IU steps down from role in 'Money Game,' replaced by actor Chun Woo-hee

IU (whose real name is Lee Ji-eun), left, and Chun Woo-hee [ILGAN SPORTS]

Singer IU, whose real name is Lee Ji-eun, will no longer appear in upcoming television series “Money Game” due to “schedule problems.”

Actor Chun Woo-hee will take the role instead.

Studio N, the production company behind “Money Game,” said shooting will begin in June.

“Money Game” is an adaptation of popular thriller webtoons “Money Game” (2018-20) and its sequel “Pie Game” (2020-21), both by cartoonist Bae Jin-soo. The webtoons were published on Naver Webtoon.

It will be directed by Han Jae-rim, who is also behind upcoming film “Emergency Declaration” (2022).

The webtoon “Money Game” follows eight participants who must spend 100 days together with 44.8 billion won ($37 million) and spend as little as possible to walk away with the remainder of the money. In “Pie Game,” there are no limits to the money that can be spent and the players are unaware of when the game will end.

The show will also star actors Ryu Jun-yeol, Park Jeong-min, Park Hae-joon and Bae Seong-woo.

“Money Game” will have eight episodes and premiere on an over-the-top platform, which will be disclosed at a later date.

The English version of “Money Game” is available on Webtoon. A new episode is updated every Tuesday.

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]