Seven actors who will play the roles of alter egos of the members of K-pop superstars BTS in a Korean drama have been revealed.
Titled “Youth,” the drama will depict BTS’ worldview and is based on BTS Universe, an alternate or parallel universe, which has a narrative that is separate from the real artists. Airing in 2021, the drama is the story of seven young boys with their own stories as they sympathize with each other’s pain, healing and growth.
In August 2019, Big Hit Entertainment chairman and CEO Bang Si-hyuk announced the plan to make a drama series.
“BTS and what we call the BU (BTS Universe) has also inspired a number of different works. These illustrate seven young people who overcome their own pains and dark days as they grow together, touching the hearts of young people around the world,” he said during a corporate briefing.
He added, “Big Hit is currently preparing a drama series together with a leading Korean production company based on the Bangtan Universe, slated for release in the second half of 2020. It will be a story set in the BU about how the seven boys first met.” The airing has been reset to 2021.
The characters will use the real names of BTS members in the drama that will be directed by Kim Jae-hong with screenwriter Kim Soo Jin whose credits include “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo.”
"BU (BTS Universe) is the worldview with stories totally separating from the artists in real life. Based on the basic structure of BU, the work is changed to suit the characteristics of a TV series," according to the drama production company ChorokBam Media, MyDaily reported.
Actor Jeon Jin-seo will play the role of Jeon Jungkook, Jung Woo-jin as Kim Taehyung, Seo Young-joo as Kim Namjoon, Seo Ji-hoon as Kim Seokjin, Ahn Ji-ho as Jung Ho-seok, Kim Yoon-woo as Park Jimin and Noh Jong-hyun as Min Yoongi.
Jeon Jin-seo is known for playing the role of Lee Joon-young, the son of Kim Hee-ae and Park Hae-joon in the hit drama “The World of the Married.”
Seo Ji-hoon’s credits include the dramas “Solomon’s Perjury,” “School 2017,” “Prison Playbook” and “Men are Men.”
Born in 1996, Jung Woo-jin appeared in the movie “Marionette” while Ahn Ji-ho’s credits include “Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days” and “Nobody Knows.”
Seo Young-joo took home the best actor award at the 14th Cinemanila International Film Festival and 25th Tokyo International Film Festival in 2012 for his role in the movie “Juvenile Offender.”
Noh Jong-hyun’s acting credits include the dramas “Life on Mars,” “He Is Psychometric,” “Hell Is Other People” and “Kkondae Intern.”