L.U.C.A.: The Beginning

L.U.C.A.: The Beginning (Hangul: 루카: 더 비기닝; RR: Ruka: Deo Bigining) 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.[1][2]

L.U.C.A.: The Beginning
Promotional poster
Genre
Created by Production plan
Screenplay byCheon Seon-il
Directed byKim Hong-seon
Country of originSouth Korea
Original languageKorean
No. of episodes12
Production
Executive producerKim Ryun-hee
ProducersJung Min-chae
Park Jong-hak
Production companiesTake One Company
H House
Original release
NetworktvN
ReleaseFebruary 1 (2021-02-01) –
March 9, 2021 (2021-03-09)

Synopsis

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Zi O (Kim Rae-won) has a special power and a secret, but he doesn't know who he really is. He is chased by mysterious figures while he tries to find answers to numerous questions that surround him.

Ha Neul-ae-goo-reum (Lee Da-hee) is a detective. When she decides on a course of action, she won't change her mind no matter what. Her parents disappeared when she was only a young child. Goo-reum chases after the truth behind her parents' disappearance. She meets Zi O, and her life changes.

Cast

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Main

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A man who has a secret power and is wanted by Human Tech. He doesn't remember anything after waking up from a major happening. He decides to find out who he really is after being chased by unknown people, while understanding that he is not a normal person.
  • Lee Da-hee as Ha Neul-ae-goo-reum
    • Seo Eun-sol as young Ha Neul-ae-goo-reum
A detective in the Violent Crimes unit 1st team in Juan Metropolitan Police Station. She was originally from the Major Crimes unit, but was demoted. Her parents went missing when she was a kid, and for nine years she never stops looking for them.
A former Special Forces soldier. He was sentenced to life imprisonment for having accidentally killed 9 people during a tactical training, when he threw a grenade instead of a flare. He was offered by Cheol-soo to work for him, and lead a chasing team to capture Zi O. He had lost his entire right arm in a past attempt to capture Zi O, and Human Tech had to install an artificial one for him.

Supporting

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L.U.C.A. Project

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A secret influential figure from the National Intelligence Service. He supports Joong-kwon and the project in order to get very rich if it succeeds, and will do anything in order to make the project successful.
The director of Human Tech and the scientist who oversaw the only success in the project. In the past, he was forced out of the academia for defying the research ethics of "artificial human enhancement". He was subsequently imprisoned for embezzlement of research funds. After that, Cheol-soo supported him in order for the latter to create the most perfect human being.
The founder of Human Tech. She is the leader of a cult, but believes in scientific theories rather than the words of God. She is well-connected and rich, but doesn't know what she can use them for, until she finds her target in creating new lives.

Juan Metropolitan Police Station

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Team leader of the Violent Crimes unit 1st team. He ranks last in the police station for conviction rate, as he is always given the most difficult cases to handle. When Goo-reum first joins his team, he detests her, but he later takes care of her like family.
  • Hwang Jae-yeol as Kim Yoo-chul
A detective of the Violent Crimes unit 1st team. He believes in Jin-hwan more than anyone else, and takes care of his juniors delicately. He worries about Goo-reum being persistent in investigating the case surrounding Ji Oh, but is willing to help her till the end.
  • Han Kyu-wan as Kim Jin-soo
A detective of the Violent Crimes unit 1st team.

Chasing Team

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Part of Lee Son's chasing team to capture Ji Oh. She was sentenced to life imprisonment for having accidentally killed 5 people during a tactical training, when she fired real bullets instead of blanks, and lost her right foot in the same accident. She was offered by Cheol-soo to work for him under Lee Son.
Part of Lee Son's chasing team to capture Ji Oh. An extremely loyal person who executes missions without question.
Part of Lee Son's chasing team to capture Ji Oh. He is a network technician who was discharged due to corruption.

Others

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  • Lee Hae-young as Oh Jong-hwan
A professor working under the National Forensic Service. He was close friends with Joong-kwon during their college days, but after the latter crossed the line that scientists should not cross, he led people to force Joong-kwon out of the academia.
  • Ahn Chang-hwan as Won-yi
Zi O's friend. He is the only person who knows about Zi O's power, and in the past he used it for mischief.
  • Lee Yong-nyeo as Sister Stella
  • Kim Hyung-min as Ha Young-jae
Goo-reum's father who is currently missing. He is the co-founder of Human Tech, and the co-researcher for the L.U.C.A. Project.

Special appearances

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Zi O's colleague in Dagyeong Resources. (Ep. 1)
The chief inspector of National Intelligence Service's inspection team, working with Jung-ah under the pretext of antibodies. (Ep. 8-12)

Original soundtrack

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L.U.C.A.: The Beginning OST
Soundtrack album by
Various artists
Released
  • 2021
GenreSoundtrack
Language
Label

Part 1

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Released on February 9, 2021 (2021-02-09)[6]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Your Eyes"
  • Jayins
  • Naiv
  • Jayins
  • Naiv
Sunwoo Jung-a3:39
2."Your Eyes" (inst.) 
  • Jayins
  • Naiv
 3:39
Total length:7:18

Part 2

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Released on February 16, 2021 (2021-02-16)[7]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."LUCA"
  • Choi Jung-in
  • Safira.K
  • Choi Jung-in
  • Jung Sung-min (POPKID)
Jemma3:20
2."LUCA" (inst.) 
  • Choi Jung-in
  • Jung Sung-min (POPKID)
 3:20
Total length:6:40

Part 3

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Released on February 23, 2021 (2021-02-23)[8]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Your Eyes (Acoustic Ver.)"
  • Jayins
  • Naiv
  • Jayins
  • Naiv
Lee Da-hee3:42
2."Your Eyes (Acoustic Ver.)" (inst.) 
  • Jayins
  • Naiv
 3:42
Total length:7:24

Part 4

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Released on March 2, 2021 (2021-03-02)[9]
No.TitleLyricsMusicArtistLength
1."Gone"
  • Choi Jung-in
  • DANI
  • Haru
  • Choi Jung-in
  • Park Geun-chul
  • Jung Soo-min
KLANG3:42
2."Gone" (inst.) 
  • Choi Jung-in
  • Park Geun-chul
  • Jung Soo-min
 3:42
Total length:7:24

Viewership

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L.U.C.A.: The Beginning : South Korea viewers per episode (thousands)
SeasonEpisode numberAverage
123456789101112
11309136213801366122413091257141114121370119812851324
Source: Audience measurement performed nationwide by Nielsen Korea.[10]
Average TV viewership ratings
Ep. Original broadcast date Average audience share
(Nielsen Korea)[10][11]
Nationwide Seoul
1 February 1, 2021 5.371% (1st) 6.099% (1st)
2 February 2, 2021 5.802% (1st) 6.782% (1st)
3 February 8, 2021 5.794% (1st) 6.596% (1st)
4 February 9, 2021 5.811% (1st) 6.392% (1st)
5 February 15, 2021 5.348% (1st) 6.237% (1st)
6 February 16, 2021 5.676% (1st) 6.301% (1st)
7 February 22, 2021 5.670% (1st) 6.085% (1st)
8 February 23, 2021 6.118% (1st) 7.005% (1st)
9 March 1, 2021 6.228% (1st) 6.535% (1st)
10 March 2, 2021 6.299% (1st) 6.939% (1st)
11 March 8, 2021 5.491% (1st) 6.173% (1st)
12 March 9, 2021 5.974% (1st) 6.328% (1st)
Average 5.799% 6.456%
  • In the table above, the blue numbers represent the lowest ratings and the red numbers represent the highest ratings.
  • This drama airs on a cable channel/pay TV which normally has a relatively smaller audience compared to free-to-air TV/public broadcasters (KBS, SBS, MBC and EBS).

References

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  1. ^ Park, Jin-young (September 29, 2020). "[단독]김래원X이다희 '루카', 촬영 완료…역대급 CG·완성도 높인다". Joy News 24 (in Korean). Retrieved January 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Lim, Jang-won (January 27, 2021). "'L.U.C.A.: The Beginning' offers action-packed chase". The Korea Herald. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  3. ^ Ha Soo-jung (September 24, 2020). "김상호, '앨리스→루카→언더커버' 믿고보는 장르물 대가의 열일 행보". osen (in Korean). Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  4. ^ Hwang Hye-jin (January 7, 2021). "루카 : 더 비기닝' 측 "정은채 특별 출연 확정". newsen (in Korean). Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  5. ^ Kim Min-ji (January 7, 2021). "[단독] 정은채, 새 드라마 '루카' 카메오 출격…'손 더 게스트' PD 인연". news1 (in Korean). Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  6. ^ "루카: 더 비기닝 OST Part.1" [L.U.C.A.: The Beginning OST Part.1]. Melon. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  7. ^ "루카: 더 비기닝 OST Part.2" [L.U.C.A.: The Beginning OST Part.2]. Melon. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  8. ^ "루카: 더 비기닝 OST Part.3" [L.U.C.A.: The Beginning OST Part.3]. Melon. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
  9. ^ "루카: 더 비기닝 OST Part.4" [L.U.C.A.: The Beginning OST Part.4]. Melon. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Nielsen Korea". Niesen Korea (in Korean). Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  11. ^ "루카 : 더 비기닝:시청률" [L.U.C.A.: The Beginning: ratings]. Naver. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
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