The artwork spotlights an irresistibly charming gumiho (a Korean nine-tailed fox spirit) Eun-ho, played by Kim Hye-yoon, and the all-too-human Kang Si-yeol, played by Lomon, teasing painterly chemistry you can’t look away from.
Billed as a fantasy rom-com, the series follows a Gen Z gumiho who has zero interest in becoming human and a self-adoring soccer star whose life gets upended by her. Set against a fresh, imaginative gumiho lore, the show promises a zippy blend of reality and whimsy. Anticipation is already high: per Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex, the title ranked in the TV drama Top 10 for two consecutive weeks (late December and early January) even before launch.
In the poster, Eun-ho and Kang Si-yeol look as if they’ve stepped out of an ink painting. Eun-ho may have survived 900 years trying not to turn human, but her modern-day vibe feels totally of-the-moment. The cascade of fox tails behind her and a mysterious violet orb hovering over her palm add a touch of magic that fuels the show’s fantasy.
The cheeky tagline ― “With this face and this charm, of course you’ll fall for me. I mean, I am a gumiho.” ― channels Eun-ho’s lovable, confident voice and hints at a relationship that starts with bickering and spirals into fate.
Kim Hye-yoon inherits the K-gumiho mantle as Eun-ho, a fox spirit who avoids good deeds in case they turn her human ― and steers clear of truly bad ones so she doesn’t lose a millennium of power. Her carefully balanced afterlife is rattled by an unexpected incident. “I was instantly drawn to the ‘Gen Z gumiho’ concept,” Kim says, adding that the role lets her show a new side after "Lovely Runner."
Lomon tackles full-on rom-com as Kang Si-yeol, a world-class striker with pride to spare but no laziness. His flawless run on the international stage meets its match when Eun-ho barges in. “They look tough on the surface and bicker nonstop, but they slowly seep into each other’s lives and heal old wounds,” he says. “It’s breezy and funny, but the emotions run deep ― I was curious how their bond would take shape.” He adds that his chemistry with Kim felt effortless on set: “She’s so good that following her rhythm created natural synergy.”
"Human from Today" follows "Taxi Driver 3" and premieres Jan. 16 (Fri.) at 9:50 p.m. KST on SBS.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)