“Ju Ji-hoon?” K-drama Ready to be Next OTT No. 1 Hit, Made with Director’s Top Connections

A highly anticipated Korean drama aiming to continue the success of recent OTT hits is finally here. Following the popularity of 'Moving' and 'Light Shop,' another webtoon by Kang Full, 'The Witch', has been adapted into a drama, raising excitement among fans. Directed by Kim Tae-kyun, the series has already gained attention for its impressive cast and the director’s use of industry connections.

On February 11, Channel A held a press conference at the Saint Grand Ballroom in Guro, Seoul, officially kicking off the drama’s launch. Director Kim Tae-kyun, along with lead actors Park Jin-young, Roh Jeong-eui, Lim Jae-hyuk, and Jang Hee-ryung, were present.

A Mysterious Romance Unfolds

Based on Kang Full’s popular webtoon, 'The Witch' is a mystery romance centered around a woman named Park Mi-jung (played by Roh Jeong-eui), who is nicknamed "The Witch." She meets data miner Lee Dong-jin (played by Park Jin-young), who is determined to break the curse of misfortune surrounding her. As Mi-jung isolates herself from the world, Dong-jin seeks to save her, sparking a series of unexpected events.

Director Kim explained his decision to adapt 'The Witch': “As a long-time fan of Kang Full’s work, I was drawn to the story’s unique charm. The concept of data mining as a key element also intrigued me, and I saw potential in creating a deep love story around it.”

Data mining, a central theme of the drama, involves analyzing large sets of data to identify patterns and extract valuable information.

Park Jin-young portrays Lee Dong-jin, a data miner on a mission to uncover the truth behind various mysteries. Roh Jeong-eui stars as Park Mi-jung, a reclusive translator known as "The Witch." Lim Jae-hyuk plays Detective Kim Jung-hyuk, while Jang Hee-ryung takes on the role of Mi-jung’s only friend, Heo Eun-sil.

Special Appearances and Star-Studded Cameos

In addition to its main cast, the drama boasts a lineup of special appearances by notable actors. Director Kim shared, “I used every connection I had to assemble this cast. As a small spoiler, Ju Ji-hoon will appear in the first episode.”

Following the Success of ‘Moving’ and ‘Light Shop’

The drama has heightened expectations, especially after the success of previous adaptations of Kang Full’s works. 'Moving', released on Disney+ in 2023, earned numerous awards, including Best Actor, Best Writer, and Best Creative awards at the 5th Asia Contents Awards & Global OTT Awards.

Meanwhile, 'Light Shop', released in December 2023, topped FlixPatrol’s global OTT rankings for four consecutive days, dominating the charts in South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.

However, unlike 'Moving' and 'Light Shop', 'The Witch' is an independent project without direct involvement from Kang Full and does not share the same universe as his other works.

Fan anticipation is high, as the teaser video released on January 12 sparked a wave of excitement among viewers. Fans shared their enthusiasm, saying, “I’ve waited two years for this! Finally, The Witch is coming!” and “Kang Full’s webtoons are perfect for adaptations. I’m loving this wave of new content.” Others expressed their amazement at seeing the story brought to life, commenting, “It’s surreal to see scenes from the webtoon come to life on screen,” and praised the casting, with one fan stating, “Park Jin-young as Dong-jin? I’ve been waiting forever for this.”

The 10-episode drama will premiere on February 15 at 9:10 PM KST. It will also be distributed globally through A+E Networks, making it accessible to international audiences.