Bulgasal: Immortal Souls (Korean: 불가살) is a South Korean television series starring Lee Jin-wook, Kwon Nara, Lee Joon, Gong Seung-yeon, Jung Jin-young, Park Myung-shin, and Kim Woo-seok. It is led by director Jang Young-woo, and the screenplay is written by husband-and-wife team Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won. It aired on tvN from December 18, 2021 to February 6, 2022. It is also available for streaming on Netflix.
Contents
Synopsis
The series tells the story of a woman who remembers her past lives by repeating death and reincarnation for 600 years, and a man who cannot kill nor be killed and has lived for the past 600 years as a Bulgasal—a mythical creature that feeds off human blood and is cursed with immortality.
Cast
Main
Lee Jin-wook as Dan Hwal / Bulgasal
Lee Joo-won as young Dan Hwal
A man who used to be a human, but becomes an immortal during the Joseon period while working as a military official and carrying out a task to erase the remnants of the previous dynasty.
Kwon Nara as Min Sang-woon / Kim Hwa-yeon
Han Seo-jin as young Min Sang-woon / Min Sang-yeon
A woman who used to be an immortal, but goes through a tragic event that turns her into a human.
Lee Joon as Ok Eul-tae
Another immortal, commonly known as the "Dark Hole", living in secrecy who enjoys his eternal life, as well as his wealth and power.
Gong Seung-yeon as Dan Sol / Min Si-ho
Dan Sol: Dan Hwal's past wife who is the daughter of a powerful family.
Min Si-ho: Dan Sol's reincarnation who is Min Sang-woon's younger sister.
Jung Jin-young as Dan Geuk / Kwon Ho-yeol
Dan Geuk: Dan Sol's father who is a powerful general.
Kwon Ho-yeol: Dan Geuk's reincarnation who is a former detective.
Park Myung-shin as a shaman / Hye-suk
Shin Soo-yeon as young Hye-suk
A shaman who lived 600 years ago.
Supporting
Han Dong-kyu as Goo-bong, a resident of a village who lives a rough life due to bulgasal.
Park Joo-hwan as Dan Ah-chan, Dan Hwal and Dan Sol's son.
Han Seong-soo as Jo Ma-gu, a ghost with a strong appetite who even devours human corpses.
Lee Kyu-ho as Du Eok-si-ni
Oh Yu-jin as Kim Go-bun, Kim Hwa-yeon's younger sister.
Special appearances
Lee Jin-hee as Sang Un-mo, Min Sang-woon's mother.
Kim Tae-baek as Kim Sang-hui's husband
Production
Casting
The lead role was first offered to Won Bin, but the actor ultimately refused.
On December 17, 2020, it was reported that Lee Jin-wook was being cast for the series and was positively considering his appearance. The actor and director Jang Young-woo previously worked together in the 2020 series Sweet Home. In February 2021, actors Lee Joon, Kwon Nara and Jung Jin-young also received casting offer. Line-up for the lead stars consisting of Lee Jin-wook, Kwon Nara, Lee Joon, Gong Seung-yeon, Jung Jin-young, Park Myung-shin and Kim Woo-seok was finally confirmed on March 17.
Release
Bulgasal: Immortal Souls was initially scheduled for release in 2022. In November 2021, it was confirmed that the series would premiere on December 18.