Lee Sang Yi has spent Bloodhounds throwing punches, flexing muscles, and generally making the boxing ring look like an excellent place to admire him. As Hong Woo-jin, the former Marine turned fighter, he transformed from familiar supporting player into a formidable action presence, bulking from 71 kg to 78 kg while building electric chemistry with Woo Do-hwan. Now, Dochabi is not taking action away from Lee Sang Yi so much as changing the scenery, placing him alongside Jeon Jong Seo and Lee Joon Gi in a folklore-steeped historical thriller.

After Bloodhounds turned Lee Sang Yi into an action favorite, his Dochabi casting deserves a closer look.

Lee Sang Yi has joined Netflix’s upcoming historical film Dochabi, with South Korean media outlet OSEN reporting that he will play Park Se Ryong. He now becomes the newest piece in a cast that already includes Kim Do Hoon, Jeon Jong Seo, and Lee Joon Gi. Apparently, one does not simply make a folklore thriller without assembling the whole deck while a dark conspiracy unfolds.

Kim Do Hoon leads the film as Tae San, a former military officer forced back into the shadows, while Jeon Jong Seo plays Lee Ha Yi. Lee Joon Gi, meanwhile, gets to enjoy the considerably more sinister role of Lee Do Gwan. Lee Sang Yi enters as Park Se Ryong, giving this increasingly crowded historical chessboard one more piece worth watching.

There is plenty happening beyond OSEN's reveal about the latest addition to the casting sheet, too. Ahn Tae Jin reunites with Lee Joon Gi 21 years after The King and the Clown, while Hwang Sung Goo and Ondaworks bring their The King's Warden pedigree to the production. With filming beginning this August and Netflix planning a 2027 release, Dochabi is already looking rather well dressed for its appointment with folklore.

Jason Bateman Inches Closer to Joining Netflix’s New York Yankees Scripted Series

Unlike the agonizing wait for Bloodhounds Season 3's confirmation, Lee Sang Yi’s leap into historical action is one casting decision that practically explains itself.

Dochabi could hardly ask for a more useful addition than Lee Sang Yi, because historical action is rarely improved by having everyone behave as though they swallowed a thundercloud. His comic instincts can puncture the tension at precisely the right moment, while his dramatic range keeps those lighter beats from feeling like an unwanted variety show. That balance matters in a story where folklore, danger, and human relationships must share the same stage.

There is also the small matter of Lee Sang Yi knowing how to make an ensemble click. He has shown that strong screen chemistry does not require stealing every scene, which should serve him well opposite Jeon Jong Seo and Lee Joon Gi. Park Se Ryong remains deliberately mysterious, but Lee Sang Yi’s casting makes perfect sense for Dochabi precisely because the film gets both action-ready physicality and a performer who knows when to lighten the room.

'Blood Sacrifice' on Netflix: Cast, Storyline, Release Date and Latest Updates

Are you excited to see Lee Sang Yi in a historical action? Let us know in the comments!