Whale Star: The Gyeongseong Mermaid

Set in 1926 during the Japanese colonial occupation of Joseon, this reimagining of Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” follows Su-A Heo, a devoted handmaiden whose quiet existence revolves around her daily labor and solitary swims in the ocean. Her predictable life shatters when she discovers Ui-Hyeon Kang, a severely wounded independence fighter, washed ashore. Moved by compassion, she nurses him back to health, but her selfless act draws devastating consequences. During a botched assassination attempt orchestrated by Ui-Hyeon’s comrade, Hae-Su Song, Su-A permanently loses her ability to speak. Stripped of her voice and driven by betrayal, Su-A journeys to Gyeongseong—the bustling colonial capital known today as Seoul—seeking vengeance against those who wronged her. Yet, upon arriving in the city, her singular quest for retribution becomes unexpectedly complicated. Immersed in an unfamiliar urban landscape charged with political resistance, she finds herself increasingly entangled in a bold new world. Surrounded by courageous individuals fighting for their nation's future, Su-A must navigate a dangerous reality where her desire for revenge collides with the broader struggle unfolding around her.