With shooting set to begin next month, we’ve gotten a flurry of confirmations for new SBS weekend drama Endless Love. Jung Kyung-ho (Heartless City) will take on the main lead, and Ryu Soo-young (Two Weeks, Rascal Sons) is being courted to play his brother, a character Yeon Jung-hoon briefly considered but passed on (yes, there’s hope for you Vampire Prosecutor 3 holdouts, yet!). The story, set in 1980s Korea against a political and economic backdrop, will revolve around the love (or loves, as this is a 50-episode melodrama we’re talking about) of a female lead, Hwang Jung-eum (Secret).
Jung Kyung-ho will play the younger of two brothers raised in a household with a struggling fisherman for a father. He’s been in love with Hwang Jung-eum, his hyung’s former flame, since he was a child – and he vows to love her until the day he dies. In contrast with his brother, he’s the rebellious son. He was never a good student and was in brawls so often, he was nicknamed Legendary Fist in high school.
Ryu Soo-young is very close to taking on the role of the ruthlessly ambitious older brother. Embittered by his poor upbringing, he dreams of (and appears well on his way towards) becoming a great leader. He’s viewed as a potential son-in-law by Cha In-pyo (Kye Baek, Daemul), a powerful general intent on becoming the next president.
Cha In-pyo will do whatever it takes to accomplish his goal, even if it means marrying off his only daughter to Ryu Soo-young – it’s unclear, but he either sees him as a threat (potential rival) or a boost (indomitable ally) to his candidacy, and wants to create familial ties with the up-and-comer to effectively squash the risk he poses or to solidify their relationship.
There’s so much news regarding the male cast it’s easy to forget that Endless Love will focus on Hwang Jung-eum’s love life. Story TV (Jang Ok-jung, Live By Love) will produce, Na Yeon-sook (East of Eden) will write and Lee Hyun-jik (Warrior Baek Dong-soo) will direct.
Endless Love will air after Angel Eyes concludes, sometime in June.