as he experiences the emotion of love and spends time with a woman who he finds himself more and more attracted to. The season 1 of the webtoon ended on March 13th with 31 episodes.

Given the webtoon’s popularity, Group Eight is looking forward the positive effect the webtoon will have on the upcoming drama’s viewership. They have built a solid portfolio with dramas based on webtoons like "Taxi Driver", "My ID is Gangnam Beauty" and "A Good Day To Be A Dog". Among their awaited projects is the reboot of the popular drama "Princess Hours" (2006).

Currently, there are no actors cast for “The Mermaid I Loved”. Fans of the webtoon are waiting for the announcement of the cast. We can already think of actors and actresses who would be perfect for the roles!

We at Kpopmap have thought up a cast of actors who would suit this drama amazingly.

 

1. Sim Kai (심카이), a mermaid and 3rd generation chaebol

Sim Kai is the lead male character. He discovered he was a mermaid 12 years ago and he pretends to be a human.

When he shares physical touch with a woman, his fish scales begin to appear and he transforms back into his mermaid form. Because of this, he avoids all contact with women and has been single his whole life.

But due to his handsome looks, he has a lot of girls chasing after him, so he hired YaNa to pretend to be his girlfriend. However, he can’t help himself from having physical contact with YaNa even if it means he won’t be able breathe.

Kai is the son of the jewelry brand Inoroo, or 3rd generation chaebol, but he is not interested in the family business and instead prefers performing as a mermaid at the aquarium.

The actor must possess features suitable for long hair and a muscular physique to be able to portray a mermaid. He should exude charm and look dazzling in a suit, while also being capable of conveying a mix of cynicism, cuteness, and panic in his expressions. Comfort with underwater filming is also mandatory.

Moon SangMin, WEi's Kim YoHan, Baek SungChul, Kim MyungSoo (INFINITE's L), and Chae JongHyeop could be a good match.

Not only would they look stunning with long hair and looks amazing in suits, but their facial features would perfectly match the character's. Beyond their physical attributes, all five actors possess the talent and ability to convey Kai through the right facial expressions. The genre of fantasy romance suits them impeccably. Each actor would bring their unique colors and charms to the character, making him stand out on screen. Additionally, we can anticipate excellent chemistry with the lead actress.

Vote for your pick in the poll below!

 

2. Jung YaNa (정야나), an easy-going part-time student

Jung YaNa (24 years old) is the lead female character. She is a student who works a part-time job and has an easy-going personality.

She accidentally kisses Kai when she meets him for the first time, and shocked to see him suddenly fall very sick, she calls the ambulance. She ends up more shocked when she sees him put his face into a dirty bucket of water used for cleaning.

The actress should possess a mix of cuteness and strength, capable of expressing a wide range of emotions, and especially comedy. The character experiences rapid and extreme changes in emotions, so the actress should be able to show these transitions convincingly. Additionally, she should look just like a regular student, but be able to become a stunning lady with expensive clothes.

Kang MinAh, WJSN's Bona (Kim JiYeon), Chae SooBin, Girl's Day's HyeRi, and Seor InA could be a good match.

All five actresses have demonstrated their talented acting and are well-suited for a character like YaNa. Each of them possesses the ability to portray the youthful, cute, and fiery vibes of the female lead character. Comedy and expressive acting would not be an issue for any of them, so it would be a smooth portrayal of the character without overdoing it and making viewers laugh. No need to mention that they would all bring great chemistry with the lead actor! Being a romance, it is crucial.

Vote for your pick in the poll below!

 

The webtoon is not available in English officially yet, but you can read it in Korean here.

Let us know who you want to see cast!

Note: The aim of the vote is for Kpopmap readers to share their opinion about their preference for the cast. It is not affecting the cast of the production team.

Ahead of the 1st "Asia Star Entertainer Awards 2024" ("ASEA"), the final voting to determine the winners has begun on IDOLCHAMP, starting from 10AM on March 15th. The glamorous event looks to become a place where music, stars, and fans become one.

【ASEA2024日本開催決定!!】
アジアを代表するトップアーティストが出演し、世界中のファンと音楽で一つになる授賞式「ASIA STAR ENTERTAINER AWARDS 2024(ASEA 2024)」、その記念すべき第1回目が2024年4月10日に日本で開催される事が決定!!!#ASEA2024 pic.twitter.com/O0T8APQVVu

— ASEA_official_jp【公式】 (@aseaofficial_jp) February 6, 2024

In the ASEA final voting categories, a large number of internationally loved K-Pop artists are nominated for the following categories: 'Best Male/Female Group Award', 'Best Male/Female Soloist Award', 'Trot', 'Virtual', 'Rookie Award', and 'Popularity Award'.

Check out the artists you can vote for down below.

 

Final Nominees

Best Male Group Award

Stray Kids

TXT

EXO

TREASURE

SEVENTEEN

 

Best Female Group Award

NiziU

VIVIZ

TWICE

OH MY GIRL

Kep1er

 

Best Male Soloist Award

Lim YoungWoong

SHINee's TaeMin

BTS' JungKook

Kang Daniel

BTS' Suga

 

Best Female Soloist Award

TWICE's JiHyo

BLACKPINK's JiSoo

MAMAMOO's HwaSa

SunMi

Red Velvet's SeulGi

 

Trot Award

YoungTak

Lee ChanWon

Jung DongWon

Kim HeeJae

Hong JiYoon

 

Virtual Award

PLAVE

SUPERKIND

MAVE

ISEGYE IDOL

RE:Revolution

 

Rookie Award

JD1's Jung DongWon

ZEROBASEONE

PLAVE

TWS

POW

 

Popularity Award

Lim YongWoong

BTS' JiMin

BTS' V

Stray Kids

Kang Daniel

EXO

SHINee's TaeMin

BTS' Suga

BTS' JungKook

NiziU

 

You can participate in the "ASEA" final voting through the mobile fandom apps, IDOLCHAMP and PODOAL. Once the final voting period ends, the results will be announced at "ASEA", which will be held at K-Arena Yokohama in Yokohama, Japan on April 10th.

"ASEA 2024" is hosted by Newsen, Korea's leading entertainment and sports media outlet which boasts 19 long years of valued tradition. They are also joined by '앳스타일' (@star1), an online entertainment media outlet that has been steadily publishing Star & Style Magazine for 12 years. The prestigious event is organized by ASEA Organizing Committee and Japan's ZOZOTOWN.

Additionally, "ASEA 2024" will have world renowned K-Pop artists and Asian singers who've accomplished several significant achievements over the past year take the stage. They will create an extraordinary experience, mesmerizing fans in the audience and watching from home.

 

Kpopmap Exclusive IDOLCHAMP Coupon Sale

For those looking to support their favorite artist via IDOLCHAMP, Kpopmap is here to help! In partnership with the mobile fandom app, Kpopmap users are able to purchase IDOLCHAMP coupons at a Kpopmap exclusive discount price!

You can head here to purchase IDOLCHAMP coupons today and help your favorite K-Pop artist win "ASEA 2024"!

Who will you be voting for?

BTS have become a world-renowned idol group, recognized all across the globe. Their star presence is second to none, effectively leading K-Pop to newer heights with every step of their career. Despite all members currently carrying out their mandatory military service, they've filmed and recorded enough content so ARMY will be unable to feel their absence during the time apart.

Just recently, BTS V's newest single, 'FRI(END)S', dropped to the excitement of fans everywhere. It's a love song at its core, raising question marks over undefined relationships but also reveling in the heartwarming feelings that come with it.

One of the things millions can agree on is that V's voice is absolutely heaven-sent, dripping with a tantalizing sweetness that you quickly become addicted to. Although he's so deeply tied to being a member of BTS, the idol has his own vocal color that screams unique and original.

V has come a long way and is now recognized as one of the world's most loveliest vocalists.

 

Discovering A Master Vocalist

The start of BTS' career was explosive with a hip-hop focused title track that may surprise some newer fans. During this period there were small snippets of V's vocals, but nowhere near as much as we hear it today. Even looking at his debut concept photo, you would never expect that the idol carried such a refreshing vocal tone.

But as time would go on, fans and netizens alike would start to discover V's tender vocals. This is highlighted most especially in his cover of 'Someone Like You'.

The cinematography screams homemade video for the family as V broodingly walks down a random alleyway. However, accompanied by his amazing voice in the background, your heart begins to melt a million times over. For those discovering the idol's voice for the first time with this cover, it's a revolutionary moment that they surely have not forgotten.

 

Cover Songs Galore With A Sprinkle Of OSTs

Luckily for fans, V did not stop there. From that point onward, he began to create even more opportunities for ARMY to hear his voice outside of BTS recordings. At first, he simply uploaded covers onto his group's official YouTube channel. His renditions of songs like 'Hug Me' put millions in a state of shock and awe.

Then, there's also K-Drama soundtrack V. While his first OST appearance was for a series he was starring in, due to his strong bond with the Wooga Squad he gladly lent his voice for his dear friends. This gave way to heartwarming hits in 'Sweet Night' and 'Christmas Tree'.

Hearing V's voice in the background of such moving dramas elevated numerous scenes to the next level, with a growing appreciation towards the drama and the BTS member himself. Even after these series concluded, fans continued to listen to V's wonderful OST soundtracks.

 

Original Music

Even while focusing on group promotions, V continued to remain passionate about his own music. While standing on stage as a member of BTS, he simultaneously released original songs like 'Scenery' and 'Winter Bear'. Through these tracks he continued to showcase himself as a sentimental vocalist, much different from the energetic idol that fans often witnessed dancing on stage.

It wasn't until 2023 that V finally came out with his solo debut album, "Layover". It was a true testament of V as an artist and the type of unforgettable vocalist he's become over the years. The entire album tugged on fans' heartstrings, making them vulnerable and softhearted right until the very last note.

Now there's no doubt in anyone's mind that V's angelic vocals deserves so much praise and more. He's come a long way as both a group member of BTS and as an established soloist. While he's fulfilling his military service, fans are sure to listen to V's voice a million times over, waiting patiently until he's able to join ARMY once again.

What are your favorite vocal performances from V?