If the actor in question had even the slightest hint of popularity, the agency would have drawn the line at him.
Koreaboo
The rise of LGBT+ characters in K-Drama and the representation of queer stories in the industry has been a remarkably positive step forward by the industry. However, Love in the big city The producer revealed that taking this step was not easy at all and that there is still a lot of work to do.
Although LGBT+ series in Korea continue to spark controversy and heated debate, Love in the big city managed to overcome it and managed to become a top series, achieving many successes.
Based on the popular novel written by Park Sang Youngthe series follows Go Young, a young gay man living with HIV, as he navigates life and love in Seoul alongside his best friend, Mi Ae. The narrative delves into his tense relationship with his mother, the social pressures that force him to separate from his lover, and a trip to Thailand that leads him to self-discovery.
The show has been noted for its frank depiction of LGBTQ+ issues and has received both acclaim and controversy, reflecting the evolving landscape of queer representation in Korean media. But it wasn’t easy to get to this.
In a recent interview, the show’s producer, Jun Ho Parkrevealed that one of the most difficult challenges they faced during production was casting.
Park had hoped that K-Drama would be successful if they involved famous directors and actors. However, the big players’ agencies had other things in mind.
I started this project hoping that by bringing in famous directors and actors, mostly seen in independent films with queer love stories, it would create a foothold to make it mainstream.
—Jun Ho Park
Park revealed that when they approached actors’ agencies to cast characters, they were happy to offer new actors with little recognition but would strictly forbid any of their famous actors from auditioning.
Even if the actor in question had the slightest hint of popularity, the agency drew the line.
Many companies were willing to recommend new actors, but they drew the line when it came to actors with even a hint of recognition. Even after actor Nam Yoon Su volunteered to play the role of Go Young, the production team received feedback from investors saying, “It still seems too early for this in Korea.”
—Cine21
Fans online were saddened by the news and Park’s words.
#LoveNellaGrandeCittà The producer revealed that many Korean acting agencies strictly prohibit their famous actors from playing LGBT/gay roles.
“They only send their new actors for casting and draw the line at their actors with a certain popularity”
and then Nam Yoon Su stepped forward pic.twitter.com/OIE3PxPoZI
— mikey / 🏳️🌈 (@beansxooo) November 16, 2024
However, they also believe that their support of LGBT+ series is now more important than ever. After all, Love in the big city becoming a hit could pave the way for stranger similar stories to soon reach our screens.
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