We love a good action fantasy drama, and there’s nothing more satisfying than seeing one of the shows we’re most fond of back on the small screen. Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 occurs in the same universe as the original 2020 series, this time following the exploits of gumiho Lee Yeon (played by Lee Dong Wook) as he gets thrown back into the past. While we miss seeing Jo Bo Ah onscreen, it’s exciting to see what new (old?) adventures the rest of the gang are up to.
Here’s where else you’ve seen the cast of Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938:
1. Lee Dong Wook as Lee Yeon
How much suffering can one gumiho undergo? Let us count the ways. But, srsly, Lee Yeon does get to reunite with his brother, Rang, here and rebuild their broken relationship one more time. If you’re an OG K-drama fan, you already know Lee Dong Wook as the ultimate heartthrob from his early My Girl days. Since then, he’s played every type of character under the sun, including the charming Grim Reaper in Goblin, the psychopathic dentist in Strangers from Hell, and the disgruntled attorney in Touch Your Heart.
2. Kim So Yeon as Ryu Hong Joo
If you haven’t watched all three seasons of The Penthouse yet, you’re missing out! Kim So Yeon shined as the evil Cheon Seo Jin, the crazed soprano obsessed with ruling Hera Palace. But before Penthouse, she was already a household name when she starred as reporter Young Mi in All About Eve back in 2000 (yes, another character with issues!). But this award-winning actress isn’t just all about villainy. She also starred in Prosecutor Princess, where her character remained cute and kikay while being the best prosecutor ever. In Tale of the Nine-Tailed, she plays the spunky Hong Joo who used to be the guardian spirit of a mountain.
3. Kim Bum as Lee Rang
We’re so glad to see half-gumiho Rang again and see his transition from scruffy bandit to well-dressed gentleman. His relationship with Yeon is still as complicated as ever, but now we get to see them endure mishaps together. Kim Bum rose to fame as one of the F4 in Boys Over Flowers. In recent years, we enjoyed seeing his bromance with Rain in Ghost Doctor, where he played Seung Tak, a resident who can see spirits. He also played witty law student Joon Hwi in Law School.
4. Ryu Kyung Soo as Cheon Mu Young
Ryu Kyung Soo might be quiet and unassuming IRL, but his drama characters are anything but. Mu Young is another former mountain god and close friend of Yeon’s. He stole the guardian stone that led to Yeon having to go back to 1938. As for Kyung Soo’s other roles, who can forget him as DanBam’s Seung Kwon in Itaewon Class? He’s also tried his hand in both thrillers and rom-coms from being a deacon in Hellbound to a novelist looking for romance in Lovestruck in the City.
5. Hwang Hee as Goo Shin Joo
We love seeing Hwang Hee’s fox spirit Shin Joo on the hunt in Tale of the Nine-Tailed, but don’t get the wrong idea. This show is far from his first foray into action. He was a member of the White Mountain Tribe in Arthdal Chronicles and an NIS agent in The Veil. He’s also been in dramas like Doctor John and Dali and Cocky Prince.
6. Kim Yong Ji as Sunwoo Eun Ho
In 1938, Kim Yong Ji plays Eun Ho, a Sunwoo Ilbo reporter. This actress made a splash when she debuted in the Kim Eun Sook drama Mr. Sunshine. She played Hotaru, a mute fortune teller with connections to Japanese gang leader Goo Dong Mae. You might also remember her dual roles in King: The Eternal Monarch, where she played the love interest of Jo Eun Seob.
7. Kim Soo Jin as Bok Hye Ja
Kim Soo Jin still plays Bok Hye Ja in 1938, but this time, she owns a luxury store in Gyeongseong. You've also seen her in the hit series Hot Stove League as a member of baseball team Dreams' operations team and even won an acting award for her efforts. She's been in other popular dramas in recent years including Hospital Playlist and Navillera.
8. Kim Jung Nan as Taluipa
This veteran actress has been in multiple hit dramas including A Gentleman's Dignity, Bridal Mask, Sky Castle, and Crash Landing On You. She also starred in the Song Joong Ki-headlined Reborn Rich, a popular revenge drama, where she played Son Jeong Rae, the first daughter-in-law of the Soonyang family. In 1938, Kim Jung Nan plays Taluipa, sister of the King of the Underworld and in charge of the list of dead spirits.
9. Ahn Gil Kang as Hyunuiong
In 1938, he plays Hyunuiong, Taluipa's hubby and Samdo River's gatekeeper. This veteran actor is an award-winning film and drama actor. If you love period dramas, you might remember him in Iljimae and Chuno. He was also Mi Shil's warrior in Queen Seondeok, winning a Golden Acting Award in the process. Ahn Gil Kang used to be known as a villainous figure (in fact, he was still one in the drama Sell Your Haunted House), but now, he has also developed a flair for dad roles. Remember him as Bok Joo's father in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo?
10. Ha Do Kwon as Ryuhei Kato
Ha Do Kwon is a versatile actor who's famous for playing character roles. In 1938, he plays Ryuhei Kato, director of the government general's police force (and possibly a nefarious villain in more ways than one). Among his iconic roles are the traitorous music teacher in The Penthouse, a baseball player of the Dreams in Hot Stove League, and the head of the imperial guards in The Last Empress (yes, all of these were played by the same actor!).
Tale Of The Nine-Tailed 1938 is currently streaming on Prime Video.
