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.

One of the biggest names in the Korean entertainment industry and especially in broadcasting and to many K-Drama lovers is none other than 'KBS'. KBS, the Korean Broadcasting System, has played a vital role in the growth of K-Dramas over the decades with continuously high-ranking K-Dramas placing in the best ratings list of 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Additionally, KBS has been known for producing some of the most iconic dramas adored by K-Drama lovers. Thanks to this, they also have some record ratings worth mentioning such as for the K-Drama "Bread, Love and Dreams" which aired in 2010 that reached a record 50.8% rating! Another of their K-Drama hits with sky-high ratings is "Descendants of The Sun" (2016) with a 38.8% rating.

Make sure to check out the KBS dramas with the highest ratings from 2015-2020 in this article:

Here are the top KBS dramas with the highest ratings since 2020!

Note: This ranking does not include daily and weekend dramas. 'Drama specials' and 'weekend drama specials' are also not included in the ranking.

 

1. "Royal Secret Agent" - 14%

"Royal Secret Agent" is the KBS drama with the highest rating (since 2020) at a 14% rating. Starring INFINITE's L (Kim MyungSoo), Kwon NaRa, and Lee YiKyung, many hailed the drama as one of the best historical K-Dramas out there. The drama turned its viewers into detectives who were just as invested in cracking the story as the characters and made for an immersive experience.

 

2. "Goryeo–Khitan War" - 13.8%

"Goryeo-Khitan War" is a 32-episode long and old-style historical drama that gained the hearts of a lot of viewers. It tells the story of the King of Goryeo named HyeonJong who united Goryo with various events including by leading the war with the Khitans. Starring Kim DongJun, Choi SooJung, and Ji SeungHyun, the drama ended with its highest rating at 13.8% (the drama started at 5%).

Note: this drama is a special drama to commemorate the 50th anniversary of KBS.

3. "The King's Affection" - 12.1%

"The King's Affection" was hailed as a drama that gives you butterflies, as K-Drama lovers couldn't get enough of the sweet storyline and affectionate chemistry between the main couple. Add to that the visual beauty of this historical drama and the deal is sealed. Starring RoWoon and Park EunBin, the drama earned a rating of 12.1%.

 

4. "King Of Tears, Lee BangWon" - 11.7%

"King Of Tears, Lee BangWon" told the history of King TaeJong in a way that put a refreshing twist on the well-known history of the king. The drama was particularly enjoyed by history buffs for the way that it kept the already-known narrative exciting. Starring Joo SangWook, Kim YeongCheol, Ye JiWon, and Park JinHee, the drama made a rating of 11.7%.

 

5. "Woman of 9.9 Billion" - 11.6%

This is yet another drama that made a bold impression on K-Drama lovers. Many found the narrative thrilling and filled with suspense that had you on the edge of your seat waiting to see how it ended. Starring Cho YeoJeong and Kim KangWoo, the drama achieved a rating of 11.6%.

 

6. "River Where the Moon Rises" - 10%

This drama earned praise for many elements from the cast's acting portrayals, to the cinematography, to the OST, and more. Fans couldn't get enough of the electric chemistry between the actors, too. Starring Kim SoHyun, Na InWoo, Lee JiHoon, and Choi YuHwa, "River Where The Moon Rises" earned a rating of 10%.

 

7. "Oasis" - 9.7%

This drama took a fresh approach to an educational lesson on Korean history. Many were impressed with the actors who gave the noir drama its depth. "Oasis", starring Jang DongYoon, Seor InA, and Choo YoungWoo, secured a rating of 9.7%.

 

8. "Bloody Heart" - 8.9%

"Bloody Heart" earned a rating of 8.9%. Starring Jang Hyuk, Lee Joon, and Kang HanNa, the drama was praised for the depth of its storyline and characters. With a riveting narrative, the characters each carried out their convictions in a convincing way.

 

9. "Police University" - 8.5%

"Police University" was a K-Drama filled with life lessons and sweet moments that brought a lot of fun to the screen. Starring Cha TaeHyun, JinYoung, and f(x)'s Krystal, the drama earned an 8.5% rating.

 

10. "Moonshine" - 7.6%

"Moonshine" did what a lot of dramas can't do easily. It mixed the complex world of politics with a romantic comedy aspect that made for a pleasant viewing experience. Fans were especially pleased with the emotional conviction of the actors, Yoo SeungHo and Girl's Day's HyeRi - earning the drama a 7.6% rating.

 

11. "Forest" - 7.4%

"Forest" gained a lot of praise for its beautiful setting and beautiful story. Many fans expressed that watching the drama had a healing effect on them and that they appreciated the sweet chemistry between the main characters, played by actors Park HaeJin and Cho BoAh, too. This earned the drama ratings of 7.4%.

 

12. "Curtain Call" - 7.2%

"Curtain Call" was a fresh kind of period drama well-received by many fans. The drama carried a deep sentiment that appealed to viewers. Starring Kang HaNeul, Ha JiWon, and Go DooShim, the drama secured 7.2% ratings.

 

13. "The Law Cafe" - 7.1%

"The Law Cafe" earned the high ratings of 7.1%. Starring Lee SeungGi and Lee SeYoung, this law-and-order type drama had fans rolling with laughter at the witty antics and had their hearts fluttering at the romantic moments.

 

14. "Sell Your Haunted House" - 6.9%

"Sell Your Haunted House" was complimented for its beguiling cast and the amazing way that it presented the horror genre to the K-Drama screen. Starring Jang NaRa and CNBLUE's Jung YongHwa, the drama secured a rating of 6.9%.

 

15. "Bad Prosecutor" - 6.3%

"Bad Prosecutor" gained a lot of praise for its thrilling action investigation storyline and comedy-filled scenes. The chemistry between the two leads was also unmatched. Starring EXO’s D.O. and Lee SeHee, the drama secured 6.3% in ratings.

 

16. "Cheat On Me, If You Can" - 5.8%

Many enjoyed this drama for its crime-novel-esque storytelling style and for the thrill of unraveling the mystery together with the main character. Starring Cho YeoJeong and Go Jun, "Cheat On Me, If You Can" earned 5.8% in ratings.

Which of these KBS dramas is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

 

Have you ever wondered who are the most followed Korean actresses on Instagram?

Most of the Korean actresses have Instagram and some have an impressive amount of followers! Some have been using actively Instagram while some do not really keep it updated. Some actresses also just created their Instagram recently and are still gathering followers.

Here are the most followed Korean actresses on Instagram and then a rough ranking of other actresses' Instagram followers amount (around 70).

If you are not following your favorite actresses' Instagram, it is time to do so.

All data were updated on February 23, 2024, 2:00 PM KST. We update regularly as the numbers keep on increasing.

Important Notice: only a few acting-dols have been included according to our new criteria (as of January 2022) made with readers' opinions in mind. Check the criteria for this list at the bottom of the page. 

 

1. IU - 32.2m followers - @dlwlrma

Note: IU played the main role in "Hotel Del Luna", "My Mister", and more.

 

2. Suzy - 19.8m followers - @skuukzky

Note: Suzy played the main role in "Start-Up", "While You Were Sleeping", "Doona!" and more.

 

3. Jung HoYeon - 19.4m followers - @hoooooyeony

 

4. Han SoHee - 17.5m followers @xeesoxee

 

5. Girls' Generation's YoonA - 17.3m followers - @yoona__lim

Note: Girls' Generation's YoonA played the main role in "The K2", "The King in Love", and more.

 

6. Song HyeKyo - 17.2m followers - @kyo1122

 

7. Lee SungKyoung - 15.3m followers - @heybiblee

 

8. Park ShinHye - 15.2m followers - @ssinz7

 

9. Red Velvet's Joy - 14.6m followers - @_imyour_joy

Note: Red Velvet's Joy played the main role in "The Liar and His Lover", "Tempted", and more.

 

10. Kim SoHyun - 13.6m followers - @wow_kimsohyun

 

11. Mun KaYoung - 12.7m followers - @m_kayoung

 

12. Kim SeJeong - 12m followers - @clean_0828

Note: Kim SeJeong played the main role in "The Uncanny Counter", "Business Proposal" and more.

 

13. Park MinYoung - 11.9m followers - @rachel_mypark

 

14. Kim YouJung - 11.5m followers - @you_r_love

 

15. f(x)'s Krystal - 10.7m followers - @vousmevoyez

Note: Krystal played the main role in "Police University", "Search", and more.

 

16. Seor InA - 10.1m followers - @_seorina

 

17. Son YeJin - 8.2m followers - @yejinhand

 

18. Girl's Day's HyeRi - 8.2m followers - @hyeri_0609

Note: Girl's Day's HyeRi played in "Two Cops", "Moonshine", and more.

 

19. Girls' Generation's SeoHyun - 8.1m followers - @seojuhyun_s

Note: Girls' Generation's SeoHyun played the main role in "Private Lives", "Time", and more.

 

20. Kim JiWon - 8.1m followers - @geewonii

 

21. Girls' Generation's SooYoung - 7.7m followers - @sooyoungchoi

Note: Girls' Generation's SooYoung played the main role in "Run On", "Tell Me What You Saw", and more.

 

22. Sulli - 6.8m followers - @jelly_jilli

Note: Sulli played the main role in "Real", "Fashion King", and more.

 

23. Lee YouMi - 6.6m followers - @leeyoum262

 

24. Go YounJung - 6.7m followers - @goyounjung

 

25. Girls' Generation's YuRi - 6.5m followers - @yulyulk

Note: Girls' Generation's YuRi played the main role in "Bossam: Steal the Fate", "Defendant", and more.

 

26. Kim GoEun - 6.4m followers - @ggonekim

 

27. T-ARA's JiYeon - 5.6m followers - @jiyeon2__

Note: Park JiYeon played the main role in "I Wanna Hear Your Song", "Imitation", and more.

 

28. Kim DaMi - 5.3m followers - @d_a___m_i

 

29. Cho YiHyun - 5m followers - @yihyun_1208

 

30. Shin MinA - 5m followers - @illusomina

 

31. Han HyoJoo - 4.8m followers - @hanhyojoo222

 

32. NaNa - 4.9m followers - @jin_a_nana

NaNa played the main role in "Oh My Ladylord", "Into the Ring", and more.

 

33. Park JiHu - 4.4m followers - @03_hu

 

34. Park BoYoung - 4.5m followers - @boyoung0212_official

 

35. Song JiHyo - 4.1m followers - @my_songjihyo

Here are more actresses' Instagram followers numbers and accounts.

Over 3m followers

AOA's SeolHyun (@s2seolhyuns2) [SeolHyun played the main role in "Awaken", "My Country: The New Age", and more], Park YooNa (@youna_1997), Son NaEun (@marcellasne_) [NaEun played the main role in "Ghost Doctor", "Dinner Mate", and more], Kang MinAh (@minah320_97), Kim SaeRon (@ron_sae), Shin SeKyung (@sjkuksee), Kim HyeYoon (@hye_yoon1110), Lee SiYoung (@leesiyoung38), Park EunBin (@eunbining0904), Gong HyoJin (@rovvxhyo), Shin HaeSun (@shinhs831), Jung SoMin (@somin_jj), Shin YeEun (@__shinyeeun), Park GyuYoung (@lavieenbluu), Han JiHyun (@hanjiji54)

 

Over 2m followers

Apink's EunJi (@artist_eunji) [EunJi played the main role in "O.OMHz", "Untouchable", and more], Oh YeonSeo (@ohvely22), Lee JooYoung (@i_icaruswalks), Min HyoRin (@hyorin_min), Jung ChaeYeon (@j_chaeyeoni) [Jung ChaeYeon has played the main role in "My First First Love", "The King's Affection", and more], Lee JiAh (@e.jiah), Kim TaeRi (@kimtaeri_official), Lee DaHee (@dahee0315), Roh YoonSeo (@rohyoonseo)

 

Between 1m and 2m followers

Han YeSeul (@han_ye_seul_), Koo HyeSun (@kookoo900), Ha JiWon (@hajiwon1023), Jung RyeoWon (@yoanaloves) [Jung RyeoWon played the main role in "Witch's Court", "Diary of a Prosecutor", and more], Park SoDam (@imsodamm), Han JiMin (@roma.emo), Lee YuBi (@yubi_190), Kim BoRa (@kim_bora95), Im SooHyang (@hellopapa11), Girl's Day's Minah (@bbang_93) [Minah played the main role in "My Absolute Boyfriend", "Check Out The Event", and more], Go JoonHee (@gojoonhee), Lee HaNee (@honey_lee32), Chae SooBin (@soobinms), Kwon NaRa (@hv_nara) [Kwon NaRa played a main role in "Itaewon Class", "Bulgasal: Immortal Souls", and more], Nam JiHyun (@hyuniiiiiii_95917), Go Ara (@ara_go_0211), Im SeMi (@susemee), Eugene (@eugene810303) [Eugene played the main role in "Penthouse: War In life" seasons 1-3 and more], Cho BoAh (@xxadoraa), Lee NaEun (@betterlee_0824) [Lee NaEun played the main role in "Extraordinary You", "Hip Hop King: Nassna Street", and more], Kim SoYeon (@sysysy1102), Jo SuMin (@soominn_jo), Kim HyeonSoo (@hyeon0_0soo), Jin JiHee (@2xj_hee), Lee HoJung (@holly608), Jeon SoMin (@jsomin86), Yang HyeJi (@hazzisss), Jeon YeoBeen (@jeon.yeobeen), Kang Mina (@_happiness_o) [Kang Mina played the main role in "Mama Fairy and the Woodcutter", "Moonshine", and more], Lee EunSaem (@2eunsaem), Park JinJoo (@jinjoo1224), Seo JiHye (@jihye8024), Lee MinJung (@216jung), Kim JooRyung (@kimjooryoung), Roh JeongEui (@jeongeuiyam), Yang HyeJi (@hazzisss), Kim YongJi (@demi_kimee), Roh JeongEui (@jeongeuiyam), Ahn EunJin (@eunjin___a), Lee JuMyoung (@jmyoungl), Lee SunBin (@sunbin_eyesmag), Lee SeYoung (@seyoung_10), Gong SeungYeon (@0seungyeon), Yang HyeJi (@hazzisss), Kim HyeSoo (@hs_kim_95), and more

 

Between 300k and 1m followers

Jang NaRa (@nara0318), Jin SeYeon (@jinseyun.go), SoHee (@ssoheean), Kim SoHye (@s_sohye) [Kim SoHye played the main role in "Guimoon: The Lightless Door", "Moonlit Winter", and more] , Min DoHee (@mdh0925_) [Min DoHee played support roles in "My ID is Gangnam Beauty", "Clean With Passion For Now", the main role in "Girls' Generation 1979", and more], Kim SoEun (@socun89), Kim HeeSon (@lovely.katie.k), Hwang JungEum (@jungeum84) [Hwang JungEum played the main role in "Mystic Pop Up Bar", "To All The Guys Who Loved Me", and more], ESom (@esom_), Kang SoRa (@reveramess_), Bae DooNa (@doonabae), Ha YeonSoo (@hayeonsoo_), Han SunHwa (@shh_daily) [Han SunHwa played a main role in "School 2017", "Backstreet Rookie", and more], Im SooJung (@soojunglim_), Jo WooRi (@j_ourly), Stephanie Lee (@stephanielee199), Won JinA (@j0i3n2a9), Kim HyangGi (@kimsmell1), Ryu HyeYoung (@ryuniverse328), Park JuHyun (@charmgirl_1005), Yoon SeoA (@yoonseoah_), Jung HyeSung (@junghyesung91), Choi YeBin (@yebin__), Jung DaBin (@jungdabiny), T-ARA's EunJung (@eunjung.hahm) [EunJung played the main role in "Love Twist", "Be My Dream Family", and more], Nam JiHyun (@jihyunilovee) [JiHyun played support roles in "My Little Baby", "Strongest Deliveryman", "Grand Prince", "Lonely Enough To Love", and more], YeonWoo (@chloelxxlxx) [YeonWoo played the main role in "Cheat On Me, If You Can", "Dali and the Cocky Prince", and more], Yoon EunHye (@y1003_grace) [Yoon EunHye played the main role in "After Love", "Marry Him If You Dare", and more], Kim JaeKyung (@_kimjaekyung_) [Kim JaeKyung played the main role in "Bad Papa", "The Secret Life of My Secretary", and more], Kim BoYoon (@__boyoon__), Kim JinYoung (@jin_y0ung_2), Ha SeungRi (@seung_lee.vv), Jung Eugene (@eugene__jung), Ko SungHee (@krnangel621), Go WonHee (@go_wonhee), Kim GaEun (@ggani88918), Ha YoonKyung (@hayoonkie), Jeong ShinHye (@bonheur_sinhye_may), Lee SiWoo (@s2xwo), Cheon WooHee (@thousand_wooo), Lee JooBin (@hellobeen), Joo HyunYoung (@2ruka__), Kim SeulGi (@s911010), , DaSom (@som0506) [DaSom played the main role in "Was It Love?", "He Is Psychometric", and more], Cha JooYoung (@jooyoungthej), Kim JiEun (@kj_ieun), Go BoGyeol (@gobogyeol), Jung HyeSung (@junghyesung91), Park JooHyun (@charmgirl_1005), Jo HyeJoo (@hyejoozz), Shin HyunBeen (@hyunbeenshin), Uhm JungHwa (@umaizing), Lee DaIn (@xx__dain), Park HaSeon (@mintsungrace), Baek JinHee (@jinibeak), Kim Hieora (@hereare0318), and more.

 

No Instagram

Jun JiHyun, Lee BoYoung, Yoo InNa, Lee NaYoung, Jeon DoYeon, and more have no Instagram.

 

Acting-dols criteria (January 2022): 

Due to the huge number of idols in the acting field, we have tried to limit the list to idols genuinely active in acting and not to all the idols acting. At Kpopmap, we always prioritize the opinions of our readers first. That is why these criteria have been made out of readers' opinions. We held a poll (here) and we opened an open discussion on Reddit (here). You've asked us to be stricter in our criteria and so here are the new rules.

. In a K-Drama, Netflix Original drama, or a movie: 

• Two lead roles (was clearly one of the main characters)

or

• One lead role and 2 supporting roles

or

• More than 4 supporting roles

. Guest roles can't be considered supporting roles

. Only dramas over 6 episodes (special and short dramas are excluded)

. Only movies released in Korean theaters (not just online) (with the exception of Netflix original movies)

. No web dramas (exception for Netflix)

. Only Korean releases

Kpopmap's criteria for acting-dols are not absolute or the right answer. It is just criteria applied in the content of Kpopmap. And these criteria can change according to the trends or fans' opinions.

 

Did we miss anyone? Connect with Kpopmap and let us know!