‘Money Heist: Korea’: Main Cast Breaks Down Their Characters – Showing Similarities to the Spanish Original
Fans have been anticipating the premiere of the K-drama remake of the hit Netflix Spanish series Money Heist. The drama stars a coveted list of Korean actors, from Park Hae-soo as Berlin to Jeon Jong-seo as the acclaimed female narrator, Tokyo. There are big shoes to fill will the K-drama remake as the main cast explain their characters for Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area.
Actor Yoo Ji-tae stars as the Professor who leads the heist from behind the scenes
The mastermind behind the Spanish series and the upcoming K-drama is the Professor. Actor Álvaro Morte played the role for five seasons on Netflix and passes the torch to Yoo Ji-tae. The masks are off as the cast of Money Heist: Korea and Yoo break down their characters.
As the Professor, Yoo explains in a video for Netflix, “I believe he came up with his meticulous plans because he had a certain conviction for his country and society.” In the original series, the Professor’s reasoning for robbing the Royal Mint of Spain is due to the injustices of thieves and lower-class society.
On the other end of the level-headed Professor is Berlin, played by Park. The actor previously teased his K-drama version would be slightly different. In the video, Park teases Berlin will also be the group’s leader but will cause fear by “terrorizing them and driving division. “
Actor Jeon reveals a small detail of how her version of Tokyo is drastically different from Úrsula Corberó’s version. In the K-drama, Tokyo was a female soldier in North Korea. She escapes to the South during the reunification, but her dreams are shattered. But her Tokyo also “feels hurt and gambles with her life.”
Lee Won-jong is a perfect parallel to Paco Tous’s Moscow in ‘Money Heist: Korea’
Taking on the lovable role of the father figure and robber Moscow in Money Heist: Korea is main cast actor Lee. Tous played the original part and garnered fans’ adoration due to his demeanor as a devoted father and kindness. In the Spanish original, Moscow is a master at cracking safes and escape routes.
In the Netflix video, Lee explains Moscow, “who, for the first time in the country’s history, dug underground tunnels for a robbery. A trailblazer, sort of.” The K-drama remake will follow the same escape plan as the original. But Moscow is not without his son, Denver. Actor Kim Ji-hun takes on the role from actor Jaime Lorente.
Like Money Heist’s Denver, Kim explains, “Denver is innocent. He easily trusts people and gets attached.” Could this mean the K-drama character will also show sympathy toward one female hostage? Kim says Denver also cannot ignore injustice.
In the role of Nairobi is actor Jang Yoon-ju. The Spanish character is fun, energic, looks on the bright side, and manages to make the hostages feel at ease. But Jang explains her character will also have baggage. “She shines in the present but has a lot of stories to tell from her past,” explains Jang.
The actor playing Rio in ‘Money Heist: Korea’ teases a familiar yet different character
One of the original Spanish series characters fans fell for was Rio, played by actor Miguel Herrá. Main cast actor Lee Hyun-woo will play the role in Money Heist: Korea. The actor reveals that the K-drama version is also naive, childish, and immature. But in the K-drama, “His father’s wishes led him to a path of no interest, leaving him dejected.” No worries, the K-drama Rio will also be a master hacker.
Actors Kim Ji-hun and Lee Kyu-ho will play the dynamic duo Helsinki and Oslo. But it is unclear if the two characters are siblings in the K-drama like in Money Heist. Both actors explain their character left their harsh life behind for the Professor but are initially from China.
Outside the masked gang of thieves are the hostages and the negotiation team. Unlike the original, Kim Seong-o plays Captain Cha Moo-hyuk, a negotiation from North Korea. The characters could be similar to Colonel Luis Prieto or Ángel Rubio.
In the role of Money Heist’s Raquel Murillo, played by Itziar Ituño, is Kim Yun-jin as Seon Woo-jin. She is a single mother living with her daughter and mother with Alzheimer’s. The main cast actor reveals her character in Money Heist: Korea also deals with an abusive ex and custody battle.
Money Heist: Korea will air on Netflix on June 24.
