[News] Lee Seo-jin come back after 2 years in 'Gye Baek' MBC new historical drama.

[News] Lee Seo-jin come back after 2 years in 'Gye Baek' MBC new historical drama.
Cr. - javabeans

This should perk up fans of mania drama Damo: Its star Lee Seo-jin and writer Jung Hyung-soo are re-teaming for a new MBC fusion sageuk drama that sheds new light on the life of Baekje-era General 'Gye Baek', which is also the drama’s name.

The project has got “sageuk hit” written all over it: Damo remains one of Lee Seo-jin’s most memorable roles, and he had another hit playing a king in Yi San; its writer went on to pen mega-blockbuster sageuk Jumong; and its PD Kim Geun-hong worked on Dae Jang Geum, Jumong, Dong Yi, Queen Seon-deok, and Yi San. Yeesh. With creds like that, this is a case where it’ll be more shocking if the drama fails than if it shoots to success. No pressure or anything.

This’ll be Lee’s first drama in two years, after shooting the eerie summer horror series Hon. It plans for large-scale shoots in China and is currently casting.

'Gye Baek' is being planned for a 32-episode run and will premiere in July. It’s a Monday-Tuesday show that’ll follow Ripley, which is the show that follows MBC’s fusion sageuk The Duo.

[News] Ripley’s leads shoot their first scene together.

[News] Ripley’s leads shoot their first scene together.
Cr. - javabeans

Another contender for May Madness & Mayhem: Battle for Viewers’ Hearts is upon us. (I’ll rename it in June. I just need thirty days to come up with something.) Ripley has released stills of its lead actors Lee Da-hae and Micky Yoochun shooting their first scene together. (This time it’s him. I checked. Or… possibly his evil twin. Drat!)

Lee Da-hae plays Jang Miri, who is loosely based on Shin Jeong-ah, a now infamous professor who faked her academic credentials to climb the social ladder. Her character is described as a femme fatale, which is quite broad, but we can expect her to be a dark heroine, who “tells a lie that changes her life.” And then has to perpetuate that lie, which is always the problem with lying, isn’t it?

Micky Yoochun plays Yutaka, a Korean-Japanese hotel chaebol son. Hm. Yunno, on paper, this drama sounds EXACTLY the same as Lie to Me. Hotel chaebol son, heroine who tells a really big lie, then romantic entanglements ensue. Is Lie to Me just Ripley plus comedy? Or will Ripley be Lie to Me minus the fun?

To her credit, Miri doesn’t know that Yutaka is a gazillionaire’s son when they first meet, in this scene. But she reportedly tells an eensy weensy lie by mistake, which begets another lie, and another, and another, eventually snowballing into a massive avalanche of fraud that she can’t undo. Interesting. Yutaka falls in love with her (early on, pre-avalanche), which sounds like it might pose a tiny problem for him. Or yunno… be the source of his tragic demise. Life Lesson: First comes kissing, then comes background check, verified by a third party, followed by a waiting period of ninety days… and THEN comes love.

Ripley premieres Monday May 30 on MBC, following The Duo. If you’re making brackets, it’s up against Lie to Me and Baby-Faced Beauty. Place your bets!

[News] Leading females cast for Warrior Baek Dong-soo.

[News] Leading females cast for Warrior Baek Dong-soo.
Cr. - javabeans

With Ji Chang-wook (Smile, Dong-hae) and Yoo Seung-ho (Flames of Desire) already in place as hero and villain for the fusion sageuk drama Warrior Baek Dong-soo, now we turn to the ladies, who have just been confirmed.

Yoon So-yi (above) is most recently from the MBC drama Hero (which performed dismally, despite an avid — but small — audience), though I still prefer to think of her in terms of Goodbye Solo, because that’s the strongest I’ve seen her. (Other roles: Try To Remember, City of Glass, Auction House.) Caveat: I see some reports calling her casting unconfirmed, but another one states that she has not only been cast but also attended the drama’s first script reading.

The other lead goes to Yoon Ji-min (below), who was recently in SBS’s Paradise Ranch playing the cold ex-supermodel. No word yet on the description of their characters, but there will be one more actress selected to fill out the main cast, whom the producers plan to find via open auditions. (Generally I take that to mean that the actor will be talented, to offset their obscurity. I suppose it doesn’t always work that way, but it ought to yield better odds than taking a crapshoot with a B-list idol with zero experience. Sigh, Daddy’s Girl…)

I wonder whether these two will play characters who are involved in romantic storylines with either or both of the leading men, because the most glaring issue to me seems to be the vast age differences at play here. It’s not so noticeable between Ji Chang-wook (23) and Yoon So-yi (26), but the other two occupy opposing extremes: Yoo Seung-ho is 17, while Yoon Ji-min is 33. Of course, just because they’ve been cast in leading roles doesn’t mean they’ll automatically be paired off (although, it IS a K-drama…), but it’s interesting to note how noticeably younger the men are in relation to the ladies. I guess it really IS the age of the noona. May it never end.

Warrior Baek Dong-soo premieres in July, following upcoming Monday-Tuesday drama Lie To Me.

[Photo & News] Lee Min Ho shooting Fights in Mud for “City Hunter”.

[News] Lee Min Ho shooting Fights in Mud for “City Hunter”.
Original : http://twssg.blogspot.com/

Hallyu Star Lee Min Ho fought against twelve men for a scene in his upcoming drama "City Hunter." In early April, he shot a muddy fight sequence, and photos of the shoot have been released.

Lee currently plays the role of an MIT graduate scholar/doctor, ‘Lee Yun Sung’. Despite the harsh, cold weather where he was filming, the actor braved through it all as he fought against 12 guys for an action-packed martial arts scene.

For his role, Lee Min Ho has been practicing and learning martial arts consistently for the past few months from Kali Arnis, the same man who taught Won Bin for “The Man From Nowhere.”

Representatives of the drama said, “In this cold weather, Lee Min Ho pulled through filming this action scene with his passion and energy. You can really feel ‘City Hunter’ from Lee Min Ho’s more masculine and mature image. Please look forward to the new drama.”

Lee Min Ho received formal martial arts training for several months. He practiced Arnis and Kali, a class of Filipino martial arts that emphasize weapon-based fighting. Many Korean fans became aware of Arnis and Kali through 2010's blockbuster movie "Ajusshi" starring Won Bin.

Meanwhile, the new SBS drama 'City Hunter' is a drama originally based on Tsukasa Hojo's worldwide hit manga, which especially attracts a worldwide attention because it's being produced as a TV drama series for the first time.

Lee Min Ho is acting the role of 'Lee Yoon Sung', who works at the Blue House's National Communication Network Team and received his Ph.D at M.I.T. He is putting his best effort and passion to his comeback drama after a year of break. Until now, he showed a soft image from 'Boys over Flowers' and 'Personal Taste', but this time he will demonstrate the more mature and strong Real man's image.

“City Hunter” first episode will be air on 25th May 2011.

[Article] “The Greatest Love” : TV soap to peek into celebrity life.

[Article] “The Greatest Love” : TV soap to peek into celebrity life.
By Kwon Mee-yoo@www.koreatimes.co.kr


A drama featuring the life of entertainers when they are not in front of the camera begins today, starring top actors and actresses such as Cha Seung-won, Kong Hyo-jin, Yoon Kye-sang and Yoo In-na.

“The Greatest Love” revolves around Dokgo Jin (Cha) and Gu Ae-jeong (Kong). Gu was the most popular member of girl group Gukbo Sonyeo, literally meaning “National Treasure Girl,” some 10 years ago, but fell from grace after becoming embroiled in scandals.

She makes appearances on television programs to eke out a living for her troublemaker father and brother.

On the other hand Dokgo is the most beloved star in the nation, topping all kinds of popularity polls and appearing in many commercials, but has several character flaws. Gu discovers a secret about Dokgo by chance and reveals it on a talk show, incurring his fury. However, their ill-fated relationship unfolds in an unexpected way as Dokgo falls for Gu and tries to win her heart.

Yoo plays the role of another star Se-ri, who was in the same group with Gu 10 years ago, while Yoon portrays Pil-ju, a gentle, handsome Oriental medical doctor who meets Gu on a dating game show.

The drama draws from gossip people hear about entertainers.

“For instance, there are rumors such as Gu being the mistress of a gang member or having a secret son, who actually is her nephew, in the drama. These episodes come from rumors, but do not allude to anyone in particular. There are no role models for the characters,” Kong said at a press conference for the drama last week.

Kong said her character is wounded, who cannot love someone because of scandals.

“When Dokgo confesses his love to her, she rather steps back wondering why he likes her. She was also worried that her ‘unfavorable’ image might harm her love interest,” she explained.

Cha said he wants to show a bright, healthy side of the entertainment scene in Korea through this drama.

“I had an interview with high school students for their school paper and the thought struck me. They adore and admire actors and singers just because they like the entertainers — there is no specific reason,” he said. “I thought we should be more responsible for such popularity and show them the entertainment scene is not such the harsh, dark place described in recent news.”

He admitted that entertainers do hide behind their image due to their job. “However, this drama will show they are just genuine people off-camera,” Cha said.

Yoo shot to stardom after landing principal roles in MBC’s sitcom “High Kick Through the Roof” (2009) and SBS drama “Secret Garden” (2010) within a year of making her debut.

“I am still a rookie and totally different from the arrogant Se-ri. But it is somewhat gratifying to play such a character,” Yoo said. “I will try to remember how I felt when I first began even if I become a big star someday.”

Yoon is the only singer-turned-actor in the drama, but he plays the role of an Oriental doctor, not an entertainer.

“The script is very realistic, giving a fun sneak peek into what is going on behind the scenes,” he said.

“However, the situation is totally different from when I was a singer — we were not even allowed to go out of our waiting room to meet other singers.”

Park Hong-kyun, the director of “Queen Seondeok,” takes command of the drama and Hong Jeong-eun and Hong Mi-ran, aka the “Hong Sisters,” wrote the script. The sisters are known for their witty lines in dramas such as “Fantastic Couple” (2006) and “You’re Beautiful” (2009). Their most recent hit was the 2010 drama “My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho,” starring Lee Seung-gi and Synn Min-a.

“They are very good at character comedy and we will differentiate from other romantic comedies on the small screen in May through brilliant episodes,” the director, Park, said.

“The Greatest Love” will air on Wednesday and Thursday at 9:55 p.m. on MBC.

[News] "Poseidon" on hold for 5 months... will it resume?

[News] "Poseidon" on hold for 5 months... will it resume?
Cr. - hancinema

Drama "Poseidon" hasn't been able to resume even in April.

Eric Moon's return drama, "Poseidon" was put on hold after the December Yeonpyeong Island bombing and hasn't been able to continue with the shoot.

A manager for one of the actors in the drama said, "They are saying now that the shoot will begin in June. Other than that we have not heard anything else from the production. Whether or not we can start in June as well is something we will find out when the time comes".

The productions said in December, "The shoot has been put on hold due to weather conditions and such but we will resume in March" but has been postponing the shoot again and again without specific notification to the acting crew.

Some actors and actresses have already decided to step down and are now currently in other projects. However, some actors and actresses who have completed the contract can't do so and they are just wailing away the time being postponed.

The biggest reason for the hold is in scheduling. "Poseidon" was initially supposed to come right after "Midas" but it went haywire in the end.

The productions is therefore looking at pre-production.

[News] Lee Seo-jin cast in “Gyebaek” MBC new historical drama.

[News] Lee Seo-jin cast in “Gyebaek” MBC new historical drama.
Cr. - 10asia

Lee Seo-jin has been cast as the main lead in a new historical drama, revealed his agency Core Contents Media on Monday.

According to a press release by Core Contents, Lee who is returning to the small screen for the first time in two years, will play General Gyebaek in MBC’s upcoming historical series tentatively titled “Gyebaek.”

The drama, about true leadership exerted by a courageous leader, will be helmed by Kim Geun-hong famous for producing other Korean historical dramas including “Daejanggeum (Jewel in the Palace),” “Jumong,” “Dong Yi - Jewel in the Crown,” “Queen Seon-deok,” and “Yi San” and written by scenarist Jung Hyung-soo who has written shows such as “Damo” and “Jumong.”

General Gyebaek was the last military commander of Korea’s ancient kingdom of Baekje that ruled the middle region of the Korean Peninsula from 18 B.C. to A.D. 660. Record says he and his 5,000 men fought the Silla kingdom till the end despite lacking in the number of troops.

MBC plans to shoot some of the large-scale scenes for the series in China and the drama, composed of 32 episodes, is expected to go on air by late July of this year, after series “Ripley” airs after current primetime series “The Duo.”

Lee, whose most recent TV project was MBC's horror series "Soul" (2009), has appeared in over a dozen films and movies since his debut in 1999 and gained popularity through hit series "Damo" (MBC,2003) and "Firebird" (MBC, 2004).

[Preview] "The Greatest Love" MBC's new drama

[Preview] "The Greatest Love" MBC's new drama
Cr. - 10 asia

"There's a lot going on in the entertainment industry nowadays so we're hoping to the healthy and bright side to it," actor Cha Seung-won said of his determination in going into upcoming MBC TV series "The Greatest Love" held in Seoul yesterday. Like he said, it has become frightful to read news on show business on the Internet these days. And "The Greatest Love" is a drama that will try to depict on the 'healthy and cheerful' love which occurs within that seemingly far and distant industry that the public still speculates and fantasizes about.

However, it will not adorn itself with positive yet fake images in an attempt to shed new light on the world of entertainment which is suffering from gossip. It rather starts its story from how everything in that industry is about image while the reality is concealed.



That is why the characters Goo Ae-jung (played by Kong Hyo-jin) and Dok Go-jin (Cha Seung-won) in "The Greatest Love" will be interesting. Goo, the former member of an idol group which was at its prime ten years ago yet easily got talked about and drew hatred from the public, is actually a diligent member of her household which she works hard at supporting. On the other hand, top star Dok, who became a 'nationally loved' figure for his good looks and good manners, is actually a mean and self-centered character.

The entertainment industry often becomes the noisy space for gossip when something true, or close to it, emerges beyond that image the public has of them. But "The Greatest Love" seems to believe that it can discover a positive story of human beings from amongst the cracks that exist in that world.

Dok, who signs Goo's hand after mistakening her as the employee of a gas station, and Goo, who on a variety show exposes a secret of Dok's that she finds out by chance, are truly in an ill-fated relationship. Yet it is also the Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran sisters' specialty to show how such characters in such a relationship break away from such pretentiousness and reveal their true selves and true emotions, as proven through their shows ranging from MBC's "Fantastic Couple" to the recent SBS "My Girlfriend is Gumiho."



This will ultimately be a story of love and people because it will tell of how a top star, who can survive in show biz by covering up who he is, and a former star, who wants to show her real self, become healed of their wounds in the process of their constant clashing.

Of course, what many viewers will be looking forward to are "fun episodes which contain the subtle combination of the characters' comedic aspects and the characters themselves," as said by show's producer Park Hong-kyun. The picture, containing a variety of slapstick action scenes acted by Goo which is based on the script Kong described as being "simple to the extent it says 'avoids' or 'runs')," is quite reliable.

Just like the entertainment industry where celebrities walk a fine line when it comes to their public image and true selves, "The Greatest Love" will have to take a risk in figuring out what the public wants to see in terms of the cheerful scenes versus insight on human beings. So how well will this drama maintain a balance between the two? Check it out on the show's premiere at 9:55 p.m. on 4th May 2011.

[News] Moon Chae-won leader cast in 'The Princess’s Man (공주의 남자)' KBS new drama.

[News] Moon Chae-won leader cast in 'The Princess’s Man (공주의 남자)' KBS new drama.
Cr. - javabeans

Moon Chae-won has been cast in her next drama, titled 'The Princess’s Man'.

The Princess’s Man is being called a “Joson-era Romeo and Juliet” and will be a fusion sageuk; Moon takes the lead role as Princess Lee Se-ryung, daughter to Grand Prince Su-yang (who was the second son of King Sejong the Great). She falls in love with the son of her father’s enemy, making for a “tragic love story.”

Princess Se-ryung is bold, inquisitive, determined — a set of characteristics not common or idealized in the ladies of Joseon aristocracy — but encounters a number of hardships because of her father’s ambition to become king. Historically, Su-yang (or Sejo) became the seventh king of Joseon, but in this drama he hasn’t yet secured the throne and plots to take the crown from his nephew Dan-jong. Naturally this meets with resistance from Dan-jong’s supporters, and therefore Su-yang is out to eliminate his opposition, which includes Kim Jong-seo, the father of Se-ryung’s beloved.

It’s an interesting way to incorporate a familiar and powerful love story into the crux of a sageuk drama, and I’m curious to see how it works out. Sageuks do include romantic plots, sometimes even feature them as prominent storylines, but historically speaking they’re more about the political machinations and power plays surrounding a monarch at its core, and the dynamics of the court. It’s really mostly been in recent years that romance has become such a strong player, and more so in the fusion series (Hong Gil Dong, Iljimae, Chuno).

This’ll be Moon’s second sageuk series, but third sageuk project overall; she first burst onto the scene as the gisaeng who fell for Moon Geun-young (in boy guise) in Painter of the Wind (see below), and has signed up for an upcoming movie titled Bow: Ultimate Weapon (which stars Park Hae-il and Ryu Seung-ryong).

The Princess’s Man is being planned for 24 episodes and takes to airwaves after Romance Town ends in July, and will be a Wednesday-Thursday KBS drama. Now, who’ll they cast as her Romeo? That’s the big question.

[Photo & News] Kang Ji Hwan & Yoon Eun Hye 'Lie to Me' New Romantic Poster Released.

[Photo & News] Kang Ji Hwan & Yoon Eun Hye 'Lie to Me' New Romantic Poster Released.
Original : http://twssg.blogspot.com/

Kang Ji Hwan and Yoon Eun Hye, Lie to Me‘s stars shoot a new romantic poster. The drama is about a single woman who propagates a con that she’s married, for reasons yet unknown. Yoon will be playing the lead Gong Ah-jung, and Kang will be playing Hyun Ki-hoon, who is “misunderstood” to be her husband.

'Lie to Me' was supposed to follow 'Midas'. The production has done a pretty good job of releasing stills and what they can, in lieu of the steady stream of promotional materials that usually comes before a show for months, eventually tiring us all out with over-saturation.

'Lie to Me' premieres Monday 9th May on SBS Broadcast .

[News] Lee Min-ho and Park Min-yeong kiss in club for "City Hunter".

[News] Lee Min-ho and Park Min-yeong kiss in club for "City Hunter".
Cr. - hancinema

SBS new drama "City Hunter" lead male and female acts Lee Min-ho and Park Min-yeong had a wild kiss.

He is an MIT doctorate agent in the Blue House National Communications Team Lee Yoon-seong and she is the Blue House bodyguard and former Judo player Kim Na-na in "City Hunter" (written by Hwang Eun-kyeong, Choi Soo-jin and produced by Jin Hyeok) coming this May 25th.

These two shared a hot kiss in a club in Gangnam, Seoul on the 19th. Known as the 'chauffeur kiss', this scene is where Lee Yoon-seong pretends to be a couple with Kim Na-na in order to carry out an operation as a "City Hunter". Kim Na-na enters the club to guard the president's daughter Da-hye (Goo Ha-ra) as a bodyguard of the Blue House and gets kissed by Lee Min-ho without knowing what's going on.

However, before they met in the club, they had once met as a passenger and a chauffeur. For this reason Lee Yoon-seong kisses Kim Na-na and looks satisfied telling her it's a 'chauffeur kiss'.

Because it's a sudden kiss set-up, Lee Min-ho kissed Park Min-yeong wildly and energetically. It was a short and strong kiss but the shooting time was an hour and a half. The shoot had to be done in various angles in a small area but the two standing under the fancy lights made the scene look like a picture and even the staff held back their breaths.

The "City Hunter" productions said, "This kiss scene could be a turning point for these two and it's important. The pretty and handsome couple worked perfectly together and the shooting went on well".

Meanwhile, new SBS drama "City Hunter" is based on a Japanese hit comic and will be start airing this May 25th after "49 Days"

[News] “City Hunter” reveals still-shots of actress Park Min Young.

[News] “City Hunter” reveals still-shots of actress Park Min Young.
Cr. - allkpop

SBS’s “City Hunter” is starting to kick up the hype for its drama by releasing still-shots of actress Park Min Young on set. The actress plays a former Judo competitor by name of ‘Kim Nana’, who now works as a Korean Secret Service agent.

The pictures were taken on April 13th while she was filming at Seoul’s Kwanghwamun Square. The lovely actress was pictured wearing a bright yellow mini-dress and matching yellow gloves.

The scene was filmed to portray Kim Nana’s financial troubles, since her parents passed away when she was in high school and she now has to work various odd jobs to make her way through college.

The production company stated, “Kim Nana is a lovely person who still has a uplifting personality even in a hard environment. She especially portrays the ‘880,000 won generation’ by working odd jobs before getting to work for the Secret Service.”

[News] "SungKyunKwan Scandal" DVD enters Oricon chart in top 5.

[News] "SungKyunKwan Scandal" DVD enters Oricon chart in top 5.
Cr. - 10asia

The DVD version of KBS' hit TV series "SungKyunKwan Scandal" has entered the top five slots of Japan's prestigious Oricon chart.

According to Oricon's DVD daily chart as of April 21, part 1 and 2 of "SungKyunKwan Scandal," released in the country on April 22, ranked in at No. 4 and 5, respectively, after other local and international DVDs.

"SungKyunKwan Scandal," which starred JYJ member Park Yuchun, Park Min-young, Yoo A-in and Song Joong-ki, is a fusion history drama set during the 18th century revolving around the love and friendship of four students at Sungkyunkwan University.

Kim Yoon-hee (Park Min-young) decides to disguise herself as her younger brother to enter Sungkyunkwan University and there she meets Lee Sun-joon (Park Yuchun), Ku Yong-ha (Song) and Moon Jae-sin (Yoo).

The TV series took home five awards during the 2010 KBS Drama Awards and also brought in viewership ratings in the high ten percent range on TV charts as well as taking the No. 2 spot amongst other Monday and Tuesday dramas during its two-month run starting late-August.

[News] ‘Festival’ Changes Title & Adds Song Chang Ui to Cast Lineup.

[News] ‘Festival’ Changes Title & Adds Song Chang Ui to Cast Lineup.
Cr. - mydramadiary

It’s been revealed that MBC’s upcoming drama ‘Festival’ starring CNBLUE’s Jung Yong Hwa and Park Shin Hye (both from ‘You’re Beautiful’) had got their title changed to ‘You Fall for Me’. The new title was chosen from the drama name contest which was held on March 30 through April 10 with over 400 diverse entries from netizens.

Now, the recent news is actor Song Chang Ui (Life is Beautiful) has been added to cast line-up. He will be playing successful theater director, who manages to perform his own creation in Broadway and gets a worldwide recognition. His character’s described as a person who still has enthusiasm to his own dreams even while leading Jung and Park along with other youthful’s in their 20s.

‘You Fall for Me’ is scheduled to air its pilot episode on June 29.

[News] Lee So-yeon turns little mom in 'My Love By My Side'.

[News] Lee So-yeon turns little mom in 'My Love By My Side'.
Cr. - javabeans

Lee So-yeon transforms into a nice character (for once!) for her new drama, after playing a few notable villains: She was the calculating Jang hee-bin out to undermine Han Hyo-joo in Dong Yi, and the vengeful daughter out to destroy her husband Bae Soo-bin’s family in Angel’s Temptation. Now she’s the lead in the upcoming weekend drama Nice To Meet You — or, as it has just been renamed, My Love By My Side (not to be confused with the Kim Myung-min/Ha Ji-won melodrama film of the same name).

In the SBS drama, Lee So-yeon plays a young single mother (often called “little mom”) who becomes pregnant as a teenager by boyfriend Ohn Joo-wan, who then ditches her to raise the baby alone. And talk about a transformation; I get that she’s playing nicer than her usual femme fatale-y types, but she’s almost unrecognizable from the usual polished, chic image that we’re all used to.


The drama is described as “cheerful young mom Do Mi-sol’s project to make the world a warmer place.” Aw, that’s cute. The series is directed by PD Han Jung-hwan, who worked on the comedic Please Come Back, Soon-ae, and written by Kim Sa-kyung of the tearjerker Loving You A Thousand Times. Sounds like My Love By My Side is a heartwarmer, so hopefully we get lots more of the former style, less of the latter.

Ohn Joo-wan (Chosun Police, My Mighty Princess), wearing the hat below, is newly discharged from military service, and is making this his comeback project. He plays the lead role of a guy who falls in “an immature love” with Mi-sol in his high school days, but is too young and weak at that age. Hence, the running away.

Lee Jae-yoon (in denim jacket) plays a clean-cut eom-chin-ah, aka the nice guy every mom loves. He’s got a positive outlook and normal family background, but romantically, his pickiness has prevented him from being attracted to very many women. Enter the bumbling Mi-sol, who steals his heart and revs up the main love triangle.

I actually like the old title better, which makes me think of the two exes meeting up as adults and being so different that they’re like strangers. Which, hopefully, is a turn for the better for our immature hero. I don’t get the spate of generic-sounding titles that are so popular in K-dramaland right now, but I do wish producers would kick it up a notch and get creative, or cute, or even weird and bizarre. Just no more of the plain, un-descriptive Best Loves and Romance Towns and Smiles and Smile, Moms and Smile, Donghaes, yeah?

My Love By My Side premieres on May 7, and takes up the slot currently occupied by Smile, Mom.

[News] Lee Bo-young takes on new weekend drama.

[News] Lee Bo-young takes on new weekend drama.
Cr. - javabeans

Lee Bo-young (Birth of the Rich) has signed on to her next drama, an MBC weekend production titled The Woman Who Doesn’t Lose. But maybe a better way to refer to it would be She Never Loses, since we’re full up on drama titles about men and women who can’t, want, or still want to do things. (Mostly marrying.)

She Never Loses is a success story of a late-20s divorced woman overcoming obstacles, in another example of the Candy narrative (sigh, another one). (I’ve had some confused questions about Candy, so the basic explanation is this: Candy is the heroine of a famous manhwa from the ’70s, whose M.O. was to be knocked down by life but bounce back cheerily. An orphan from a poor background, she was romanced by a couple dreamy heroes, making her a very popular example of a modern Cinderella. The story’s become such a pop-culture fixture that the “Candy type” has become a shorthand in dramas for poor, plucky heroines. You know. Her. In every drama ever.)

Lee Bo-young’s version of Candy is, of course, a bright and upbeat personality who is named, appropriately, Kang Jae-mi. (Jae-mi also happens to be the word for fun or interesting. Coincidence? I think not.)

The creative team behind the production are PD Joo Sung-woo (Goldfish, Chun-ja’s Happy Events) and writer Park Hyun-joo (My Precious You, Golden Bride). Given the tone of those series, I presume this drama will fall into the category of familiar weekend fare — lighthearted, family-friendly, with smaller stories as Jae-mi goes about her daily struggles.

She Never Loses will complete its casting by May, and plans to begin shooting in June. It’ll air following Do You Hear My Heart?

[News] More Lee Min-ho photos from City Hunter.

[News] More Lee Min-ho photos from City Hunter.
Cr. - dramabeans

More stills are out from behind the scenes of City Hunter, the SBS drama starring Lee Min-ho as the character not-quite-so-much-anymore based on the Japanese manga of the same name.

My main takeaway from these latest photos is: Phew, the shaggy mop isn’t here to stay after all. He sports an unrulier look for his Thailand shoots (below, on elephant and in tree), but cleans up nice for his job in the Blue House. The press release calls it a “hunter look”…which makes me think they know not the meaning of “city hunter,” either.



The Thailand scenes take place early on in the drama, and include the sequence pictured below where Lee rides an elephant. In the stills below that, we have snapshots from a comedic scene in wherein Lee’s character runs from danger (with comic actor Kim Sang-ho), chased by a gang, and seeks shelter in a tree.

This’ll be Lee Min-ho’s third drama as leading man, after bursting onto the scene with Boys Before Flowers and following that up with a more modest hit in Personal Taste. I’m not sure how this drama will measure up, and to be honest I’m not that excited about it… but it does have a competent team behind it with some decent experience between them: Directing is the PD behind trendies Brilliant Legacy and Prosecutor Princess, while the scriptwriter worked on medical drama New Heart and Blue House-centered Daemul.

The drama premieres on May 25.

[News] Kang Ji-hwan "Lie To Me" Kang Ji-hwan, turns royal.

[News] Kang Ji-hwan "Lie To Me" Kang Ji-hwan, turns royal.
Cr. - hancinema

Kang Ji-hwan is 100% pure royalty.

Kang Ji-hwan has recently been cast as elite hotel chairman Hyeon Ki-joon who has everything from house background, intelligence and looks in the upcoming SBS drama "Lie to Me".

He is differentiated from "Secret Garden"'s 'plutocrat guy' Kim Joo-won (Hyeon Bin) with his witty appeal.

His professionalism when he looked through documents and concentrating on hotel work like a real chairman made female staff look at him in awe.

A person in the production said, "Kang Ji-hwan is acting out the professional hotel chairman Hyeon Ki-joon perfectly, finalizing the completion of the drama. We hope many people look forward to him as he will show you the best of quality".

Meanwhile, "Lie to Me" is about Hyeon Ki-joon and Gong Ah-jeong (Yoon Eun-hye) who get involved in a marriage scandal due to an absurd lie and the episodes and events that follow.

[News] Park Min Young’s library photo revealed.

[News] Park Min Young’s library photo revealed.
Cr. - allkpop

Park Min Young is receiving a lot of interest from her picture in the library!

Through an online community forum, a picture of Park Min Young studying in the library was recently uploaded. This picture was taken reportedly as an advertisement for the school that she is currently attending, Dong Guk University. Nevertheless, Park Min Young’s beauty shines through as she studiously looks into her books.

Netizens who saw this picture commented, “I want to go to that library.” “Her beauty shines even at school.” “The Dong Guk University students are lucky.”

[News] Song Chang Ui joins "You Fall for Me".

[News] Song Chang Ui joins "You Fall for Me".
Cr. - hancinema

Song Chang Ui will be acting along with Jung Yong-hwa and Park Sin-hye on director Pyo Min-soo's new MBC drama "You Fall for Me".

Song Chang Ui will be playing a worldwide theater director who succeeds in performing his own creation in Broadway and gets acknowledgement, returning home in glory. He is a character who still has and loves his own dreams even while leading Jung Yong-hwa and Park Sin-hye along with other youthful's in their 20s.

He expressed his feelings in saying, "This is my first comeback in a year after "Life is Beautiful". I felt great attraction for the artistic figure full of passion towards the performances. I have also gone through a great deal of learning and teaching to become an actor and I'm thrilled to think I can act that all out".

Meanwhile, new MBC drama "You Fall for Me" will be first broadcast on the 29th of June.