L.U.C.A.: The Beginning
A man with a secret power is chased by mysterious figures.
L.U.C.A.: The Beginning (Korean: 루카: 더 비기닝) is a South Korean television series starring Kim Rae-won and Lee Da-hee. It aired on tvN from February 1 to March 9, 2021.
The story centers on Zi O, a man with a hidden power and a secret past. He has no memory of his identity after a major incident, and is hunted by unknown figures as he searches for answers about himself. Detective Ha Neul-ae-goo-reum, who works in the Violent Crimes unit at Juan Metropolitan Police Station, is determined to solve the disappearance of her parents, which happened when she was a child. After meeting Zi O, her life takes a new direction.
Main cast includes Kim Rae-won as Zi O (with Oh Han-kyul playing his younger self) and Lee Da-hee as Ha Neul-ae-goo-reum (with Seo Eun-sol as her younger self). Kim Sung-oh plays Lee Son, a former Special Forces soldier who lost his right arm in a past attempt to capture Zi O and now leads a team to hunt him. Park Hyuk-kwon portrays Kim Cheol-soo, a secretive figure from the National Intelligence Service who backs the L.U.C.A. Project for personal wealth. Ahn Nae-sang plays Ryu Joong-kwon, the scientist behind the project’s only success, who was forced out of academia for unethical research. Jin Kyung is Hwang Jung-ah, the wealthy founder of Human Tech and a cult leader who funds the project. At the police station, Kim Sang-ho plays team leader Choi Jin-hwan, who initially dislikes Goo-reum but later treats her like family. Other detectives include Hwang Jae-yeol as Kim Yoo-chul and Han Kyu-wan as Kim Jin-soo. The chasing team also includes Jung Da-eun as Choi Yoo-na, Kim Min-gwi as Kim Tae-oh, and Lee Joong-ok as Kim Hwang-sik. Additional characters include Lee Hae-young as Professor Oh Jong-hwan, Ahn Chang-hwan as Won-yi, Lee Yong-nyeo as Sister Stella, and Kim Hyung-min as Ha Young-jae, Goo-reum’s missing father and co-founder of Human Tech. Special appearances include Lee Won-jong, Jung Eun-chae, and Lee Min-young.
- type
- Television series
- country
- South Korea
- network
- tvN
- air_dates
- February 1 to March 9, 2021
- starring
- Kim Rae-won, Lee Da-hee
- genre
- Action, mystery, science fiction
Lore & Background
The series centers on Zi O (Kim Rae-won), who possesses a special power and has no memory of his past after a major incident. He is hunted by Human Tech, a corporation involved in the L.U.C.A. Project, which aims to create the perfect human through artificial enhancement. Detective Ha Neul-ae-goo-reum (Lee Da-hee) investigates her parents' disappearance and becomes entangled with Zi O, altering her life.
Key antagonists include Kim Cheol-soo, a secretive National Intelligence Service figure who funds the project, and Ryu Joong-kwon, the scientist behind the project's only success. Lee Son, a former Special Forces soldier with an artificial arm, leads a team to capture Zi O. The series also features a police team led by Choi Jin-hwan and a chasing team composed of convicts offered freedom in exchange for their work.
Reader's Guide
L.U.C.A.: The Beginning is significant as a South Korean television series that blends science fiction, action, and mystery, exploring themes of artificial human enhancement and identity. Its narrative revolves around the L.U.C.A. Project, a secret endeavor to create enhanced humans, and the consequences of defying research ethics. The series aired on tvN, a major South Korean cable network, and features a cast including Kim Rae-won and Lee Da-hee. While viewership data is not provided in the source, the series contributes to the genre of Korean dramas that examine ethical dilemmas in scientific advancement. Its legacy lies in its portrayal of a protagonist grappling with his own nature and the pursuit of truth by a determined detective, reflecting broader societal questions about humanity and technology.
Did You Know?
- Kim Sung-oh's character Lee Son lost his entire right arm in a past attempt to capture Zi O and received an artificial arm from Human Tech.
- Jung Da-eun's character Choi Yoo-na lost her right foot in an accident where she fired real bullets instead of blanks during training.
- Kim Hyung-min's character Ha Young-jae, Goo-reum's missing father, is the co-founder of Human Tech and co-researcher for the L.U.C.A. Project.
- Ahn Nae-sang's character Ryu Joong-kwon was forced out of academia for defying research ethics on 'artificial human enhancement' and later imprisoned for embezzlement.
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