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Forbes
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Conjuring Up Shamans, Ghosts And Love In ‘Head Over Heels'
Head Over Heels is an engaging paranormal romance that derives much of its onscreen magic from its colorful shamanistic rituals and creatively conceived ghosts. Seong-A, played by Cho Yi-hyun, is a mudang or shaman, who offers consultations at night. During the day she's a high school student, who doesn't want her classmates to know she's a mudang. Two of the people she meets at a consultation are Geon-U (Choo Young-woo) and his grandmother. They seek a talisman to counter his persistent bad luck. Unfortunately, it will take more than a few rituals to dispel what plagues him and in the interim he may have to overcome his distrust of shamans. The Korean series is based on a webtoon, and, according to director Kim Yong-wan, shamanistic rites and practices were not a major focus in the webtoon. The writer, Yang Ji-hoon, strengthened the occult elements to incorporate them into the lead character's narratives. 'In pre-production, we held in-depth discussions with real shamans on how to integrate these elements naturally into the story,' said Kim. "Drawing on those insights, we collaborated closely with the cinematography, lighting, art, and costume teams to highlight Head Over Heels' distinctive shamanistic atmosphere through set design, wardrobe, lighting, and other visual details.' The crew consulted mediums Jo Hyun-woo and Yoon Mi-young, as well as CEO Jo Ji-hoon, who previously advised on TVING's entertainment show Shaman: Whispers from the Dead, the film The Wailing and the drama The Cursed. 'Also, Cho Yi-hyun, who played Seong-A, and key staff even attended a real rite in person," said Kim. "I also interviewed several female shamans in their 20s to create a clear blueprint for Seong-A, who serves the lady fairy.' Historically, politics and religion in Korea have been closely intertwined, and shamanism has taken deep root as a form of folk belief. Shamanistic elements are naturally woven into Korean holidays and ancestral memorial rites. People have long honored 'spirits' and 'ancestors' together, said Kim, as an inseparable part of daily life. 'Shamanism has also evolved through diverse cultural and artistic forms—music, painting, performance, and film—making it both mysterious and familiar to the public,' said Kim. 'Films like The Wailing and Exhuma have already captivated audiences with shamanistic themes, and in recent years, shamanism has expanded beyond horror and the occult into genres like fantasy, action, romance, and even variety shows, becoming increasingly familiar to viewers. Globally, thanks to the popularity of Netflix's animated film K-Pop Demon Hunters, the imagery of 'K-shamanism' has become more recognizable to international audiences. I believe this may be a time of unprecedented transformation for Korean shamanism—not merely as a religious tradition, but as a cultural phenomenon deeply intertwined with K-culture.' Incorporating more rites and practices into the script was not the only change from the webtoon. Another change was making Gyeon-U an archer. 'Filming the archery scenes required building a practice range at a real school location, which was quite a challenge," said Kim. "In the latter half of the story, there are several scenes where he uses a bow to fend off ghosts, so safety was a major concern—but in the end, I'm very happy with the results.' Various ghosts were introduced during the first six episodes, including water ghosts, fire ghosts, baby ghosts, dog ghosts, suicide ghosts, each connecting with a character's personal demons. 'Some ghosts—like the water ghost, fire ghost, maiden ghost, and faceless ghost—were intentionally designed to feel familiar, to help the audience understand,' said Kim. 'The suicide ghost, however, was newly created: its face is like a black hole, symbolizing the heavy pull of despair, as if sinking into a swamp. The baby ghost needed to be both threatening and endearing, as its tragic backstory meant it couldn't be presented as purely terrifying. Bok-i, the dog ghost, was the only guardian spirit." When designing the ghosts, the crew focused on staying true to the work's tone and style, making sure their creations felt authentically 'Korean,' familiar enough for the audience to understand them, yet also fresh and unique. They often came up with new ideas on set with the actors. "For example, with the suicide ghost, we debated whether it should walk like a human or float as if suspended, finalizing the movement only in post-production.' In the webtoon, the malevolent spirits were portrayed simply as black shadows. In the drama, they were realized as more human-shaped figures with a dark, ominous presence. 'Because each spirit had its own movement and a specific purpose for Seong-A to exorcise, we used real actors in black suits as stand-ins during filming.' One of the most challenging aspects was visualizing the idea that 'those fated to die enter the Buddhist temple walking upside down.' When Seong-A sees an upside-down Gyeon-U walk into her consultation room, she knows he's in danger. 'Deciding how to visualize this was difficult; we debated whether to focus on Gyeon-U's steps or to frame the shot more tightly on the character for a dreamlike effect.' Kim is drawn to filmmaking because it's a collaborative process. 'All film and video production is a collaborative process, and especially in today's rapidly evolving technical environment,' said Kim. 'I believe it's the flexibility and communication skills of the staff and cast that truly lead to better work. Since Head Over Heels blends multiple genres—romance, school drama, sports, and occult—we encouraged each part's head to approach their work as if they were directing their own specialty.' At the end of one episode Seong-A and another shaman Yeomhwa (Choo Ja-hyun) perform a beautiful flower lantern dance. 'We wanted a scene that felt more beautiful and dance-like than the traditional Korean form," said Kim. "Our shaman masters redesigned it for two people, while the art and lighting teams created lanterns with internal lighting that reflected each character's assigned color. This scene wasn't in the original webtoon, but through extensive discussion, we developed a tone and style that positively influenced the entire production.' Another example is an action scene in which Dongcheon and Flower Master battle a faceless ghost. 'This kind of action scene hadn't appeared in the series before, but we staged it like a video game battle to highlight each shaman's unique abilities," said Kim. "The actors trained extensively, and the CG, stunt, and camera teams worked with precision to produce a truly satisfying result.' Kim describes the romance in Head Over Heels as an innocent yet desperate love, a first love worth risking your life for. 'It's not mere recklessness born of youth,' said Kim. 'Both characters have deep emotional wounds from the prejudice and selfishness of the adult world, which cut deeper than any ghost. By sincerely comforting and relying on each other, their love becomes noble. Ultimately, through saving each other, Seong-A and Gyeon-U reclaim their humanity and return to an ordinary life of youth. That was the core message of our drama.' Head Over Heels airs on Prime.
Pink Villa
02-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Head Over Heels had another kiss scene? Here's why Cho Yi Hyun and Choo Young Woo's high school drama deprived fans of intimate moment
All Head Over Heels fans were a little upset after a BTS video was released by tvN. The 22-minute-long footage featured several candid moments of the stars Cho Yi Hyun and Choo Young Woo, along with other actors. But what drew everyone's attention was an intimate scene between the two stars that was missing from the episode that aired. This has left fans disappointed and heartbroken. Fans react to deleted kissing scene Among the several clips featured in the BTS video shared by tvN, there was a kissing scene of the lead stars of Head Over Heels. This particular scene with Cho Yi Hyun and Choo Young Woo was filmed in a classroom with the actors dressed in their school uniforms. The scene in the BTS video appeared different from the one shown in the actual episode that aired. This brought the fact to everyone's notice that the scene was edited out from the final aired episode. Fans were quite unhappy with the decision of the makers and expressed their disappointment on their X handles. One of the fans wrote, 'THIS IS THE KISS?? THE WAY THEY WERE SO INTO IT, THE HAND PLACEMENT AND HIS RED EARS IS SO INSANE OF THEM WE WERE ROBBED.' Another fan wrote, 'WE WERE PLAYED BY THE ANGLE AND CUTS!!! GYEONSEONG WERE SO INTO THE KISSING SCENE ON THE MAKING FILM.' A third fan wrote, 'The behind the scene is way much more intense than the one is aired OMFG HOW ABOUT MY SANITY ?!' About the drama Head Over Heels Currently airing, Head Over Heels follows Park Seong Ah (played by Cho Yi Hyun), a high school student. She secretly lives a double life as the mysterious and well-known shaman Fairy Cheon Ji. She hides her identity by partially covering her face while working with clients seeking help with everything from love to illness. Things take a turn when Bae Gyeon Woo (played by Choo Young Woo) visits her late one night with his grandmother. Seong Ah is instantly drawn to him, but to her shock, she sees a dark fate looming over his life. The next day, fate throws another twist: Bae Gyeon Woo becomes a transfer student in her class. Determined to rewrite his destiny, Seong Ah begins a journey to protect himself at all costs. Whether they're battling dark spirits onscreen or goofing off between takes, Cho Yi Hyun and Choo Young Woo are proving to be a duo that fans just can't get enough of.
South China Morning Post
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Prime Video K-drama Head Over Heels review: supernatural romcom fails to satisfy
This article contains spoilers. 2/5 stars Lead cast: Cho Yi-hyun, Choo Young-woo, Cha Kang-yoon, Choo Ja-hyun Latest Nielsen rating: 4.9 per cent
International Business Times
29-07-2025
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Head Over Heels: What's Next for Cho Yi Hyun, Choo Young Woo, Cha Kang Yoon, and Choo Ja Hyun
July 29, 2025 15:31 +08 Head Over Heels poster. X/tvN Head Over Heels casts, including Cho Yi Hyun, Choo Young Woo, Cha Kang Yoon, and Choo Ja Hyun, kept the viewers glued to the screens with their acting skills. This fantasy romance drama is heading to its finale this week, and the viewers are eager to know what lies ahead for their favorite cast members from this mini-series. Cho Yi Hyun is busy with the filming of All of Us Are Dead season 2. She will reprise her role as the resilient half-zombie Nam Ra in the upcoming sequel. Choo Young Woo is preparing for his first-ever Asia fan meeting tour since his debut. The tour is titled Who (is) Choo?, and IT will kick start from Seoul in September. Choo Ja Hyun and her agency are tight-lipped about her next project. Cha Kang Yoon also did not share any details about his upcoming project. Head Over Heels is a fantasy romance drama, focusing on the complicated relationship between a high-school boy named Park Seong A, who is fated to die, and a girl shamam named Bae Gyeon U, who decides to change his destiny. Screenwriter Yang Ji Hoon wrote the script for this mini-series, which is based on a webtoon of the same name, created by Ahn Su Min. The K-drama premiered on tvN on Monday (June 23) at 8:50 pm KST. Kim Yong Wan directed this fantasy romance drama. How to Watch? The fantasy romance drama will return with its last episode on Tuesday (July 29) at 8:50 PM KST. People in Korea can watch the finale on TV or stream it on platforms like TVING. K-drama fans from other countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, and South Africa, can watch the mini-series with subtitles on online streaming platforms, like Amazon Prime Video. Here are the International Air Timings of Head Over Heels Episode 12: US - 6:50 am Canada - 6:50 am Australia - 10:20 pm New Zealand - 12:50 am Japan - 8:50 pm Mexico - 5:50 am Brazil - 8:50 am Saudi Arabia - 2:50 pm India - 5:20 pm Indonesia - 6:50 pm Singapore - 7:50 pm China - 7:50 pm Europe - 12:50 pm France - 12:50 pm Spain - 12:50 pm UK - 11:50 am South Africa - 1:50 pm Philippines - 7:50 pm Preview and Spoilers Director Kim Yong Wan shared that the final episode will focus on the romance between Park Seong A and Bae Gyeon U. According to him, viewers will empathize with decisions by Bong Soo and Yeom Hwa. "Seong A and Gyeon U's love grows deeper, which makes their longing for each other even more intense. I think viewers will also empathize with the choices made by Bong Soo and Yeom Hwa. Please look forward to the emotional and exciting finale of Head Over Heels," Kim Yong Wan shared.
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix Finally Shares Huge Update For Long-Awaited Second Season of Hit K-Drama
Netflix Finally Shares Huge Update For Long-Awaited Second Season of Hit K-Drama originally appeared on Parade. Over three years after the breakout hit Netflix K-drama All of Us Are Dead was renewed for a second season following an extremely successful first season, the streaming platform finally announced that the next season is officially in production. Netflix shared the big announcement with fans through a special new video showcasing the cast, returning and new, during a table read. Returning cast members include Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, and Lomon, while Lee Min-jae, Kim Si-eun, Roh Jae-won and Yoon Ga-i are joining the show in exciting new roles. 🎬 All of Us Are Dead originally premiered on Netflix on Jan. 28, 2022, not long after the extremely successful K-drama Squid Game hit the platform. The zombie drama followed in Squid Game's footsteps, becoming a huge hit for the streamer. In Netflix's announcement about the start of production, a synopsis for the new season was also revealed that read, "After surviving the catastrophic zombie outbreak at Hyosan High, Nam On-jo (Park Ji-hu) is now a university student in Seoul, struggling to move on from the trauma and the friends she lost. But when a new wave of infection suddenly hits Seoul, she finds herself trapped in another deadly fight for survival — this time without the people she once depended on." The synopsis goes on, noting that the character becomes friends with some seniors at her university (played by three of the new cast members) who help her survive. Meanwhile, the other three returning characters are trying to move on in their own lives. There will be a time jump, as the new season reportedly takes place "years after the outbreak." Netflix shared no information about a potential release date for All of Us Are Dead Season Finally Shares Huge Update For Long-Awaited Second Season of Hit K-Drama first appeared on Parade on Jul 23, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 23, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
