Lee Jun-ki gets into character as the magistrate

81 June 18, 2012June 18, 2012

by javabeans

Making his much-awaited comeback from army duty, Lee Jun-ki takes the role of the magistrate in his upcoming drama, Arang and the Magistrate, which you can see in these stills.

The drama riffs on the famous tale of a young woman named Arang who was killed, who returned as a ghost to plead with magistrates to bring justice to the evildoers, played in the series by Shin Mina. Though there are definite fusion-mystery-ghost story vibes, there also seems to be a current of humor that’ll run through it (though I hope it’s more the wry kind and not, say, broad and slapstick).

Lee describes his character as a man who doggedly pursues clues about his mother’s disappearance; he feels nothing in the world matters aside from that. His character as cynical and brusque on the outside, though (naturally) much warmer on the inside: “It seems like he treats people coldly, but he feels a lot of sorrow and sympathy for them; ‘Eun-oh’ is a three-dimensional character. At first I was drawn to him because he was a prickly type of role I haven’t played before, but as I delve more into the drama, I find that he’s someone I can show a lot of different sides to.”

Regarding making his comeback: “Inasmuch as this is my comeback project after a two-year hiatus due to military service, I pursued it extremely seriously. There were many dramas that came in, but more than my personal desires, I thought it might be better to choose a drama that’s more accessible. I considered a variety of projects, but this stood out the most. After receiving the scenario, from the perspective of an actor I thought it was extremely fresh and original. I became curious about what kind of drama would come out of this premise.”

Asked about why he chose a sageuk as his return project, Lee said, “To be honest, the thing I worried most about was whether I might have lost my feel for acting after being away for two years. I think sageuk is a genre without limits, which allows for a lot of experimentation… Rather than feeling fear over my worries or trying to avoid them, I chose a sageuk thinking to pour that much more of myself into the drama. I intend to pour everything I have into it.”

When asked about what he finds most fun about the story, Lee said, “The images of the King of Heaven (Yoo Seung-ho) and the King of the Underworld will be quite different from the traditional images that viewers are used to, and will play out in comic scenes. Just the fact that it’s set up against the legend of Arang is novel and interesting. … It’s a different take than previous romantic comedies.”

Given the premise (and the drama’s description as a fantasy-melo sageuk), which requires one-half of the main pairing to be dead, it seems like any romance is going to be the bittersweet variety. Lee: “I’m looking forward to it. To be honest, because in most dramas the scripts aren’t out in their entirety from the outset, you start to imagine all sorts of things about the story. For instance, ‘How will the next episode progress, and how will my character change and what will happen to the character relationships?’ Especially since there’s a lot of anticipation for the romance between the two leads, I always wonder, ‘How will the romance develop in this drama?’ The one thing I can tell you all is, because this drama’s genre is fantasy-melo sageuk, it’ll probably have a much stronger melo inclination than my previous dramas.” Gulp. I’m not sure whether to look forward to it, or whether to start guarding myself for the sturm und drang.

Arang and the Magistrate airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays beginning in late July.

Via TV Report

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1 lindalou

June 18, 2012 at 10:16 AM

Can't wait for it!! I love Shin Mina

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Alexis

June 18, 2012 at 10:30 PM

Yupsss!! :D I really LOVE both of them :D Hope this drama will be definitely good!

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niKai

June 19, 2012 at 3:44 AM

and I junki. this guy got some acting chops. the last drama of him was hero, is it? borderline on min a but she's cute n may be an effective ghost. pretty but creepy. heh.

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2 lindalou

June 18, 2012 at 10:17 AM

Can't wait for it!! I love Shin Mina!!! And the story seems like it be good!! Please don't disappoint

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3 Pat

June 18, 2012 at 10:21 AM

I like them both,hope the writing holds up.

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4 StacyA

June 18, 2012 at 10:24 AM

I typically don't like melo stuff cause I like my escape methods to leave me happy. But this? I am so watching for no other reason than Lee Jun Ki and Shin Min Ah! So I am already mentally and emotionally preparing myself because I predict that the leads won't end up together unless they pull a MGIAG trick or something. Time to re-stock the kleenex - RTP, K2H, and QIHM wiped out my stash.

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SoyJade

June 18, 2012 at 11:10 AM

Jajajaj!! Ditto!

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5 afjfa

June 18, 2012 at 10:26 AM

He looks so good in a hanbok.

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6 alua

June 18, 2012 at 10:34 AM

Looking forward to this, watching "The King and the Clown" recently has gotten me interested. :-)

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Ladytron33

June 18, 2012 at 2:09 PM

I just watched "The King and the Clown" for the first time this weekend! I hadn't been much of a LJK fan up until I saw it, but his acting blew me away. It's a must see movie. Really fantastic.

I'm happy he's making his comeback now that he's on my radar.

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mary

June 18, 2012 at 8:50 PM

Bah! You lucky girl.

Then again, if you discovered LJK too late, you'll be like the bajillionth person in line for him. :)

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nova611

June 20, 2012 at 4:13 AM

i agree..hes really BEAUTIFULL in it

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7 judge

June 18, 2012 at 10:35 AM

why shin min ah always got role as a ghost or something like that?

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Lidy Wilks

June 18, 2012 at 11:59 AM

i was thinking the same thing! shin min ah but have a thing for playing supernatural characters

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Cynthia

June 18, 2012 at 2:09 PM

Other than MGIAG, in what other drama was Shin Min-ah playing a ghost/supernatural character? I can't recall any.
:)

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Alex

June 18, 2012 at 2:52 PM

She was a seer in Mawang! But that wasn't a good role, IMO; it was not down to her at all, but I thought the character was almost entirely superfluous in that drama.

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bd

June 19, 2012 at 1:41 PM

Not really.

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8 Still love me some QIHM aka MsB

June 18, 2012 at 10:35 AM

So looking forward to my LJK returning to drama! Happy Birthday to me!! (in July)

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9 trixicopper

June 18, 2012 at 10:49 AM

I've been looking forward to this for months. With my fingers crossed,chanting "please don't suck!"

Come on July! :)

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10 danna

June 18, 2012 at 11:01 AM

So between this and Nice Guy its going to be Melo Wed-Thurs come July..lol...eitherways I'm totally in for both...its nice to see Jun Ki in sageuk mode again

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11 SoyJade

June 18, 2012 at 11:09 AM

oooh! I like! I hope it's good. I'm looking forward to this one.

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12 bee

June 18, 2012 at 11:19 AM

REALLY hope there is romance between the 2 XD always wanted to see these two in a drama!

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13 Queenie

June 18, 2012 at 11:41 AM

Awesome pairing!!!!!!!! Cannot wait. So many great actors in dramas this summer!

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14 shiningmoon

June 18, 2012 at 12:08 PM

Lee Jun Ki!!! Yeeeeyyy... :) love them both. Can't wait for this drama to air.

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15 Noemi

June 18, 2012 at 12:45 PM

yay! so excited!

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Noemi

June 18, 2012 at 12:47 PM

i forgot...anyone know how many episodes this will be?

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Bella

June 18, 2012 at 6:42 PM

20 episodes~!

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16 BLee

June 18, 2012 at 1:33 PM

Shin Mina, Lee JunKi, and Yoo Seung Ho all in one drama??? MUST WATCH.

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17 sabohee

June 18, 2012 at 1:37 PM

apparently there's going to be 16 episodes.

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18 sabohee

June 18, 2012 at 1:38 PM

my first comment was supposed tp be a reply to @noemi's comment xD

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Noemi

June 18, 2012 at 1:39 PM

thanks :D

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19 Jaeminuf

June 18, 2012 at 2:08 PM

He's looking good! So happies!

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20 mtoh

June 18, 2012 at 2:33 PM

Melo...OK I need to start checking my hear with doctor.
How much human heart can stand...
Kleenex back on shopping list!

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21 Reka

June 18, 2012 at 2:36 PM

I love the top picture. He looks so manly and with the intense eyes...oh boy. Can't wait!

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bd

June 19, 2012 at 1:42 PM

I don't think LJK can ever really look "manly'

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jn

June 20, 2012 at 2:48 PM

I guess you haven't watched Time between dog and wolf? It's the drama that made me become LJK's fan-for-life;)

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22 Kim Yoonmi

June 18, 2012 at 2:42 PM

MANLINER? I spot some manliner... Will it be epic manliner?

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23 JoonGirl

June 18, 2012 at 2:51 PM

He is always handsome as ever ♥.♥

my LJG, the staff, the story even the high-tech equipment, ahhhhh... can't wait for July 25th

And I heard that LJG at least won't die in the end ㅋㅋㅋ

LJG is the best Korean Actor for me, so I am so in to this drama♥♥♠

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24 JoonGirl

June 18, 2012 at 2:53 PM

He is always handsome as ever ♥.♥

my LJG, the staff, the story even the high-tech equipment, ahhhhh... can't wait for July 25th

And I heard that LJG at least won't die in the end ㅋㅋㅋ

LJG is the best Korean Actor for me, so I am so in to this drama♥♥

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25 john

June 18, 2012 at 3:07 PM

I have high hopes that this will be good.

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26 D

June 18, 2012 at 3:14 PM

he looks good in hanbok but will there be post-army abs scene???

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Kim Yoonmi

June 20, 2012 at 12:05 AM

Shower scene isn't likely because of the lack of indoor plumbing back then... but you can hope for a waterfall scene as part of "training", right?

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27 leonardswench

June 18, 2012 at 3:18 PM

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

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28 S

June 18, 2012 at 3:26 PM

Can't waiiit for his comeback!!! Thanks for the news! :)

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29 dee

June 18, 2012 at 4:24 PM

i hope lee will show off his post army half naked body in this drama.... xixixi.....

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30 Rachael

June 18, 2012 at 4:33 PM

Haha. I suddenly associated this drama with My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox, though that's thanks to Shin Min Ah being the ghost. I just remembered that the drama Cha Dae-woong was staring in at the end was about a love story involving a ghost because "CGI was too expensive". There could've been some meta if Lee Seungi was in this haha.

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31 Lilly

June 18, 2012 at 4:34 PM

This could be really great if done right in a kind of Ghost and Mrs Muir type of style., one of my fav antique black and white movies.
Looking forward with a lot of hope it will be fantastic.

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32 Lulla

June 18, 2012 at 4:47 PM

Wahhhh..finally! I've been waiting for bridal mask and arang for a loong time, and now bridal mask is currently airing while arang is going to be soon. This year is heaven to me..since I also goy queen in hyun's man as a bonus!!

Araang. . I'm excited! Hopefully it will be airrd near the end of bridal mask, so that I can concentrate on each movie

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33 makoto

June 18, 2012 at 4:51 PM

I hope it's a good drama. Lee Jun Ki & Shin Min Ah can be a good leading couple. Can't wait. :3

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34 Lilly

June 18, 2012 at 4:57 PM

I hope they are very selective with the music for it. It has to be very haunting and romantic at the same time. It is so very important if they want it to be a work that lasts for decades after they are done. It is possible.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRGgzLOnrlQ&feature=related

I wonder who they will choose to use to make music that should be that beautiful? Will be checking back here to see if anyone knows.

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rjyuggy

June 18, 2012 at 7:52 PM

I suspect it will be the same Music team behind Bad Guy (Kim Nam Gil)

Their selection are romantic but the "creepiness" is definitely there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj4rX09iaGQ

These kind of music is perfect for a drama in which a ghost or creepy scenes are involved. Just accompany this type of music with Joseon musical instrument and you got a good background music for this drama.

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Lilly

June 18, 2012 at 9:16 PM

OMG! I hope you they pick your choice, yes!

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35 JoonGi_L♥v3

June 18, 2012 at 5:00 PM

Bravo!!! succesful, can't wait!!! birthday present 4 my!! Thanx Oppa! <333

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36 Jacintha

June 18, 2012 at 5:04 PM

tq jb

Following comrade Joo Ji Hoon's - I am the king -
sageuk movie.

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37 Yue

June 18, 2012 at 5:16 PM

This is bad for my mental health LOL. But, I am still watching it when it comes out hehehe...

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38 gella

June 18, 2012 at 5:37 PM

OMG! I think I just hyperventilated! Lee Jun Ki is so hot in that magistrate costume.

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39 mihinikki

June 18, 2012 at 5:41 PM

I love LJK for always giving 100%, even if he goes a little overboard sometimes. And his gorgeous face will be epic, even if the drama isn't :)

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40 jully moue

June 18, 2012 at 6:16 PM

*sniffs* they are not going to end up together?

This shall be my only drama where I permit my lead to die, just so they can live happily ever after as immortals ... Yoo Seung Ho will let them be immortals right .... :/

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41 jomo143

June 18, 2012 at 6:40 PM

Waiting impatiently for Arang
guarding myself for the sturm und drang.

Lee Jun Ki has new abs
Shin Mina is always fabs.

It's tough to romance one who's dead.
Will we see Whoopi again instead?

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42 Arhazivory

June 18, 2012 at 6:55 PM

Took me a while to read the article because I was staring at the pretty picture at the top. Yum~!

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43 JoonGirl

June 18, 2012 at 6:59 PM

I heard that the writer wouldn't make EunOh dies, so may be Arang will come alive by the jade emperor's will,
or any idea??? But i am really sure that LJG could not die, i will cry hard if it happens ㅠㅠ

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44 graygirl

June 18, 2012 at 7:33 PM

Can't wait!!!!!!!!!

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45 rjyuggy

June 18, 2012 at 7:35 PM

so excited for Shin Mina. I hope the pacing of the story is same as Tree With Deep Roots.

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hh2468

June 18, 2012 at 9:59 PM

aahhh... you're getting my hopes up too high... *squeezing it downnn*

i really won't bet on it though. TWDR was too up there with the characters and storyline.

personally, i'll just be satisfied with a nicely developed stories and characters... unlike some big-hit-sageuk-earlier-this-year... (evil eye at u... u know who u are...)
and i'm a loyal lee junki sageuk audience... iljimae got me hooked on sageuk, so i'm definitely looking 4ward to his comeback. not to mention Shin MinA! *oh end of July, u will be the death of me*

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jomo143

June 19, 2012 at 6:48 AM

As long as it's not like a story with celestial bodies in the title hugging, I'm good.

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46 kirara

June 18, 2012 at 7:41 PM

I'm actually not a lee jun ki fan but this story/storyline sounds so cool and interesting.. its not a typical korean historical period drama, which makes it intriguing.

I really want to check this out.. I'm a shin mina fan too but regardless of the actor/actress I'm still kinda willing to give this a try!

Thanks for posting! :)