Song Joong-ki almost played the crown prince in Netflix’s Kingdom – which other top-rated K-dramas changed their lead stars at the last minute?

Did you know Song Joong-ki – the K-drama hottie who earned the nicknamed “Korea’s Leonardo DiCaprio” – almost played the crown prince in Netflix’s big budget historical horror series Kingdom ?

Kingdom originally planned to cast Descendants of the Sun actor Song Joong-ki in the role of Crown Prince Lee Chang in 2017, but he declined the offer to focus on his wedding preparations with DOTS co-star Song Hye-kyo (perhaps he’s kicking himself now – the famous “Song-Song Couple” would sadly divorce after just two years). Instead, the part went to Ju Ji-hoon of Hyena and Along With the Gods fame. The series is so successful it’s expected to release a third season soon.

This 2016 webtoon-turned-drama would have had a completely different feel if the role of Hong Seol was played by multitalented K-pop and K-drama star Bae Suzy instead of Goblin ’s Kim Go-eun. The part of leading lady was offered to Go-eun first, but when she declined it, Suzy was approached for it. After Suzy turned it down, director Lee Yoon-jung relentlessly pursued Go-eun until she agreed at the last minute.