New drama about K-pop stars to premiere May 7
From left, Yunho of K-pop boy band ATEEZ, actress Jung Ji-so, Lee Jun-young of boy group U-KISS and Park Ji-yeon, a former T-ara member, who star in the upcoming drama “Imitation” / Courtesy of KBS
By Dong Sun-hwa
A new TV series about the lives of K-pop stars is slated to premiere May 7.
KBS's “Imitation,” which is based on the popular web comic of the same title, revolves around Lee Ma-ha, a member of fictional K-pop girl group Tea Party who tries to imitate A-list singer La Li-ma to gain popularity. As the story unfolds, she bumps into Kwon Ryok of the top boy band Shax and secretly dates him despite K-pop industry's “dating ban.”
High-profile celebrities will be featured in the upcoming 12-episode drama. Up-and-coming actress Jung Ji-so ― who made her name in the Oscar-winning black comedy “Parasite” (2019) ― is set to play Lee Ma-ha, while Lee Jun-young of boy band U-KISS takes on the role of Kwon Ryok. Park Ji-yeon, formerly of K-pop act T-ara, will appear as La Li-ma.
K-pop singers Chani and Hwiyoung (SF9), and Jongho (ATEEZ) will play the members of SHAX along with actors Ahn Jung-hun and Park Yu-ri. Lim Na-young, the leader of now-defunct girl group Prisitine, and soloist Minseo will be featured as the members of Tea Party.
Director Han Hyun-hee, whose previous works include JTBC's “Solomon's Perjury” (2016-17) and MBC's “Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryeong” (2019), will take the helm of the upcoming series, which will be penned by Kim Min-jung and Choi Sun-young.
“'Imitation' will feature the dramatic world of K-pop idols in an authentic way,” the series' production team said in a statement.
The web comic “Imitation,” written by Park Kyung-ran, has been basking in massive popularity on Kakao Page since its launch in 2014. It has hit 460 million views and garnered some four million subscribers on the platform.