Actor Lee Jun-hyuk has signed on to star in the new SBS drama "Awakening" (literal translation).
Produced by Studio S and TME Group, "Awakening" is an occult exorcism thriller set in the cutthroat world of South Korea’s college-entrance prep culture. When students chasing top scores get entangled with stimulants that heighten their senses, they begin hearing the voices of the dead―and unlock a horrific ability that puts their friends in danger. As their school turns into a playground for evil, a lone exorcist priest puts everything on the line to pull them back from the brink. Following SBS’s genre hit "Revenant" in 2023, the network is doubling down on Korean occult storytelling, with "Awakening" targeting a 2027 premiere.
Lee, in the midst of a major career upswing, will play Antonio, the newly assigned guidance priest at Seongryeong High School. To students, he’s an enigmatic figure who stirs curiosity and unease. In reality, Antonio is an exorcist ordained under the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Behind his low-key exterior lies razor-sharp intuition and a deeply empathetic streak. He’s a loner who shoulders terror and pain in silence―and a steadfast warrior of faith who has made a habit of staring down demons and winning.
Dispatched to Seongryeong High to investigate a surge of malevolent activity, Antonio plunges into a series of eerie incidents and vows to risk everything to hunt the force dragging kids into a deadly spiral.
"Awakening" marks Lee Jun-hyuk’s first lead role in the occult genre. The acclaimed actor has showcased range across projects like the series "Stranger" and "Designated Survivor: 60 Days, "as well as the film "The Roundup: No Way Out." Fans are eager to see how his grounded intensity translates to a full-fledged exorcism thriller. Lee also rode a massive wave of popularity last year with SBS’s "Love Scout," setting the stage for a buzzy reunion with the network. After redefining the “unicorn leading man” image in razor-sharp suits on "Love Scout," he’s poised to flip the script in clerical blacks―promising a strikingly different kind of charisma.
SBS’s occult exorcism drama "Awakening", starring Lee Jun-hyuk as an exorcist priest, is slated to air in 2027.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)