Bulgasal: Immortal Souls

Lore & Background

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. The main cast includes Lee Jin-wook as Dan Hwal, a man who was once human but became immortal during the Joseon period while working as a military official; Kwon Nara as Min Sang-woon, a woman who was once immortal but became human after a tragic event; and Lee Joon as Ok Eul-tae, another immortal known as the 'Dark Hole' who enjoys his eternal life, wealth, and power.

Supporting characters include Gong Seung-yeon as Dan Sol (Dan Hwal's past wife) and her reincarnation Min Si-ho; Jung Jin-young as Dan Geuk and his reincarnation Kwon Ho-yeol; Park Myung-shin as a shaman and her reincarnation Hye-suk; and Kim Woo-seok as Nam Do-yoon, a high school student who works for Ok Eul-tae and follows Dan Hwal.

Reader's Guide

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls is significant as a South Korean fantasy drama that explores themes of immortality, reincarnation, and cursed existence over six centuries. Its narrative structure, alternating between the Joseon era and the present, allows for a complex examination of identity and memory across lifetimes. The series was produced by a husband-and-wife writing team, Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won, and directed by Jang Young-woo, who had previously collaborated with lead actor Lee Jin-wook on Sweet Home. The casting process involved notable negotiations, with the lead role initially offered to Won Bin before being accepted by Lee Jin-wook. The series aired on tvN from December 18, 2021 to February 6, 2022, and gained additional international exposure through Netflix streaming. Its legacy lies in its contribution to the Korean fantasy genre, particularly through its use of the bulgasal myth—a creature that feeds on human blood and cannot be killed—as a central metaphor for trauma and eternal longing.

Did You Know?

• The lead role was first offered to actor Won Bin, who ultimately refused.
• Director Jang Young-woo and lead actor Lee Jin-wook previously worked together on the 2020 series Sweet Home.
• The screenplay was written by the husband-and-wife team Kwon So-ra and Seo Jae-won.
• The series was initially scheduled for release in 2022 but premiered on December 18, 2021.