Kim Hee-ae, Moon So-ri team up for Netflix political drama 'Queenmaker'

A scene from Netflix's series "Queenmaker" / Courtesy of Netflix

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Award-winning actresses Kim Hee-ae and Moon So-ri have joined hands for a new Netflix drama “Queenmaker.” The series will be directed by Oh Jin-suk, who previously directed “My First First Love” (2019), with a script written by Moon Ji-young.

In the 12-part series, Kim will play the role of Hwang Do-hee, a consultant who is skilled at shaping the image of political candidates. She is determined to make human rights lawyer Oh Seung-sook (Moon) the new mayor of Seoul.

“Even those who are not interested in politics can enjoy watching how two actresses play their characters out of their comfort zone,” director Oh said.

A poster for Netflix series "Queenmaker" / Courtesy of Netflix

Wide-ranging stories led by female actors are becoming more common in the TV industry. Dramas such as “The Glory,” “Crash Course in Romance” and “Agency” depicted strong and ambitious female characters and were most talked about dramas of the first quarter of 2023.

Kim, who started her acting career in 1983, has won rave reviews for her role in JTBC series' “Secret” (2014) and “The World of the Married” (2020).

Moon rose to global fame in 2002 when she won an award for best emerging actress at the Venice International Film Festival for her performance in “Oasis” as a woman with cerebral palsy falling in love with an ex-convict.

In 2016, she became the first Korean actor to serve as a member of the jury for the official competitive category and won the Starlight Cinema Award at the same film festival. She was also the first Korean actor to become a judge for the competitive category of the 68th Locarno International Film Festival.

“Queenmaker” will debut on Netflix on April 14.