Highlights
Since the announcement of the K-drama Newtopia which will be featuring BLACKPINK’s Jisoo and Park Jeong Min, fans have been raving about it. The show which combines the aspects of a zombie apocalypse and a love story has caused quite a lot of buzz. Later on, Coupang Play shared a teaser video for the show; this is the first time the audience can see Jisoo and Park Jeong Min in the costumes of their characters. As many of the fans expected the appearance of the two actors in the same project, the preview received rather ambiguous feedback – some welcomed the casting choice while others had doubts.
Fan Expectations and Initial Response
Newtopia has been receiving a lot of buzz since it was known that Jisoo, a member of the BLACKPINK group, a K-pop sensation, would play the lead character. K-drama and K-pop lovers have been eager to see her back on television after her Snowdrop drama series. Her co-star, Park Jeong Min is a professional actor with a vast portfolio, some of the most famous dramas include Hellbound and films include Smugglers. The fact that these two stars were to be paired in a drama, new genre film like Newtopia was enough to create the buzz.
The recent preview video was the first time fans got a glimpse of Jisoo portraying the character Kang Young Joo, a hardworking employee in a world that is struggling, and Park Jeong Min as Lee Jae Yoon, a man who struggles with his insecurities due to his late enlistment in the military. This short clip was supposed to create anticipation, but fans’ reactions have been rather varied. Some of the viewers were happy to see the two actors while others were not satisfied especially with Park Jeong Min and his acting skills.
A Range of Responses from the Viewers
The comments from fans and viewers of the preview video for Newtopia were varied. While many fans were looking forward to Jisoo and Park Jeong Min, some viewers were disappointed in Park Jeong Min’s acting, saying that he looked bored and was not as captivating as the previous male leads for Jisoo. Some of the critics opined that his body language was not very aggressive as the drama demanded especially when the story line was based on a zombie apocalypse. Furthermore, some fans complained about his looks saying that he does not suit Jisoo’s glamorous looks.
On the other hand, a good number of the audience stood for Park Jeong Min, stating that he has a lot of experience in acting and has in the past portrayed different roles well. Others argued that he is just a different actor and that he consciously plays the character more subdued, which is in line with the character of Lee Jae Yoon, a man who enlisted for service later in life and is unsure of what he wants from life. They claimed that the drama’s themes are intense and dramatic and perhaps the drama needs a more subtle performance, which Park Jeong Min seems to be providing.
Moving to the Drama’s release the following should be considered
While the release date of the Newtopia is getting nearer, the controversy regarding the casting and performances of Jisoo and Park Jeong Min escalates. Some fans still do not believe in the chemistry between the two leads, but others are waiting for the full series to watch to see if the chemistry is great. The idea of a romantic-comedy-horizon show in a post-apocalyptic zombie-infested world is a new concept that sets this K-drama apart from other K-dramas. The combination of romance and comedy plus the casts Jisoo and Park Jeong Min would definitely attract a lot of viewers when the show is finally on air.
Whether Newtopia will live up to the expectations that are expected from the cast and the concept is yet to be determined. But there is no doubt that the drama will be one of the most-discussed K-dramas of the year, thanks to the controversy that it has created.
