The casting puzzle for JTBC’s most anticipated psychological drama of the year just got its final, thrilling pieces. Cha Hak Yeon and Kim Ji Eun have officially joined the Korean remake of Gold Digger — and with Kim Hee Ae and Noh Sang Hyun already locked in as leads, this ensemble is shaping up to be one of the most electrifying lineups in recent K-Drama history.
Gold Digger Korean Remake — Full Cast at a Glance
| Role | Actor/Actress | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Min Young Joo | Kim Hee Ae | CEO of a publishing company |
| Jung Jae Hee | Noh Sang Hyun | Freelance designer, the young love interest |
| Min Young Joo’s Son | Cha Hak Yeon | Her son, sibling to Kim Ji Eun’s character |
| Min Young Joo’s Daughter | Kim Ji Eun | Her daughter, sibling to Cha Hak Yeon’s character |
| Network | JTBC | — |
| Original Series | British series Gold Digger | BBC One, 2019 |
What Is Gold Digger About?
The drama tells the story of a fatal young man who approaches a successful middle-aged woman, leaving her to question whether his intentions are love or deception. The drama depicts a tense psychological battle as the two continuously doubt and misunderstand each other’s true feelings.
It’s the kind of story that refuses to give you easy answers. Is he genuinely in love? Is she being manipulated? And perhaps most uncomfortably — does it even matter? The original British series was praised for exactly this moral ambiguity, and a Korean adaptation of psychological drama of this calibre, with this cast, could be something truly special.
The Leads — Kim Hee Ae & Noh Sang Hyun
Kim Hee Ae stars as Min Young Joo, a publishing company CEO, while Noh Sang Hyun plays Jung Jae Hee, a freelance designer who becomes entangled in an emotionally charged romance with her. soompi
Kim Hee Ae is one of Korean television’s most commanding presences — an actress whose quiet intensity can carry an entire drama on its own. Paired with the younger, rising Noh Sang Hyun, the age-gap romance at the centre of this story will be fascinating to watch unfold in real time.
The New Additions — Cha Hak Yeon & Kim Ji Eun as the Children
This is where the drama gets even richer. Cha Hak Yeon and Kim Ji Eun will take on the roles of Min Young Joo’s son and daughter, adding another layer to the story with their sibling dynamic.
Think about it from the children’s perspective — watching their successful, independent mother fall for a man almost their own age, not knowing if he’s genuinely in love with her or running the longest con of his life. The family tension that this creates is going to be the dramatic engine that keeps viewers coming back episode after episode.
Both Cha Hak Yeon and Kim Ji Eun are proven performers with real emotional range. Having them play siblings — and presumably opposing forces in how they view their mother’s new relationship — is inspired casting.
Why This Remake Could Be JTBC’s Biggest Drama of the Year?
JTBC has a track record of taking bold, emotionally complex stories and delivering them with an almost cinematic intensity. Gold Digger, with its examination of love, doubt, manipulation, and desire across generational lines, is perfectly suited to that approach.
With four powerful actors now confirmed and a premise built entirely on psychological tension and shifting loyalties, this is the kind of drama where you’ll be changing your mind about who to root for every single episode.
Stay up to date on all JTBC drama news and K-Drama casting announcements at TechnoSports, and check out our roundup of the most exciting Korean dramas coming in 2026 — the year is only getting better.
