On Dec. 9, the production locked a first-half premiere and released a first look at the table read, instantly stoking buzz among K-drama fans.
The fantasy rom-com centers on an unapologetically Gen Z gumiho (a nine-tailed fox from Korean folklore) who wants nothing to do with becoming human and a gloriously self-absorbed mortal. Eun-ho (Kim Hye-yoon), a lifelong single who’s done everything except date, collides with world-class soccer star Kang Si-yeol (Lomon), whose life flips in an instant ― sparking an enemies-to-lovers romance with a supernatural twist.
Director Kim Jung-kwon ("Maestra: Strings of Truth," "Love to Hate You") teams with writers Park Chan-young and Cho Ah-young ("The Best Chicken"). Production is by Binge Works, the hit-making studio behind "My Demon," "Today’s Webtoon" and "Mr. Queen."
At the first table read, Kim Jung-kwon and writers Park and Cho were joined by leads Kim Hye-yoon and Lomon, along with Lee Si-woo, Jang Dong-ju, Choi Seung-yoon, In Gyo-jin, Lee Seung-jun and Hong Soo-hyun. Once pages started turning, the room shifted into high gear ― with Kim and Lomon trading flirty, quick-witted banter that set the tone.
Kim Hye-yoon steps into Eun-ho, a quirky gumiho determined not to turn human, blending chic bite with irresistible charm. Skittish about good deeds and men ― just in case they tip her fate ― she promises a bold, fresh spin on the mythical fox heroine.
Lomon inhabits Kang Si-yeol, a world-class footballer who’s all swagger, never a slacker. He charts the whiplash arc of a superstar whose perfect life is suddenly upended. With Kim riding the wave of "Lovely Runner" and Lomon having broken out globally with "All of Us Are Dead," anticipation is high to see if this pairing delivers another career-defining turn.
The ensemble adds texture on both the fantasy and sports fronts. Lee Si-woo intrigues as the enigmatic Geum-ho, tied to Eun-ho by a mysterious thread. Jang Dong-ju anchors a key storyline as Hyun Woo-seok, a player living the opposite life of Kang Si-yeol. Choi Seung-yoon turns up the heat as Lee Yoon, a fourth-generation chaebol heir and Eun-ho’s VIP client, poised to be the show’s resident villain.
In Gyo-jin lightens the mood as Park Yong-gil, once an assistant coach for the youth national team and now manager of a fourth-division citizen club. Lee Seung-jun brings heart as Hyun Sang-chul, father to Woo-seok. Special guest Hong Soo-hyun energizes the pitch as Hong Yeon-soo, the sharp-eyed agent who spotted Si-yeol’s talent and has been his partner for nine years. Rounding out Park Yong-gil’s Daheung Citizen FC: Yoo Hwan as attacking midfielder Seo Beom, Kim Tae-jung as center back Hwang Chi-soo, Ji Seung-jun as wingback Bae Jeong-bae and Kim Tae-hee as backup goalkeeper Kim Kyung-hoon ― a youthful squad brimming with energy and chemistry.
Producers tease a fresh, original world built on gumiho lore, promising a different kind of fun ― and they’re betting that Kim Hye-yoon and Lomon’s chemistry will make the wait worth it.
"Human from Today" premieres Friday, Jan. 16 at 9:50 p.m. KST on SBS, following Taxi Driver 3.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)