Flirting with the afterlife in 49 Days

87 January 5, 2011February 17, 2011

by javabeans

Here’s some casting news that makes me happy: Jung Il-woo (Return of Iljimae), pictured above, and Jo Hyun-jae (Three Dads, One Mom) have been chosen for an upcoming SBS drama, 49 Days. (Okay, and also former Seeya singer Nam Gyuri, recently of weekend show Life Is Beautiful. Meh.)

This’ll be bound to make Jo Hyun-jae fans happy, as he has been out of the spotlight for quite some time now; he has been in military service for two years and was discharged this summer, but his father’s passing has kept him from a comeback till now.

The plot of 49 Days revolves around a woman from an affluent family (Nam Gyuri) who lives a completely happy life, but through a car accident is brought to death’s door. However, the spirit that leaves her body encounters her “kkotminam” (pretty boy) scheduler (Jung Il-woo), whose role is to guide her to the afterlife. With his help she’s able to return to the living realm by borrowing someone else’s body, and must earn the sincere tears of three people (excepting her parents). Jo Hyun-jae’s character is only described as a man who becomes entangled with the other two. (Well, duh. Details, please!)

You may know that in Buddhism, it is believed that a soul whose body has died spends 49 days in a transitional period, where his/her karma decides how the soul will be reborn in the next life. In Korean culture, rites are observed on the 49th day after a person dies, and in the drama Who Are You, the father is given 49 days to return to settle his affairs in the living world before he must move on to the hereafter.

This sounds potentially GREAT. (Yes, also potentially awful, but I’m looking on the bright side.) Quirky, fun, and fresh. Jung Il-woo said, “The character I’m playing this time is rather light, who’s impulsive and candid and has a lot of curiosity about the living world. After receiving the synopsis and script, I really had a good feeling. I think it’ll be a drama that’ll allow us to think about what we really value in our lives.”

Writing is So Hyun-kyung of Brilliant Legacy and Prosecutor Princess. 49 Days will air on Wednesdays and Thursdays, replacing the just-premiered Sign (which, coincidentally enough, is also about death). It plans to begin filming at the end of January for a March premiere.

Eeeee!

Via TV Report

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1 nepcheli

January 5, 2011 at 5:31 AM

its good to see jung il woo back in drama after the debacle that was oh my lady..he looks 'sharp' in the photo..

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muimui

January 6, 2011 at 7:47 PM

where can i watch this drama in eng sub ?

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Peppy

February 20, 2011 at 4:06 AM

it premieres on march 16th, so its not really anywhere yet! Just have to wait anxiously =)

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2 nepcheli

January 5, 2011 at 5:31 AM

its good to see jung il woo back in drama after the debacle that was my fair lady..he looks 'sharp' in the photo..

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3 badtanline

January 5, 2011 at 5:38 AM

my goodness, for a moment there i thought it was taesung from secret garden!

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ramyun

January 5, 2011 at 5:56 AM

me too!!! :D but I read Jung Il Woo's name so I was like wow they look like each other! maybe because of the angle hahaha

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jomo143

January 5, 2011 at 8:47 AM

Me, three.
I noticed it when Lee Jong Suk was in Prosecuter Princess (and disappeard from PP)

Something about the mouth.

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SadieStarr

January 6, 2011 at 2:39 PM

omgsh..i thought it was taesaung too!!

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4 hapacalgirl

January 5, 2011 at 5:41 AM

I have read that Lee Yo Won is also in this drama as the girl whose body gets taken over by the spirit played by Nam Gyuri.

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5 jheart

January 5, 2011 at 5:44 AM

Lee Yo Won is cast as the main female lead as I heard.
So excited to see Jung Il Woo back :X

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6 strawhatz

January 5, 2011 at 5:46 AM

i'm excited about jung il woo...he's handsome and talented to boot....but i'm not sure about the other two....i just never like jo hyun jae...as for nam gyu ri, i don't hate her but i don't like her either....guess you can't have it all

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7 ren

January 5, 2011 at 6:06 AM

damn! I forgot how pretty Jung Il woo was.

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maria

January 5, 2011 at 7:59 AM

my thoughts exactly! it's like clicking on dramabeans, and being assaulted by the pretty!

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8 miss

January 5, 2011 at 6:10 AM

writers So Hyun-kyung???? From Prosecutor Princess and Brilliant Legacy? It's a must WATCH!!! She is so good to make a character development so beautifully...

So glad she got a good cast to work with her

I can't wait to watch this one!

I trust the writers :)

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dee

January 5, 2011 at 7:54 AM

Yes, it's the writer who makes me interested in. I don't hate the casts, but don't like either. But the writer.. for me Shining Inheritance and Prosecutor Princess is well written.
So, just hope it will be done well.

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SteamyBun

January 5, 2011 at 12:28 PM

Yes, I know!! If I didn't already have reasons, I'd tune in just for the writer of BL and PP. And I just realized it's a DRAMA, not a movie. So excited now!
But who are these naughty people claiming it will also star Lee Yo-Won and Bae Soo-Bin? That would be too good to be true. Therefore, I don't believe it. Jung Il-Woo has awesome presence and I like him enough to consider watching My Fair Lady. But the girl? Aw... couldn't they have found someone else?! I know it sounds rude but I have my favorites and can never be happy when someone unfamiliar is cast in a drama of interest.

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LeMonS

January 5, 2011 at 4:45 PM

SteamyBun - I love your name.

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kaedejun

January 5, 2011 at 8:41 AM

the writer is the only reason i'm tuning in :P

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miss

January 5, 2011 at 8:58 AM

And I heard Bae So Bin will be cast in this one...Jung Il Woo, BAe So Bin in one drama? Korean drama Heaven :D

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come2noona

January 5, 2011 at 10:03 AM

Oh... that would be awesome!

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pohonphee

January 6, 2011 at 3:20 AM

And who will be the male lead role? I hope it won't be Bae So-bin again and he won't get the girl again.

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9 maria

January 5, 2011 at 6:20 AM

so... much... pretty, i caaaaan't. T-T

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10 holey moley

January 5, 2011 at 6:24 AM

and also Bae Soo Bin...i heard....and my reaction: ZOMG!!! fsjhgkjhjnjzolnpoz!!!!

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11 Arhazivory

January 5, 2011 at 6:39 AM

Well this sounds like it'll be good. I loved Brilliant Legacy so the fact that its the same writer gives me hope and I hear that Prosecutor Princess wasn't bad either.

Hmm...I'll be tuning in for this one~!

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12 Severine

January 5, 2011 at 6:42 AM

Oh I really hope this is good, it certainly sounds interesting. *crosses fingers*

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13 tessa

January 5, 2011 at 6:42 AM

Yup I heard Lee Yo Won is casted , I think after the accident Nam Gyuri will "entered" Lee Yo Won's "body" ..

anyway apart from Lee Yo Won heard that there's also Bae Soo Bin been casted . Not sure if it's true though

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Mia

January 5, 2011 at 10:12 AM

Really? Oh yesss I love Lee Yo Won in Queen Seon Duk. And Bae Soo Bin, after his continuous strong performances last year, who's not excited? ^^

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14 Ohemgee

January 5, 2011 at 6:48 AM

Any news about jung il-woo is good news (except for any military news which will, sadly, come one of these days)! So glad to see he's picked a new project!

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minjae

January 5, 2011 at 7:17 AM

he is the only my beloved K-stars, which most of them are entering army now.

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15 carmz

January 5, 2011 at 6:51 AM

Sounds really interesting actually. Hopefully lots of comedy and heartfelt moments. Leaving out the melo would be fine with me.

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16 danna

January 5, 2011 at 6:58 AM

Jun Il Woo as the reaper??...i hope we can see him going all goth on us

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17 strawberryfieldsforever

January 5, 2011 at 7:04 AM

JO HYUN JAE! weeeee!

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18 dee

January 5, 2011 at 7:05 AM

jung il woo's character sounds like Brad Pitt's Joe in the movie Meet Joe Black

hmm, i'm piqued....

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19 mskololia

January 5, 2011 at 7:12 AM

I really like the actor Jo Hyun-jae. This one is on the radar.

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20 minjae

January 5, 2011 at 7:13 AM

Ilwoo!!!!!!!!!!!!! * faint ..faint

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21 queque

January 5, 2011 at 7:20 AM

i hope there will be official statement and news that Lee Yo Won will cast in this drama !

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22 swui

January 5, 2011 at 7:38 AM

Oh I like Jo Hyun Jae.
And I like the writer of BL and PP.
And I like the theme.
Haven't seen Jung Il Woo in action before but if jb says he's good I'm not gonna argue with that :P
Nam Gyuri I haven't seen too but she looks like a doll in the picture...then again most korean actresses do.Lol.

Conclusion: I think this is right up my alley...

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23 Diana Hansen

January 5, 2011 at 7:53 AM

ok now i am excited again! love both of those guys and the plot sounds like it could be really fun!

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24 Kender

January 5, 2011 at 8:01 AM

This has the potential to be so much win, I can't even handle it.

If it sucks, I might cry. ㅠㅠ

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25 estel

January 5, 2011 at 8:09 AM

Yay, Jung Il-woo is back!!! After the not-so-hot mess that was My Fair Lady/Take Care of the Young Lady, I hope this project really lets him stretch himself and show what he can do. I adored him in Return of Iljimae, so I hope this project will be just as good.

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26 kdfan

January 5, 2011 at 8:09 AM

been waiting for JIW's next drama forever! I hope this will be a good one. Love JHJ too but love JIW more ...

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27 jomo143

January 5, 2011 at 8:41 AM

This day is so much better now that I have clicked on Dramabeans!! Thank you!

Return of Iljimae made me his fan slave.
So so so so so pretty!

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28 loveilwoo

January 5, 2011 at 8:47 AM

jung il woo fighting !!!

^___________^

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29 ...

January 5, 2011 at 9:14 AM

that is a really fiiiine picture of jung il woo... ^___^

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30 aX

January 5, 2011 at 9:44 AM

I'm game. That's for sure!

The last time I watched a Kdrama with a similar storyline was VERY dissappointing. I even forgot what it was called but it had Yoon Kye Sang who I adore.

I just hoped this one has a better script and more interesting characters. Not dull ones with lame crying scenes like the other Kdrama.

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Ani

January 5, 2011 at 9:57 AM

It's actually mentioned in jb's post and is called "Who Are You". Have not seen it, accept for pieces of it that involved a frowning YKS, and the last time I saw him frown a lot was in "She is Nineteen", which was ridden with angst. So that alone made me not want to watch "Who Are You". But now, I might go back and give it shot. Maybe.

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31 Ani

January 5, 2011 at 9:54 AM

I thought Jung Il-woo was going to be gearing up to go to the military, until I checked and he was born in 1987 (making him 24 in Korea) so he still has time before enlistment. It could also explain why he's looking young and that's because, um yeah, he is. XD This seems interesting because now I want to know how this ends because the girl is dead and the guy that's the possible love interest (I'm thinking that's Jung Il-woo) is a spirit guide(?), meaning they will fall in love but won't be able to be together right? Heh. March, we await you.

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jomo143

January 5, 2011 at 12:01 PM

But he is LEGAL.

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32 ditdut

January 5, 2011 at 10:01 AM

YESHHHHHHH!! And omg, is that a recent hairdo? I love it!!

Writing is potentially spiced with makjangness, but I also love how the writer puts care in character development. Jung Ilwoo, I can't wait for you to erase my painful memory of MFL!

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33 jen

January 5, 2011 at 10:08 AM

im just happy that jung ill woo is back!!! time for some great acting!

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34 Brittany

January 5, 2011 at 10:16 AM

If the writer is So Hyun-kyung (the person behind Shining Inheritance) then I'll definitely have to watch.

I'm not big on the plot, but I trust that writer.

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35 Alyssia

January 5, 2011 at 10:52 AM

I was excited about the male leads but Nam Gyuri!!!!!! Why must they always cast these idol singers as leads when they hardly have any acting experience. She was ok in "life is beautiful" but i didn't think she build herself up as an actress yet to be lead. ............

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jejemom

January 5, 2011 at 4:50 PM

don't worry, she is the character who will be in a coma. how much acting will that require? all she needs to do is look pretty while lying down with her eyes closed...

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36 Nikki

January 5, 2011 at 11:41 AM

Does anyone else think that Jung Il-woo looks kinda like No Min Woo in that photo?

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37 sunshine

January 5, 2011 at 11:54 AM

Meh about the writer and the cast with the exception of Jung Il Woo. Sounds like a fun premise though.

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38 sandy80

January 5, 2011 at 12:02 PM

brilliant legasy was just another cinderlla blah blah and this one does not look better why dont they just write normal stuff like a simple straightforward love story

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39 dae hae

January 5, 2011 at 12:05 PM

Is the first photo a photo of Jung Il Woo as Kim Tak-Gu? They looked so much alike. And what happened to Jo Hyun-Jae in Love Song?

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jejemom

January 5, 2011 at 4:55 PM

Love Song offered to JHJ, but no word whether they have accepted the offer (even for a later engagement) or not.

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40 Teapot

January 5, 2011 at 12:49 PM

I like the sound of this one! *Makes mental note to get stuff done before March so as not to experience negative effects of drama-induced procrastination*

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41 annie

January 5, 2011 at 12:50 PM

Yipppeee for the male actors and the writers..
Yikkeeees for the whollot of crying scene and double yiikiietiyuckie for the in and out Seeya Girl.

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42 saranga

January 5, 2011 at 2:28 PM

nam gyuri really surprised me in life is beautiful. i'm not sure how good of an actor she is technically, but she was so pretty to watch in that drama, and i don't mean in terms of visuals. she played the maknae sibling, who is slightly spoiled by much love, but also good and tender hearted, family oriented, and deeply filial. i think she really managed to portray her character in a wonderfully lovable and winning light. i'm interested to see her again... and of course jung il-woo!!

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43 Atsirk

January 5, 2011 at 3:19 PM

No matter how hard I try, I just can't like NGR. I'm sorry.
I am pretty excited about JIW and JHJ :D

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44 jandoe

January 5, 2011 at 3:49 PM

agree with you here JB, sounds potentially great. looking forward to this!

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45 ar_arguably romantic

January 5, 2011 at 3:52 PM

"Jo Hyun-jae’s character is only described as a man who becomes entangled with the other two. (Well, duh. Details, please!)" ---> I know, right! I hope they give him a substantial role and not make him some sappy 2nd male lead who pines after a girl he can't get. One Mom and Three Dads wasn't that great of a drama and I always feel like this guy needs his big break.

I'm not that great a fan of Nam Gyuri to watch her for 16 hours, so I hope Lee Yo won is the real female lead. Nam Gyuri is so pretty to look at but her dark doll-like eyes sort of freak me out (i'm not sure if those are her natural irises or if she just wears circle lenses all the time).