YG Entertainment joins 'Scarlet Heart' production

Yang Hyun-suk, head of YG Entertainment / Korea Times file

Major entertainment agency YG Entertainment is to produce the highly anticipated Korean-remake of the Chinese TV drama “Scarlet Heart.”

The company will finance and produce the SBS drama. YG will also be involved in content development, and business ventures ― including cosmetics, oriental medicine and media commerce based on the drama’s characters, according to Sports Chosun.

YG has been behind various reality-based TV programs featuring its popular singers. The shows include “BigBang TV” and “2NE1 TV.”

America’s NBCUniversal will also help finance and produce the drama, which is reportedly the first Asian TV drama in which NBC has invested.

“Bu Bu Jing Xin” poster

The Korean remake, titled “Scarlet Heart: Ryeo,” boasts a cast of A-list stars, including singer and actress IU, actor Lee Joon-gi, Seohyun from K-pop girl band Girls’ Generation and Baekhyun from K-pop boy band EXO.

IU, the female lead, portrays a girl from the 21st century who time-travels back to the Later Baekje Kingdom (892-1392). Lee portrays the fourth son of Wang Geon, who becomes Goryeo’s fourth Emperor Gwangjong (949-975), and Seohyun the kingdom’s last princess Woo-hee.

The original Chinese drama, also known as “Startling by Each Step,” was based on the 2006 fantasy romantic novel “Bu Bu Jing Xin” by Tong Hua. Chinese remakes in for TV in 2011 and 2014, both topped the ratings.