''A Korean Odyssey'' () is a South Korean fantasy
television series
A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a television set which can be broadcast via over-the-air, satellite television, satellite, or cable television, cable, excluding breaking news, television adverti ...
starring
Lee Seung-gi
Lee Seung-gi (; born January 13, 1987) is a South Korean singer, actor, host, and entertainer.
He has numerous hit songs as a singer such as "Because You're My Woman", "Will You Marry Me", "Return" and "The Ordinary Man". He has garnered furt ...
,
Cha Seung-won
Cha Seung-won (born June 7, 1970) is a South Korean actor, who began his career as an in-demand fashion model in the 1990s. Cha achieved stardom through the hit comedy films ''Kick the Moon'' (2001), ''Jail Breakers'' (2002), '' My Teacher, Mr. ...
,
Oh Yeon-seo
Oh Yeon-seo (, born Oh Haet-nim []; June 22, 1987), is a South Korean actress, singer and model and is best known for her roles in television dramas ''My Husband Got a Family'' (2012), ''Jang Bo-ri is Here!'' (2014), ''Shine or Go Crazy'' (2015) ...
,
Lee Hong-gi
Lee Hong-gi (; born March 2, 1990), also known mononymously as Hongki, is a South Korean singer, actor, and media personality. He is best known as the front man of rock band F.T. Island. In 2015, Lee debuted as a solo artist with the release ...
, and
Jang Gwang
Jang Gwang (born January 5, 1952) is a South Korean actor in film and television.
Filmography Film
* ''Taste of Horror – Gym for Residents'' (TBA)
* '' Air Murder'' (2022)
* '' Sinkhole (2021)
* ''White Day: Broken Barrier'' (2021)
* ...
. Written by the
Hong sisters
Hong Jung-eun (born 1974) and Hong Mi-ran (born 1977), collectively known as the Hong sisters (), are South Korean television screenwriters currently managed by Studio Dragon. Together, they have written popular romantic-comedies, notably '' M ...
, the drama is a modern spin-off of the Chinese classic 16th-century novel ''
Journey to the West
''Journey to the West'' () is a Chinese novel published in the 16th century during the Ming dynasty and attributed to Wu Cheng'en. It is regarded as one of the greatest Classic Chinese Novels, and has been described as arguably the most popu ...
''. It aired on
tvN TVN may refer to:
* TVN (Australian TV channel), a former horse racing channel
* Televisión Nacional de Chile, a public broadcaster
* TVN (Indonesia), a former television station; predecessor of Rajawali Televisi
* TVN (Norway), or TVNorge, a comm ...
starting December 23, 2017, every Saturday and Sunday at 21:00 (
KST).
Synopsis
In 2017,
Son Oh-gong (
Lee Seung-gi
Lee Seung-gi (; born January 13, 1987) is a South Korean singer, actor, host, and entertainer.
He has numerous hit songs as a singer such as "Because You're My Woman", "Will You Marry Me", "Return" and "The Ordinary Man". He has garnered furt ...
) and
Woo Ma-wang (
Cha Seung-won
Cha Seung-won (born June 7, 1970) is a South Korean actor, who began his career as an in-demand fashion model in the 1990s. Cha achieved stardom through the hit comedy films ''Kick the Moon'' (2001), ''Jail Breakers'' (2002), '' My Teacher, Mr. ...
) are in conflict with each other as they look for a true light in a dark world where evil thrives. From there, Son Oh-gong is bound to his protective role towards
Jin Seon-mi (
Oh Yeon-seo
Oh Yeon-seo (, born Oh Haet-nim []; June 22, 1987), is a South Korean actress, singer and model and is best known for her roles in television dramas ''My Husband Got a Family'' (2012), ''Jang Bo-ri is Here!'' (2014), ''Shine or Go Crazy'' (2015) ...
), the little girl he had met years ago. Having made a contract with Seon-mi 25 years ago, entitling her to seek help from Son Oh-gong whenever she calls him in exchange for letting him free, the two meet again in a fateful encounter.
Plot
Seon-mi is a young girl born with the ability to see ghosts and spirits. Her seemingly irrational behavior has isolated her from her family and peers, and her only protection is her grandmother and a small yellow umbrella with protection spells written by a Buddhist monk. One day when she walks home from school, a ghost follows her, and this is witnessed by a mysterious man in a suit and black top hat (Woo Ma-wang). The mysterious man exorcises the ghost for her, and asks her for a favor: to enter a magical majestic house and retrieve a certain fan. She is also given specific instructions to ignore anyone she sees in there. However, the person inside the house is Son Oh-gong, the Monkey King, who was imprisoned inside by Heaven for his crimes. He blocks her path and forces her to acknowledge him, and tells her that the man outside is a great danger to her as well. Oh-gong makes her a deal: if she puts out the five candles on the table and frees him, he promises to protect her from all dangers in her life every time she calls his name. But after she agrees and releases him, Oh-gong steals the memory of his name out of her head and makes a run for it, leaving young Seon-mi stranded in the middle of nowhere.
In the present day, Seon-mi has grown up into an adult. Still armed with her little magic umbrella, she owns a real estate company that specializes in buying haunted houses, exorcising the spirits, and then flipping them for large profits. At a busy intersection, Seon-mi and Oh-gong spot each other and Seon-mi asks why he did what he did. He gives an unsatisfactory answer and Seon-mi tearfully asks aloud why she ever bothered having faith in him as a child. Meanwhile, Son Oh-gong is looking to reinstate his status as an immortal and has been doing various good deeds to earn brownie points with Heaven. He learns from a Sun wu-Kong possessed doll that
Sam-jang has been born, and anyone who eats Sam-jang's flesh can gain immortality. He decides to figure out who it is and eat them. However, Sam-jang is none other than Seon-mi, which means that Oh-gong cannot eat her without violating the promise he made to her as a child that he would protect her.
While Oh-gong tries to figure out a way to convince Seon-mi to die for him, Soo Bo-ri goes to Woo Ma-wang and asks him for help in protecting Sam-jang. Ma-wang takes Seon-mi to an antique shop with magical wares. There an old lady (
Bodhisattva Guanyin
Guanyin () is a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. She is the East Asian representation of Avalokiteśvara ( sa, अवलोकितेश्वर) and has been adopted by other Eastern religions, including Chinese folk religion. She w ...
) sells him a Geumganggo, a magical bracelet that will ensure the obedience of anyone who wears it through the power of love. The original Geumganggo is worn on the head, but this version is worn on the wrist. Seon-mi gives it to Oh-gong as a gift on Christmas Eve, and has a prophetic vision about standing in a field, wearing a
hanbok
The (; term used in South Korean standard language, South Korea), also called ()
n North Korean standard language, North Korea and China, is an Hyponymy and hypernymy, umbrella term which is used to refer to traditional ethnic Koreans, Korean ...
, and giving him a kiss.
This dream comes true when Seon-mi is dragged into a haunted painting by a
malevolent spirit
In mythology and folklore, a vengeful ghost or vengeful spirit is said to be the spirit of a dead person who returns from the afterlife to seek revenge for a cruel, unnatural or unjust death. In certain cultures where funeral and burial or crema ...
that kidnaps women and tries to marry them all. Oh-gong enlists the help of
Jeo Pal-gye (
Lee Hong-gi
Lee Hong-gi (; born March 2, 1990), also known mononymously as Hongki, is a South Korean singer, actor, and media personality. He is best known as the front man of rock band F.T. Island. In 2015, Lee debuted as a solo artist with the release ...
), a pig demon and pop artist under Ma-wang's entertainment company, to get inside the painting. Pal-gye helps him, but he and Ma-wang burn the painting instead, trapping both Seon-mi and Oh-gong inside. Seon-mi decides to follow with her vision and kisses Oh-gong, thus activating the Geumganggo, though she did not realize what the Geumganggo would do. Oh-gong gives back her memory of his name and forces her out of the painting world, because he cannot leave the painting world unless she summons him from the outside. Seon-mi cuts her own hand and attracts a hoard of demons to her before calling out Oh-gong's name. Oh-gong exits the painting world and rescues her from the demons.
From then on, the main plot is focused on Seon-mi and Oh-gong's budding relationship despite these difficult circumstances. Oh-gong professes to be deeply in love with Seon-mi, but only because of the Geumganggo. He constantly reminds her that if she takes it off, his love will disappear, and he may return to wanting to eat her for immortality instead. Seon-mi, who has been a loner all her life, can't help but be touched by Oh-gong's thoughtful actions, and struggles to guard her heart against any romantic feelings because Sam-jang's tragic destiny is always to be a sacrifice for humanity against growing evil. Each episode involves Seon-mi and Oh-gong fighting off the demon of the week while dealing with their own internal conflicts. Seon-mi's feelings for Oh-gong are also constantly tested as she learns more about the kind of person Oh-gong is and his many secrets. The nightmare looming constantly over both their heads is a prophetic dream that Seon-mi had about the world ending, and knowing that she had to do everything she could to prevent it. Oh-gong later also learns that his role as Sam-jang's protector means he will either kill her, or she will kill him. This further drives them apart even as they fall more in love with each other.
Cast
Main
*
Lee Seung-gi
Lee Seung-gi (; born January 13, 1987) is a South Korean singer, actor, host, and entertainer.
He has numerous hit songs as a singer such as "Because You're My Woman", "Will You Marry Me", "Return" and "The Ordinary Man". He has garnered furt ...
as Son Oh-gong the Great Sage Equal to Heaven (based on
Sun Wukong
The Monkey King, also known as Sun Wukong ( zh, t=孫悟空, s=孙悟空, first=t) in Mandarin Chinese, is a legendary mythical figure best known as one of the main characters in the 16th-century Chinese novel ''Journey to the West'' ( zh, ...
)
:An extremely powerful immortal who was exiled to the human world with his powers sealed, due to his mischievous and prideful nature. Jin Seon-mi is the love of his life. He possesses many powers, such as
pyrokinesis
Pyrokinesis is the purported psychic ability allowing a person to create and control fire with the mind. As with other parapsychological phenomena, there is no conclusive evidence in support of the actual existence of pyrokinesis. Many alleged c ...
,
levitation
Levitation (from Latin ''levitas'' "lightness") is the process by which an object is held aloft in a stable position, without mechanical support via any physical contact.
Levitation is accomplished by providing an upward force that counteracts ...
,
telekinesis
Psychokinesis (from grc, ψυχή, , soul and grc, κίνησις, , movement, label=ㅤ), or telekinesis (from grc, τηλε, , far off and grc, κίνησις, , movement, label=ㅤ), is a hypothetical psychic ability allowing a person ...
, and body imprisonment.
*
Cha Seung-won
Cha Seung-won (born June 7, 1970) is a South Korean actor, who began his career as an in-demand fashion model in the 1990s. Cha achieved stardom through the hit comedy films ''Kick the Moon'' (2001), ''Jail Breakers'' (2002), '' My Teacher, Mr. ...
as Woo Hwi / Woo Ma-wang (based on the
Bull Demon King
Bull Demon King (), also translated as the Ox King and known as his self-proclaimed title the Great Sage Who Pacifies Heaven (), is a fictional character from the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West''. He is the husband of the Princess Iro ...
)
:CEO of Lucifer Entertainment. A gentle and charismatic businessman, he is the object of others' envy due to his popularity. He has a bad history with Son Oh-gong in the past, and now seeks chances to become a deity through 'collecting' points in order to change the fate of the woman he loves. He has supernatural powers that can affect Son Oh-gong.
*
Oh Yeon-seo
Oh Yeon-seo (, born Oh Haet-nim []; June 22, 1987), is a South Korean actress, singer and model and is best known for her roles in television dramas ''My Husband Got a Family'' (2012), ''Jang Bo-ri is Here!'' (2014), ''Shine or Go Crazy'' (2015) ...
as Jin Seon-mi / Sam-jang (based on
Tang Sanzang
Tang Sanzang () is a central character in the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West'' by Wu Cheng'en. Tang Sanzang is based on the historical Buddhist monk Xuanzang. He is also widely known by his courtesy name, Tang Seng, () or Sanzang ().
...
)
**
Kal So-won
Kal So-won (; born 14 August 2006) is a South Korean child actress. She debuted with the television series ''Take Care of Us, Captain'' (2012) and is best known for starring in ''Miracle in Cell No. 7'' (2013), one of the best-selling Korean f ...
as young Jin Seon-mi
:A real estate CEO who resells houses that have had notoriously bad luck (inhabited by evil spirits). She is wealthy, beautiful and has an unyielding tenacity. When she was a kid, she was ostracized by her peers. She meets Ma-wang, and releases Son Oh-gong from his prison, and later meets him again by fate. She is put off by Oh-gong initially, but eventually comes to enjoy his companionship, and he finally becomes the love of her life. She has the ability to see ghosts.
*
Lee Hong-gi
Lee Hong-gi (; born March 2, 1990), also known mononymously as Hongki, is a South Korean singer, actor, and media personality. He is best known as the front man of rock band F.T. Island. In 2015, Lee debuted as a solo artist with the release ...
as P.K / Jeo Pal-gye (based on
Zhu Bajie
Zhu Bajie (), also named Zhu Wuneng, is one of the three helpers of Tang Sanzang and a major character of the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West''. Zhu means " swine" and Bajie means " eight precepts". Buddhist scholars consider that both e ...
)
:A top star under Woo Hwi's agency Lucifer Entertainment. He has the power to seduce women and sucks the life force out of them. He is a pig demon.
*
Jang Gwang
Jang Gwang (born January 5, 1952) is a South Korean actor in film and television.
Filmography Film
* ''Taste of Horror – Gym for Residents'' (TBA)
* '' Air Murder'' (2022)
* '' Sinkhole (2021)
* ''White Day: Broken Barrier'' (2021)
* ...
as Yoon Dae-sik / Sa Oh-jeong (based on
Sha Wujing
Sha Wujing () is one of the three disciples of the Buddhist pilgrim Tang Sanzang in the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West'' written by Wu Cheng'en in the Ming dynasty, although versions of his character predate the Ming novel. In the sour ...
)
:CEO of MSUN, a mobile phone manufacturing company.
Supporting
*
Lee Se-young
Lee Se-young (; born December 20, 1992) is a South Korean actress. She debuted as a child actress in 1997 and was best known for her roles in ''Dae Jang Geum'' (2003), '' When I Turned Nine'' (2004), ''Lovely Rivals'' (2004), and ''The Wonder ...
as Jung Se-ra / Zombie / Jin Bu-ja / Richie (Bu-ja) / Asanyeo (based on
Baigujing
Baigujing () is a demon from the 16th century novel ''Journey to the West''. The name is translated into English as ''White Bone Spirit'' in the William John Francis Jenner translation. Baigujing is a shapeshifting demoness, and in her true form s ...
)
:An idol group trainee under Woo Hwi's agency. She is actually a woman who lives in a dead zombie body that is rotting. In later episodes, she becomes possessed by an evil spirit named Asanyeo who was a priestess to the king 1,000 years ago, and now seeks to marry Son Oh-gong for power and love.
*
Song Jong-ho
Song Jong-ho (; born October 5, 1976) is a South Korean actor. Song debuted as a runway model in Park Byung-chul's fashion show in 1995. His print and runway modeling career lasted until 1999, when he turned to acting. He is best known for his ...
as Kang Dae-sung
:A politician who is a candidate for the presidential election, and is popular with female voters for his good looks and his gentle character.
*
Kim Ji-soo as Cha Eun / Seo Yoon-hee / Na Chal-nyeo (based on
Princess Iron Fan
Princess Iron Fan () is a character from the 16th century Chinese novel ''Journey to the West''. She is the wife of the Bull Demon King and mother of Red Boy. She is one of the most popular ''Journey to the West'' villains, alongside her husband ...
)
:Woo Hwi's first love, who is serving her punishment for stealing human children souls for her child.
*
Sung Ji-ru
Sung Ji-ru (born October 16, 1968) is a South Korean actor.
Filmography
Film
Television series
Awards and nominations
References
External links
*
*
*
1968 births
Living people
People from Gongju
20th-century Sout ...
as Soo Bo-ri (based on
Subhūti
Subhūti (Pali: Subhūti; ) was one of the ten principal disciples of the Buddha. In Theravada Buddhism he is considered the disciple who was foremost in being " worthy of gifts" (Pali: ''dakkhiṇeyyānaṃ'') and "living remote and in peace" (P ...
)
: An elderly deity who knows hints of the heavens' plans and helps Woo Ma-wang in tabulating the points needed to be accumulated for him to achieve his goal of being a deity.
*
Lee El
Lee El (born Kim Ji-hyun on June 26, 1982) is a South Korean actress. She is best known for her supporting roles in the film ''Inside Men'' (2015), the television series ''It's Okay, That's Love'', '' Guardian: The Lonely and Great God'' (2016 ...
as Ma Ji-young
:Woo Hwi's secretary and number one follower. She is a dog demon.
*
Kim Sung-oh
Kim Sung-oh (born September 15, 1978) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his supporting roles
''Supporting Roles'' ( es, Papeles secundarios) is a 1989 Cuban drama film directed by Orlando Rojas. The film was selected as the Cub ...
as Lee Han-joo
:A real estate employee who works under Jin Seon-mi.
*
Sung Hyuk
Sung Hyuk (born Hong Sung-hyuk on March 2, 1984) is a South Korean actor. He made his acting debut in 2005, and has starred in the television dramas ''Jang Bo-ri is Here!'' and '' You Are the Only One''.
Personal life
On September 26, 2022, S ...
as General Winter and Summer Fairy
:Two spirits in a body whereby General Winter is Son Oh-gong's advisor who owns an ice cream shop in the day, whilst Summer Fairy is a warm and social lady who owns a cocktail shop in the night, offering a listening ear to the demons as well as Sam-jang.
*
Yoon Bo-ra
Yoon Bo-ra (born December 30, 1989), better known by the mononym Bora, is a South Korean singer, rapper and actress. She is a former member of the South Korean girl group Sistar and its sub-group Sistar19.
Early life and education
Bora was bo ...
as Alice / Ok-ryong (based on
White Dragon Horse
The White Dragon Horse, known as Bai Long Ma () in Chinese, is one of the main characters in the 16th-century Chinese novel ''Journey to the West''. He is Tang Sanzang's steed who later became Babu Tianlong Guangli Bodhisattva (八部天龙广力 ...
)
:A top star in Woo Hwi's agency. She has "unwittingly" lived as Jade Dragon, the second son of one of the four Dragon Kings.
*
Im Ye-jin
Im Ye-jin (born Im Ki-hee on January 24, 1960) is a South Korean actress. As a teenage actress, she reached the peak of her popularity in the 1970s with the "Really Really" film trilogy, which include '' Never Forget Me'', '' I Am Really Sorry'' ...
as Peddler (based on
Guanyin
Guanyin () is a Bodhisattva associated with compassion. She is the East Asian representation of Avalokiteśvara ( sa, अवलोकितेश्वर) and has been adopted by other Eastern religions, including Chinese folk religion. She ...
)
:She owns a general store at Pirun-dong 28 where Woo Ma-wang bought the Geumganggo.
*
Jung Jae-won as Hong Hae-ah (based on
Hong Hai Er)
:A mysterious youth who is also the grandson of a peddler. Woo Ma-wang's son.
Special appearances
* Oh Yoo-mi as the teacher ghost that Ma-wang got rid of (Ep. 1)
* Jung Sang-hyun as Seon-mi's bully (Ep. 1)
* Seo Jang-hyun as Seon-mi's bully (Ep. 1)
*
Lee Yong-yi
Lee Yong-yi (; born July 30, 1958) is a theater, television and movie actress. She is known for her role as Nomo both in theater play and film ''Welcome to Dongmakgol'' (2005) and Netflix Series ''Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha'' (2021).
Career
After g ...
as Jin Seon-mi's grandmother (Ep. 1, 3)
*
Kim Ji-sung as the ghost who died losing 30 kg for an audition (Ep. 1)
*
Kim Yeon-woo
Kim Hak-chul, better known by his stage name Kim Yeon-woo (; born July 22, 1971) is a South Korean male singer, vocal coach, and professor at Seoul Art College ( :ko:서울종합예술학교). Nicknamed God of Vocals, he is well known for his b ...
as TV show "Superstar" judge Kim Yeon-woo (Ep. 1)
*
Choi Dae-sung
Choi Dae-sung (born February 2, 1976) is a South Korean actor.
Filmography
Film
Television series
References
External links
*
*
*
1976 births
Living people
South Korean male stage actors
South Korean male television ...
as broadcasting station PD (Ep. 1–2, 6)
*
Yoo Yeon-jung
Yoo Yeon-jung (; born August 3, 1999), known mononymously as Yeonjung, is a South Korean singer signed under Starship Entertainment and Yuehua Entertainment. She is best known for being a member of the South Korean-Chinese girl group WJSN, and f ...
as Lee Da-in (Ep. 1)
*
Park Sang-hoon
Park Sang-hoon ( ko, 박상훈, or ; born 13 March 1993) is a South Korean cyclist, who rides for UCI Continental team .
Major results Road
Source:
;2010
: 1st Time trial, Asian Junior Road Championships
;2011
: Asian Junior Road Champions ...
as Eun-seong, the boy possessed by wooden doll ghost (Ep. 1)
*
Baek Seung-hee
Baek Seung-hee is a South Korean actress. She is known for her roles in dramas such as '' A Bird That Doesn't Sing'', '' Secret Garden'', ''Oh My Baby'', ''Remarriage & Desires
''Remarriage & Desires'' () is a 2022 South Korean television s ...
as the woman possessed by wooden doll ghost's bride (Ep. 1)
*
Kang Jae-joon and Lee Eun-hyung as the newlyweds (Ep. 2)
*
Min Sung-wook
Min or MIN may refer to:
Places
* Fujian, also called Mǐn, a province of China
** Min Kingdom (909–945), a state in Fujian
* Min County, a county of Dingxi, Gansu province, China
* Min River (Fujian)
* Min River (Sichuan)
* Mineola (Amtrak ...
as Saekjungki (Ep. 2)
*
Son Young-sun as the street vendor who sold Seon-mi popcorn (Ep. 3)
*
Seo Yoon-ah as Mi-joo, Seon-mi's pregnant cousin (Ep. 3)
*
Jung Jae-eun as Maternal Aunt (Ep. 3)
*
Jang Keun-suk
Jang Keun-suk () is a South Korean actor and singer. He is best known for starring in the Korean television dramas ''Beethoven Virus'' (2008), ''You're Beautiful'' (2009), '' Mary Stayed Out All Night'' (2010), ''Love Rain'' (2012), ''Pretty Ma ...
as Gong Jak, a peacock demon (Ep. 3)
*
Kang Sung-pil as Gangster (Ep. 3–4)
* Ham Na-young as Akiko, the Japanese spirit (Ep. 5, 16)
*
Park Seung-tae as Kang Myung-ja (Ep. 5, 16)
*
Jo Sung-ha
Jo Sung-ha (; born August 8, 1966) is a South Korean actor. He is best known for his supporting roles in '' The Yellow Sea'' (2010), '' Helpless'' (2012), and ''Korean Peninsula'' (2012) and ''The K2
''The K2'' () is a 2016 South Korean tele ...
as the man reading a newspaper who told Ma-wang the time in the movie (Ep. 5)
*
Park Seul-gi as Reporter (Ep. 5)
* Kim Mi-hye as heartbroken woman (Ep. 6)
*
Bang Su-jin as Mermaid (Ep. 7)
*
Michael K. Lee as Jonathan / Bong Sang-woo (Ep. 6–8, 10, 12, 15–16)
**
Kim Hyun-bin as young Jonathan
:Jin Seon-mi is his first love.
* Joey Albright as Tony, Jonathan's business partner (Ep. 7)
*
Park Noh-shik as Dokchi (Ep. 8)
*
Ok Ye-rin
Ok Ye-rin (Korean: 옥예린; born on 14 December 2011) is a South Korean child actress. She made her acting debut in 2017, since then, she has appeared in number of films and television series. She is known for her various roles as child actor ...
as Han-byul, Han-joo's daughter (Ep. 9, 15, 20)
* Kim Min-ho as Han-sol, Han-joo's son (Ep. 9, 15, 20)
*
Oh Ah-rin
Oh Ah-rin (Korean: 오아린; born on 2 May 2011) is a South Korean child actress. She made her acting debut in 2015, since then, she has appeared in number of films and television series. She is known for her various roles as child actor as: ' ...
as Lee Soo-jung (Ep. 9–10)
*
Choi Seung-hoon
Choi Seung-hoon ( ko, 최승훈, born 1 May 2008), is a South Korean actor.
Filmography
Television series
Web series
Film
Television shows
Awards and nominations
References
External links
*
*
*
2008 births
Liv ...
as Lee Soo-chul, Soo-jung's brother (Ep. 9–10, 20)
*
Lee So-yeon as Bookseller (Ep. 9–10)
* Kim Si-ha as Woo Hwi's alleged inheritance child (Ep. 11)
*
Seo Eun-woo as Summer Fairy's true form (Ep. 15)
*
Oh Yeon-ah
Oh Yeon-ah (born Kim Mi-ae on December 1, 1981) is a South Korean actress. She has played many supporting roles in both films and television series
A television show – or simply TV show – is any content produced for viewing on a televisi ...
as Egret (Ep. 16)
* Kum Chae-ahn as the girl introduced to Oh-gong (Ep. 18)
Production
Lee Seung-gi
Lee Seung-gi (; born January 13, 1987) is a South Korean singer, actor, host, and entertainer.
He has numerous hit songs as a singer such as "Because You're My Woman", "Will You Marry Me", "Return" and "The Ordinary Man". He has garnered furt ...
was first offered but declined. But due to no cast look, he ended up accepting it.
Park Bo-gum
Park Bo-gum (; born June 16, 1993) is a South Korean actor. He gained recognition for his diverse range of roles in film and television, notably, a psychopathic lawyer in ''Hello Monster'' (2015), a genius Go player in ''Reply 1988'' (2015–2 ...
was offered the lead role of Son Oh-gong in July 2017, but eventually declined.
Choo Ja-hyun
Chu Eun-ju (born January 20, 1979), known by her stage name Choo Ja-hyun, is a South Korean actress. Best known in Korea for the films '' Bloody Tie'' (2006) and '' Portrait of a Beauty'' (2008), Choo has also actively worked in China since 200 ...
was originally cast in the cameo role of Na Chal-nyeo, but had to be replaced by
Kim Ji-soo due to pregnancy.
The series reunites
Cha Seung-won
Cha Seung-won (born June 7, 1970) is a South Korean actor, who began his career as an in-demand fashion model in the 1990s. Cha achieved stardom through the hit comedy films ''Kick the Moon'' (2001), ''Jail Breakers'' (2002), '' My Teacher, Mr. ...
,
Lee Seung-gi
Lee Seung-gi (; born January 13, 1987) is a South Korean singer, actor, host, and entertainer.
He has numerous hit songs as a singer such as "Because You're My Woman", "Will You Marry Me", "Return" and "The Ordinary Man". He has garnered furt ...
, and
Lee Hong-gi
Lee Hong-gi (; born March 2, 1990), also known mononymously as Hongki, is a South Korean singer, actor, and media personality. He is best known as the front man of rock band F.T. Island. In 2015, Lee debuted as a solo artist with the release ...
with the
Hong sisters
Hong Jung-eun (born 1974) and Hong Mi-ran (born 1977), collectively known as the Hong sisters (), are South Korean television screenwriters currently managed by Studio Dragon. Together, they have written popular romantic-comedies, notably '' M ...
, who have worked together in the TV series ''
The Greatest Love'' (2011), ''
My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox
''My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho'' (; also known as ''My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox'') is a 2010 South Korean romantic comedy television series starring Lee Seung-gi and Shin Min-a. It aired on SBS from August 11 to September 30, 2010 on Wednesda ...
'' (2010) and ''
You're Beautiful
"You're Beautiful" is a song by English singer-songwriter James Blunt. It was written by Blunt, Sacha Skarbek and Amanda Ghost for Blunt's debut album, ''Back to Bedlam'' (2004). It was released as the third single of the album in 2005.
In t ...
'' (2009) respectively. It also reunites Hong sisters and director
Park Hong-kyun
Park Hong-kyun is a South Korean director. He made his debut in 2002 on Bestseller Theater - Sinchoneseo Yuteonhada .
List of work
References
1970 births
Living people
South Korean television directors
Place of birth missing (livin ...
who worked together on ''
Warm and Cozy
''Warm and Cozy'' () is a 2015 South Korean television series starring Kang So-ra and Yoo Yeon-seok. Written by the Hong sisters as a twist on the fable of ''The Ant and the Grasshopper'', it aired on MBC from May 13 to July 2, 2015 on Wednesdays ...
'' (2015) and ''
The Greatest Love'' (2011), as well as Lee Seung Gi, Cha Seung Won and Sung Ji Ru who starred together in ''
You're All Surrounded
''You're All Surrounded'' () is a 2014 South Korean television series starring Lee Seung-gi, Cha Seung-won, Go Ara, Ahn Jae-hyun, Park Jung-min, Oh Yoon-ah, and Sung Ji-ru. It aired on SBS from May 7 to July 17, 2014, on Wednesdays and Thursda ...
'' (2014).
On December 27, it was announced that director Kim Jung-hyun will join the production. A third director, Kim Byung-soo was added to the production on January 5, 2018.
Reception
According to data released by
Nielsen Korea, ''A Korean Odyssey'' ranked the most-watched show of its time slot including both cable and public broadcasting channels for its premiere episode. Moreover, the series broke the record for the highest ratings for the first episode of a tvN drama in the Nielsen Korea 20-49 year-old target audience bracket.
Controversy
On December 24, episode 2 broadcast was repeatedly interrupted by long commercial ads during which
tvN TVN may refer to:
* TVN (Australian TV channel), a former horse racing channel
* Televisión Nacional de Chile, a public broadcaster
* TVN (Indonesia), a former television station; predecessor of Rajawali Televisi
* TVN (Norway), or TVNorge, a comm ...
displayed a message stating that "internal issues delayed the broadcast". The broadcast then resumed but was later abruptly cut altogether. tvN issued an apology stating that there was "a delay in the computer graphics process" and that "the finalized version of episode 2 is set to air on December 25 at 6:10 p.m. (KST)."
The show suffered another controversy when it was revealed that a staff member was seriously injured after falling on set.
Original soundtrack
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7
Part 8
Part 9
Ratings
Notes
References
External links
*
''A Korean Odyssey''at
Studio Dragon
Studio Dragon Corporation () is a South Korean drama production, marketing and distribution company under CJ ENM's E&M division. It was established on May 3, 2016, as a spin-off from E&M Media Content.
The company joined the KOSDAQ index of K ...
''A Korean Odyssey''at
JS Pictures
JS or js may refer to:
Computing
* JavaScript, a high-level, just-in-time compiled, object-oriented programming language
* JScript, Microsoft's dialect of the ECMAScript standard used in Internet Explorer
Businesses and organizations
* Jonge Soc ...
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Korean Odyssey, A
TVN (South Korean TV channel) television dramas
2017 South Korean television series debuts
2018 South Korean television series endings
South Korean fantasy television series
South Korean romantic comedy television series
Television shows written by the Hong sisters
Television shows based on Journey to the West
Television series by Studio Dragon
Demons in television
Television series by JS Pictures
Korean-language Netflix exclusive international distribution programming