Lee Yoon-ji joins The Great Seer, Go Soo leaves
by girlfriday
Casting additions and subtractions for the upcoming historical drama The Great Seer, aka Dae Poong Soo, due out this fall. The drama stars Ji Jin-hee, Kim So-yeon, and Song Chang-eui, and originally cast Go Soo in the lead role as the great seer. But he had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts, leaving the drama in search of a new hero. At the top of the show’s hero wish list is Ji Sung, who’s reportedly “considering the role.” Meanwhile, Lee Yoon-ji (The King 2 Hearts) joins the cast as a woman with a complicated past who ends up being the mother of a future king.
The Great Seer is a late Goryeo-era sageuk that begins during the reign of King Gongmin, aka the same king in current fantasy-fusion drama Faith. But despite being about seers, geomancers, divinators and the like, this drama is less about the fantasy and more about the political movers and shakers — people who had the power to advise, and therefore control, kings. Ji Jin-hee plays Yi Seong-gye, the general who led the overthrow of Goryeo and established the Joseon Dynasty, becoming its first king.
The hero is the seer/geomancer who backs General Yi and effectively shapes the future of Korea as we know it. Kim So-yeon plays a healer whose destiny is tied to General Yi, but she falls in love with the seer. And Song Chang-eui plays the rival advisor. Lee Yoon-ji joins the cast as Ban-ya, a woman who was sold off as a gisaeng at a young age, but becomes a concubine to King Gongmin’s advisor, and bears a son. King Gongmin takes in that son as his, and the boy becomes King Woo of Goryeo — the king that General Yi (Ji Jin-hee) dethrones in a coup d’état.
It’s all fascinating stuff if you can keep the history straight, but I suppose it’s also just going to be an interesting story give or take the history. I’ve always preferred the stories that focus on the people behind those in power, and the setup here is rife with that sort of political conflict, while being set in the pivotal Goryeo-Joseon turn of the tide.
The 36-episode drama will be directed by PD Lee Yong-seok of Iljimae, and is set to premiere in October on SBS. That is… if it can secure a hero…
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Tags: Go Soo, Ji Sung, Lee Yoon-ji
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1 mrs_d_4281
August 14, 2012 at 5:10 AM
First to comment? Awesome for me and the news. I love Lee Yoon-ji. And Ji Sung can be a good choice for the lead role. Now I'll be watching this.
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2 HDS
August 14, 2012 at 5:20 AM
Ji Sung in a sageuk....I'll definitely in.
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3 Deeko
August 14, 2012 at 5:26 AM
Did someone say Ji Sung? I am in. I liked his personality in the sageuk Kim Soo Ro, although that drama had its flaws... And who can forget his adorable role in Protect the Boss? Still, the cast seems great and I am a fan of anything Iljimae. Count me in.
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Kiara
August 14, 2012 at 5:54 AM
Ji Sung does sageuk well. This feels like a Shin Don reboot.
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avonmarissa
August 14, 2012 at 7:47 AM
That is the exact statement I was about to make. I think this drama and Faith cover Gongmin's reign and the eventual demise of Koryo; one of the most fascinating parts of Koryo history. Time to pull out my Korean history books again. Shindon was a great drama though; the acting did it for me.
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4 reglest
August 14, 2012 at 5:37 AM
Slap me, but I want to invest in this drama because of Ji Jin Hee and LEE YOON JI!!
Bring it ON!!
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5 Ivoire
August 14, 2012 at 5:44 AM
Thank you for the news!
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6 Kiara
August 14, 2012 at 5:45 AM
Loved her ever since the old school sageuk version of King Sejong. This cast is perfect <3.
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7 jandoe
August 14, 2012 at 5:46 AM
AWWWWW so upset Go Soo had to exit, was SO looking forward to it thanks to the casting. Hope they cast an equally epic hero and stat!
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8 Jelly
August 14, 2012 at 5:47 AM
Go Soo is out.... oh no. I was looking forward for him to do the part...so sad
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9 korazylady
August 14, 2012 at 6:15 AM
I'm hoping for Ji Sung! But just having this new picture of him starts my morning with a smile...:)
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10 KDaddict
August 14, 2012 at 6:24 AM
dramabeans.com has the best photos and banners, ever!
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11 jules
August 14, 2012 at 6:32 AM
Oh no.
Go Soo was the reason I was interested in the drama in the first place and if he's gone, then I am, too.
... unless they replace him with someone who's equally as awesome. (because I'm fickle like that.)
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12 jomo143
August 14, 2012 at 6:56 AM
Go Soo and Ji Sung? What a change.
I know Ji Sung can bring the intense and emotional, but it comes with a little nervous energy. He drags your attention to him in spurts.
Go Soo is weighty, assured. He does nothing yet you find your attention on him. There is no resistence.
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GOGO
August 14, 2012 at 5:17 PM
"Go Soo is weighty, assured."
Right, but it's Go Soo's advantage and also disadvantage. He's ALWAYS like that and will be. Unlike Go Soo, Ji Sung is much more versatile as an actor. Acting requires a wide range of emotions, which I think Go Soo lacking.
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13 reeen
August 14, 2012 at 7:03 AM
This drama sounds good, I hope it doesn't disappoint. 36 episodes is a lot, even with great actors like Lee Yoon-Ji and Ji Jin-Hee...
I'm still hoping for a lead role for Lee Yoon-Ji...
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14 MsB
August 14, 2012 at 7:46 AM
These cast changes are going to kill me! Now, I have to add this to my watch list!!
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15 fortuna
August 14, 2012 at 8:23 AM
Any Yoon-ji is good Yoon-j! Here's hoping that one of her eye-catching performances will finally see her taking the lead role in a weekly drama. This woman is just far too good and far too likable to always be the "bride's maid"...
;(
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trotwood
August 14, 2012 at 8:29 AM
I agree. Give this woman a lead role STAT!! She is the kind of actress that no matter what role she plays, I think, "I'd like to be friends with her." I cannot say that abotu all actresses, even the ones that I like.
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reeen
August 15, 2012 at 3:11 PM
So, so true. That is exactly what makes her my favourite Korean actress.
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16 Banu
August 14, 2012 at 8:54 AM
Auw.. Go Soo leaves BUT JI Sung..maybe as hero..YES PLEASE!
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17 Yushi
August 14, 2012 at 12:20 PM
loved iljimae, totally watching this. :)
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18 Laeah
August 14, 2012 at 1:48 PM
Lee Yoon Ji! I'm in! :)
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19 rjyuggy
August 14, 2012 at 2:43 PM
No offense to Ji Sung, but I would like to see Eric Moon or Lee Wan in the lead role.
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20 Yee
August 14, 2012 at 3:27 PM
sad to see that go soo is out, as I love him soo much! But Im glad that Ji sung is in here also! I love him too!
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dj5
August 14, 2012 at 5:22 PM
I'm sad to see go soo out too, but with Ji Sung, I think the cast is even more promising.
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21 reallycool
August 14, 2012 at 3:34 PM
I'm aboard for Kim So Yeon ^^. Been waiting for her to comeback to dramaland
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22 ujsid
August 14, 2012 at 5:53 PM
OH MY GOD I LOVE JI SUNG!!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PICK THIS ROLE!!!!
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Carinne
August 14, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Oh yesh, lets magnify the pleading here. All in! *cross fingers, legs & eyes*
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korazylady
August 15, 2012 at 8:05 AM
YES, can you hear us drama-powers-that-be?
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NIOLK
August 16, 2012 at 1:00 AM
Hurray, our prayers are answered. It's confirmed...so happy Ji Sung joins the cast!!!
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23 Aya
August 14, 2012 at 6:19 PM
why did u have to leave Go Soo smh Ji Sung is a downgrade
Yoon Ji will rock this, Ji Jin Hee is always underrated (Dong Yi, Dae Jang Geum, Love Letter), Chang Ui going back to sageuk after many years....
Go Soo would have fit perfectly. Anyway, what is the guy up to lately, looks like he's doing more cinema these days
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24 musicfey
August 14, 2012 at 6:23 PM
As long as Kim So-yeon is in, i'm in.
Been suffering from a lack of her awesomeness recently :P
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25 Juls
August 14, 2012 at 9:28 PM
I am sad she's leaving but I guess the changes would be for the best.
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26 satsuki92
August 14, 2012 at 11:15 PM
i was looking forward to Go Soo *sadface* x100000
on the other hand, glad that lee yoon ji is casted in this drama. hope she gets more air time in this one ^^
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27 zhill
August 14, 2012 at 11:18 PM
OMG JISUNG!!! Bring it on. I'm gonna be a happy camper.
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28 m92
August 15, 2012 at 6:02 AM
omg!!i miss ji sung so much. I think he is more versatile than go soo. I believe he can act better in this role. He is consistently improving his acting skill,this is what go soo lack. Hope ji sung will accept this role. And based on casts n staff production, i believe this drama will be good.
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29 Lovedramas
August 15, 2012 at 12:26 PM
I am in for ji Jin hee and Kim so yeon. I love him especially although I guess more focus will be on our hero. I like ji sung too. So I will wait and see who gets cast.
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30 ivy
September 7, 2012 at 6:59 PM
I will be watching the great seer because of ji jin hee…please start releasing his pictures as the king in this drama…so excited to see them this early.
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