Trading one regret for the other

5 August 2, 2008October 26, 2008

by javabeans

MBC’s Iljimae, formerly known as Lee Seung-gi’s Iljimae, has got its work cut out for it, following SBS’s recent hit with Lee Junki’s Iljimae. And that was even before Lee Seung-gi dropped out of the titular hero role in a move that had many disappointed with his replacement, teen heartthrob Jung Il-woo, who had shot to fame playing a rebellious, silently brooding teenager in the family sitcom Unstoppable High Kick.

He did follow that with a part opposite Lee Yeon-hee in the “omnibus” (multi-vignette) film My Love, but then Jung Il-woo’s star kinda sputtered and he faded from the limelight, so this news came while his popularity was on the wane.

On July 30, he resurfaced on his own homepage with a post titled “Already been a year” and talked about his upcoming Iljimae role.

“It’s already been a year since High Kick ended… Since then, many projects have been canceled and I’ve struggled and worried a lot, so I think it’s better to do a project and regret it than to not do a project and regret it.”

…which, actually, makes some sense.

“I’ll be seeing you possibly in November, or at the latest, January. It’s true that there have been a lot of worries and discussion about it, but any project is bound to have burdens and concerns. I’ve taken a break for a long while, and I’ll come back that much more grown-up and mature.”

I’m not all that excited about seeing Jung Il-woo as Iljimae, but I’ve gotta give him props for recognizing (and admitting) that the drama’s got a rocky road ahead of it. Some might say it’s better to not admit your faults lest you draw attention to them, but I’m pretty sure everyone was aware of theirs. Plus, it’s worse when people brag about disasters in the making as though they live in some alternate-reality bubble, willfully ignoring the opinions of the public they hope to attract.

MBC’s Iljimae is scheduled (for now) to begin in November, and co-stars Kim Min-jong (Woman of Matchless Beauty Park Jung-geum, Hyena) and new actress Yoon Jin-seo.

Via My Daily

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1 Annie

August 2, 2008 at 12:43 PM

i honestly don't see the point in MBC trying to push Iljimae. It's going to be really difficult since Jun Ki's iljimae did so well. I like Jung Il woo and all but I really don't think he'll do as well as jun Ki did.

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2 Javabeans

August 2, 2008 at 1:59 PM

You have a point, but I think it would be disastrous (image-wise, and that's a big part of the biz) for MBC to just lean backward and give up because SBS happened to air their version first. That would look like MBC is running scared instead of rising to the competition. Both stations planned their series at the same time (it wasn't like SBS announced first, and MBC ran out to copy them), and it's also worth remembering that MBC has acquired the licensing rights to adapt the series from the original books (SBS just made up their story as they went along). WIth the Goong director in charge, I'm hoping MBC's version turns out better than is currently expected.

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3 belleza

August 2, 2008 at 10:12 PM

Jung Il Woo is doing Triple. Triple will probably air in October.
Jung Il Woo is doing Iljimae. Iljimae will probably air in November.

Whhaaa? Ninja do the triple sowkow? :D

(EDIT: Oh I see, Triple got moved to January. Uhhm, that sounds impossible too. )

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4 ar_arguably romantic

August 3, 2008 at 12:10 AM

i doubt MBC's iljimae will come close to matching SBS's iljimae ratings- but i hope it can earn respectably good ratings. it also sucks how this iljimae is airing at the end of the year- there has been so many sageuk dramas this year- with three concentrating on the robin-hood type figure- hong gil dong, SBS's iljimae, and strongest chil woo. i'm afraid audience might have gotten tired of them already.

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5 belleza

August 3, 2008 at 12:50 AM

"it also sucks how this iljimae is airing at the end of the year- there has been so many sageuk dramas this year- "

Not just that, but it'll be competing with two other sageuks in same time slot: "Painters in the Wind" (aka "The Prince of Ajummas Coffee Princes Korea's Little Sister" and "Kingdom of the Wind" (aka "Iljimae? Please. We got Emperor of the Jumong Right Here!") Both shows will probably premiere before Iljimae, and both shows can concievably score 20+ If that happens, Iljimae will have problems scoring even a 10 rating.

Also, a November airing date seems unrealistic for the production. SBS Iljimae started location shooting almost half a year before the air date, and it barely made it to 20 episodes.

They should move the show to maybe next year. However, if they do, that might affect the Korean production of Hana Yori Dango, as it's being made by the same studio. Who's up for Boys over Ninjas?