Choi Ji-woo to Star in Korea-Japan Co-Production

Korea’s pan-Asian star Choi Ji-woo has been cast in a melodrama to be jointly produced by Korea and Japan. Set in Nara Prefecture in Japan’s Kansai region, “Lovers in Asuka” is aimed at revitalizing the Korean Wave or Korean pop culture craze once again. The producers wanted to cast a top actress for the heroine and finally alighted on Choi. Shooting will start in early September for airing in December.

A spokesman for Choi said the actress is devoting herself to get ready for the shooting of the drama without making any other schedules. Korean and Japanese production, broadcasting and marketing companies have joined hands for content creation, investment, production, broadcasting and distribution for the 20-episode drama.

Korea’s Olive9 will be responsible for production and Japan’s Dentsu Group for investment attraction and distribution. Nara Prefecture and Osaka University of Art have already formed a production support group for the drama and are working to come up with plans to provide systematic support.