Cartoon-inspired TV dramas on the way

Poster for forthcoming drama "Misaeng" / Courtesy of tvN

By Baek Byung-yeul

Three new TV dramas based on popular comic books will appear on the small screen this fall season.

Though they all originate from cartoons, the three shows deal with very different themes ― one depicts the life of a desperate rookie businessman, while another focuses on a group of university music majors.

‘Misaeng'

The most noteworthy show would probably be "Misaeng," based on cartoonist Yoon Tae-ho's smash hit Internet cartoon of the same name.

The cartoon, about precarious intern workers at a trading company, gained explosive popularity to an extent where a TV or film adaptation seemed inevitable.

During its two-year-long serializing period on the portal site Daum (www.daum.net) from 2012 to last year, the cartoon drew more than 100 million views.

"Misaeng," which can be translated as "an incomplete life," tells the story of Jang Geu-rae, a 26-year-old man who tries to adjust to life as an office worker after failing to become a professional "baduk" player. ("Baduk" is the Korean name for the board game "go.")

Yim Si-wan, an actor and member of the boy band ZE:A, stars as Jang. Yim made a strong impression in last year's biggest box office success, "The Attorney," in which he portrayed an innocent university student tortured by the military regime in 1980s Korea, and "Misaeng" represents his first lead role.

Poster for "Cantabile Tomorrow"

Actress Kang So-ra, who shined in last spring's SBS drama "Doctor Stranger," plays Jang's fellow intern Ahn Young-yi, while veteran actor Lee Sung-min takes the role of Jang's boss, Oh Sang-sik.

Yim explained that the drama would show vividly how ordinary people manage their lives in the workplace.

"This drama is not saying we should live like this," Yim told reporters at a preview of "Misaeng" in Seoul on Oct. 6. "It shows how we, ordinary people, are making a living."

Director Kim Suk-wok said "there will be no romance" in the drama, unlike other Korean dramas that are full of cliched love stories.

"We have focused on depicting microscopic episodes happening in the office," Kim said. "There must be a lot of people who didn't have a chance to see the cartoon version of ‘Misaeng' and my goal is to make all viewers enjoy the drama, whether they already knew about the cartoon or not."

Actress Kang So-ra also said she chose this drama because it shed more light on office life than on romance.

"There are always romances in Korean dramas, wherever they are set ― in courts of law or in hospitals," Kang said. "But I wanted to act in a drama that focuses on the occupational world more than romance. This is why I chose this drama."

The cable network tvN will air the 20-episode series beginning Oct. 17.

‘Cantabile Tomorrow'

KBS TV's forthcoming romantic comedy "Cantabile Tomorrow" has been adapted from Japanese cartoonist Tomoko Ninomiya's 2001 comic book "Nodame Cantabile."

The cartoon, portraying a love story between two young college classmates majoring in piano and conducting, has already been remade in different genres in Japan including animated film, TV drama and film. It was such a sensation that Korean fans began calling for a remake here too.

In the Korean adaptation, actress Shim Eun-kyung stars as Seol Nae-il, an eccentric piano student notorious for her messiness. She falls in love with Cha Yoo-jin, played by actor Joo Won, an arrogant perfectionist who dreams of becoming a maestro conductor.

"Cantabile Tomorrow" will air its first episode on Monday.

‘Liar Game'

The cable network tvN will air the 12-episode thriller drama "Liar Game" beginning Oct. 20.

Based on a Japanese comic book of the same title, the drama revolves around an innocent college girl, Nam Da-jung (Kim So-eun), who is forced to take part in a game where contestants are encouraged to cheat each other to win 10 billion won ($9.3 million).

Actor Lee Sang-yoon features as Cha Woo-jin, a genius swindler who was recently released from jail, who helps Nam to win the game. Actor Shin Sung-rok takes the role of Kang Do-young, the organizer of the game.

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