May Queen poster shoots and behind the scenes

80 July 19, 2012July 19, 2012

by girlfriday

Here’s our first look at the main cast assembled for the epic underdog success drama May Queen, starring Han Ji-hye (The Duo) as a woman who pulls herself up from a harsh life and makes a name for herself in the shipbuilding industry. Jae Hee (Color of Woman) and Kim Jae-won (Can You Hear My Heart) play the two men who war for her love. These two are actually buddies in real life — they were both in the 2001 drama Our House, and then in the army together. So I can see some friendly competition coming into play, and hopefully some behind-the-scenes bromance to boot.

Kim Jae-won says: “I was really happy to be cast along with Jae Hee. When you shoot with actors you know really well, you understand each other and take care of each other, creating better synergy.” Well as long as you guys leave the fighting onscreen and give each other hugs behind the cameras, I’m happy for everyone involved. Kim Jae-won plays the prickly second-generation chaebol, heir to the giant corporation at the center of the story. He’s described as loose and carefree, which I suppose you can afford to be if you’re a chaebol. Oh, and he’s also a genius. God forbid we have a plain ol’ chaebol WHO ISN’T A GENIUS. What would we do?

There’s no description for Jae Hee’s character, but it’s pretty safe to assume he’ll be the polar opposite, an all-effort workaholic type who made his own way in the world and probably hates guys who are geniuses and heirs to companies. Just a guess. And Han Ji-hye plays the heroine, an oceanographer who climbs her way up from nothing.

The show is currently shooting its childhood episodes with Kim Yoo-jung (The Moon That Embraces the Sun), Park Ji-bin (Boys Before Flowers) and Park Gun-tae (The King 2 Hearts), a trio of child actors worth watching in a drama of their own. The 32-episode series will probably feature quite the loaded backstory for a good number of episodes.

May Queen follows Dr. Jin and premieres in August on MBC.

Via Enews24

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1 9to5

July 19, 2012 at 3:12 PM

I'm actually looking forward to this even tho the premise doesn't sound all that exciting, maybe it's the actors. Hopefully there will be more to it than what I'm expecting.

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mary

July 19, 2012 at 5:23 PM

It's the actor for me too! Jae Hee :D hope this project showcases his talents better.

I wonder who is the lead guy though. Both actors are great but it's usually the genius chaebol who gets the girl, right?

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JO

July 21, 2012 at 8:41 AM

I love Jae won. BUT, omg the kids grew up so much. I remember watching their debuts...and look at them. Awwwww!!!@#$%^&

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KIM JAE WON FANSCLUB (@kimjaewon0218)

August 1, 2012 at 4:51 PM

OMG.... I love Kim Jae Won so much. After i saw the BTS photos of adult filming yesterday, my excitement for this drama is getting more and more. He look great and handsome. Although i'm not so familiar with Jae Hee and Han Ji Hye, i definitely give my for full support for this drama because of Kim Jae Won... :)

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2 cindy

July 19, 2012 at 3:41 PM

KIM JAE WON! :D YAY!

Han Ji-hye MEH! BLEH!

Hated ger on the duo. So.boring.

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cindy

July 19, 2012 at 3:42 PM

Btw, this new hairstyle doesn't suit her at all. Makes her look chubby.

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HK

July 19, 2012 at 3:56 PM

She's so . . . blank. I saw her in Blades of Blood (구르믈 버서난 달처럼), and I didn't understand why Cha Seung Won's character was supposed to be attached to her. I didn't even understand why she was in the movie at all. Her character was an enigma -- and not in a good way.

I think I'll have to skip this drama, even if that means missing the two Jae's.

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cindy

July 19, 2012 at 4:29 PM

Yeah she is so bland.

I couldn't finish the duo because of her character. I didn't get why they liked her and not the other girl!

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rjyuggy

July 19, 2012 at 6:36 PM

HJH seems to do great at contemporary dramas. Saguek is not her forte.

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DramaticTeacher

July 19, 2012 at 5:09 PM

Exactly my reaction! I first thought it was Jung Yumi (rooftop prince) and was all happy, till I saw the name.

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Lena S.

July 19, 2012 at 6:26 PM

i hated her in The Duo too lol.

but i hope she does well here.

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sibrani

July 19, 2012 at 8:24 PM

oh i love Kim Jae Won, his smile melt my heart. hahahha and the teenagee actors they're all so sweet.... can't wait this drama to aired n recapped :lol:

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Betty

July 19, 2012 at 9:52 PM

I didn't like her either in The duo and I fast forwarded every time she appeared on screen...

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3 Javabeans

July 19, 2012 at 3:45 PM

I'm pretty sure that Jae Hee has terrible hair in every other drama. Witch Amusement great, Three Dads terrible, Hometown of Legends erm, Color of Woman yay. I'm afraid for what May Queen portends...

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girlfriday

July 19, 2012 at 3:54 PM

But is there an inverse relationship between goodness of hair and badness of drama? If so, do we wish for good hair or bad?

He's your I Lub You. I'll let you decide.

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subject

July 20, 2012 at 10:14 AM

I don't know what you mean by writing yay about CoW (I think it's the worst drama that made in 2011/2012), but I agree with the rest. Jae Hee usually chose to play in awful dramas, therefore I'm not sure about this one.

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MsGB

July 20, 2012 at 10:22 PM

I think she meant that his haircut was awesome (which it was) not the drama (which it wasn't).

BTW, whose that kid on the far left of the last pic? Anybody know? He looks very familiar.....

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4 crazedlu

July 19, 2012 at 4:27 PM

love the kids!

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scarlett

July 19, 2012 at 7:33 PM

same here

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5 Mystisith

July 19, 2012 at 4:49 PM

If I watch this, it will be for Kim Jae-won only. But 32 eps? If it's as good as CYHMH, OK. Or else...
Ps: I hope his shoulder is OK now. That misery lasted long enough.
Ps2: I bet the oceanographer is a genius too. ^^

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cindy

July 19, 2012 at 4:53 PM

The sad thing is, who will be subbing this drama when they have arang, LMH drama and others coming up?

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canxi

July 19, 2012 at 6:13 PM

Oh someone will be on it. Don't worry about that. People love Kim Jae Won,so there will be subbers.

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sibrani

July 19, 2012 at 8:27 PM

amen...

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gemerald

August 8, 2012 at 8:37 AM

Don't worry about the subbing, viki.com already made a team to sub this drama :)... i love to see Kim Jae Won.... he is an Angel to me, his Smile always made my day complete... :)

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6 jiajia

July 19, 2012 at 4:55 PM

THIS HAS TO BE THE HOTTEST LOVE TRIANGLE I'VE EVER SEEN. woah woah. i'm in.

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orangy911

July 20, 2012 at 6:59 PM

::high five::

I love all three actors (although Kim Jae Won has and always will be a personal favorite) so I'm down.

I would kill to watch Jae Hee and Kim Jae Won kick off a bromance of their own in the drama though. Curse love rivalry. Love each other instead! Why they haven't filmed a movie together is beyond me.

Side note: Kim Jae Won's vampire skin looks even paler against the black background in the first poster. Kek.

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7 Kiara

July 19, 2012 at 4:56 PM

The young actors are more appealing. Han Ji-hye was so boring in The Duo. I hope she'll do better here.

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HANI

July 19, 2012 at 5:23 PM

I'm looking forward to the young actors way more than the adults especially Han JiHye. Hopefully the young actors takes up more than 2 episodes. The longer the better.

'God forbid we have a plain ol’ chaebol WHO ISN’T A GENIUS. What would we do?' - GF, the kdramaverse would be in chaos!!! Kekekekeke. Meh, nobody is average joe/jane in kdramaverse. If the plot involves doctor/cheabol/any pros/owns business = genius. If you are poor, then you are destined to be naive, clumsy, love anything/everything & have strong waist. It is a given. But I still watch it though. *what's wrong with me?*

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akikisetsu

July 21, 2012 at 7:03 AM

I'm in it for the kids too. I read somewhere that the young actors would appear until episode 6 or 8. Around those numbers. Yey for that!^^

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8 djeedjes

July 19, 2012 at 5:16 PM

I'll watch for the kids' part!

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9 comradeS

July 19, 2012 at 5:17 PM

Pretty much all I got out of this was "Jae Hee's wearing a pair of Berluti shoes!!!" (The same style from AGD methinks?) and "Ma-roo!!!"

Sadly, my love for Kim Jae-won probably won't get me onboard with this show, but you never know.

Har har.

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10 meecheellee

July 19, 2012 at 5:17 PM

I'm pretty much only interested in the younger actors, most of them have proved themselves pretty capable of acting. Sometimes better than the adult casts.

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11 sab_rina

July 19, 2012 at 5:21 PM

The question I got in my head is why is there a childhood scene? Are they all childhood friends? Hmmm, it sounds like a typical drama with hard life and chaebol character....Really wish Jae Hee could have picked up something more exciting and vibrant drama...

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mary

July 19, 2012 at 5:28 PM

Probably to show that genius chaebol was a genius...even as a kid.

And to show why Jae Hee is a poor kid who worked his way to the top.

And to show how kid Han Ji hye already "had it in her" as a junior oceanographer / daemul 2.0.

And also to show fateful childhood meetings, first loves, etc that kind of thing. :D

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Betty

July 19, 2012 at 10:11 PM

Childhood scene? I guess it's because they probably had a love triangle since very young (yawn) and I bet they are each others first love but then fate kicks in to break them apart and then they meet later and then rivalry and so on...

I will most likely not watch this as it is aired. I will marathon it later so that I can skip the part I don't like and make a good use of my time.

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12 anvesha

July 19, 2012 at 5:23 PM

This is probably the most unique love triangle I've seen, in terms of actors. Both guys have been leads in many dramas before. It will be fun watching them fight! (onscreen of course..)

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13 dahlia

July 19, 2012 at 5:24 PM

cant wait, cant wait, Kim Jae Won and Jae Hee OMG christmas is in August for me 2 of my favorite korean actor :)

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14 sosoxrah

July 19, 2012 at 5:32 PM

omg.. Jae Hee and Kim Jae-won in the same drama. Didn't know they're friends in real life. I will always remember them both as my early- to mid-2000 drama fave actors. I remember first watching Kim Jae-won in "Rival" with Kim Min-jung and seeing Jae Hee in "Choon-hyang." Hope this drama is good.

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antonia

July 21, 2012 at 5:29 AM

do you know where can i watch Rival??? i read so many good comments about it!!!

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KIM JAE WON FANSCLUB (@kimjaewon0218)

August 1, 2012 at 4:43 PM

You can watch Rival in their Website, i watch it few months ago. It's indeed awesome... I love Kim Jae Won even more. :) I definitely watch this drama just because of him. We are for Kim Jae Won all the way...

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15 Brenda

July 19, 2012 at 5:48 PM

I'm totally watching for Kim Jae Won.
I'm hoping he's the lead guy but I'm skeptical since Jae Hee is going to be his polar opposite.

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16 Ivoire

July 19, 2012 at 5:49 PM

Thank you for the news!

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17 rainerust

July 19, 2012 at 6:18 PM

I looked at the kid actors/actresses and thought, damn seriously Korea needs to write a drama for these kids stat! I would watch Kim Yoo-Jung in almost anything (see: Moon)...

That said, I love both leading men but I'm more cautious about the storyline. I'm rather tired of all the melodrama in chaebol stories with geniuses. Please don't let them throw in birth secrets along with it (yes, I'm looking at you, Big).

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18 rjyuggy

July 19, 2012 at 6:24 PM

Great cast for the kids role

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19 rjyuggy

July 19, 2012 at 6:32 PM

A 32 episode drama will obviously have Makjang elements in it. Im still not sure if I will watch this.

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20 kooriyuki

July 19, 2012 at 7:11 PM

im sure it'll go beyond 32 episodes.

on a side note, a teaser on Vampire Prosecutor 2 is out!!!

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~Feather~

July 19, 2012 at 7:41 PM

Where can I watch it? Do you have a link?

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cherkell

July 19, 2012 at 8:14 PM

ME. WANT. NOW. http://tinyurl.com/76apqnx

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PurpleJam

July 19, 2012 at 9:59 PM

Omg, am so excited after seeing the VP2 teaser! Such a hot YJH with his sexy guyliner!

Meanwhile, also anticipating JH in this May Queen drama. At least I know the coming months wont be bored for me with these two shows ;)

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kooriyuki

July 20, 2012 at 10:48 PM

in case the tinyurl link cherkell gave below doesn't work (coz it didn't work for me :(): http://youtu.be/i1wOkUx8_nE

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21 Abbie

July 19, 2012 at 7:12 PM

This looks like it'll be good. I'm really looking forward to the childhood backstory, especially because Park Ji-bin will be one of the kids. He is a really talented young actor, and I enjoyed his acting in Stars Falling From the Sky and Boys Over Flowers. And Jae Hee! Can't wait!

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lovepark

July 19, 2012 at 10:57 PM

Isn't Park Ji-bin just the cutest thing! Plus, he's a pretty good actor. He's gotten so big now! I'm sure he'll be stealing many hearts in the future.
Oh, and I can't forget to mention how much Park Gun-tae has grown too. He's another one who I really enjoy on screen and look forward to his career. Gosh, I'm more excited for the children's portion than the adults' part.

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22 exquisitemelody

July 19, 2012 at 7:31 PM

Not sure if I'll stick with the whole story, but I'm totally tuning in for the kid portion!! Am I the only one that can't see Kim Yoo-jung in anything but Joseon garb? Great actress. Loved her in Dong Yi and Moon...I'm waiting for the moment where her and Yeo Jin-goo star as adult leads in their own drama.

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23 Elise

July 19, 2012 at 7:33 PM

KJW!!! Tempted to rewatch 'Can u hear my heart' for the 2nd time now ; )

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24 jomo143

July 19, 2012 at 8:49 PM

Am I really the only one that liked her in The Duo?
It wasn't her fault that there was no romance for her to be romantic with. I was really proud of the way she was able to be successful in a man's world.

Really like the child/teen cast, too.

KJW and JH are both very charming actors who make me care about them.

Except - I hated JH's character in Three Dads. HATED what the way they made him talk.

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25 Lucy

July 19, 2012 at 9:09 PM

from the still poster , observing the body language seems like jae hee is the main lead and in the second photo jae won is defensive ?

AS the lead actor I don't like jae hee's character in color of woman.

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Lucy

July 19, 2012 at 9:09 PM

thank you GF

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26 dalia

July 19, 2012 at 9:14 PM

will watch for KIM JAE WON. he's the only one who can make me watch 20+ episode drama!

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27 Tha

July 19, 2012 at 9:42 PM

Jae Heeeeeeee!

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28 sarang

July 19, 2012 at 9:45 PM

Looks and sounds like a melodrama to me, but worth watching for the leads alone. Random but hopefully JH does a rom-com soon.

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29 jamie

July 19, 2012 at 9:52 PM

hmmm ilove han ji hye's shoes

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30 YY

July 19, 2012 at 10:15 PM

Every time I see Han Ji Hye, I think of Lee Dong Gun and "Sweet 18". I loved the two of them there and in "My Boyfriend is Type B". I know they have broken up in real life but I have a soft spot for her because these were two of my earliest forays into Korean drama and Korean movies. Lee Dong Gun needs to come back ASAP and make another drama with her.

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Crysalide

July 20, 2012 at 7:01 AM

She is married u know. so working your ex when u've already have a family is like opening old scars and memories especially with the romance scenes involved

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31 TT

July 19, 2012 at 10:17 PM

Does anyone know the name of the song in episode 10 of "I need romance 2"? Thanks!

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32 nabithoj

July 19, 2012 at 10:31 PM

I wonder if the kdrama system overworks their child actors and actresses like their adult actors and actresses...

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33 Banu

July 20, 2012 at 2:26 AM

OMO..both my fav... yay

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34 myra

July 20, 2012 at 2:37 AM

i always thought the other mbc drama will end first, but they promote only this one...so is god of war extended as there's no news about the next drama? do you have any information?

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35 J

July 20, 2012 at 3:37 AM

Park Gun Tae and Kim Yoo Jung! Agree with GF, I'd watch them in a drama on their own. Tell ya, give these kids (and Yeo Jin Goo) a couple more years, they'd be the REAL deal! Looks, talents, charms, they've got it all. Korea really is something in finding these talents *bow*

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36 apple

July 20, 2012 at 4:16 AM

"Oh, and he’s also a genius. God forbid we have a plain ol’ chaebol WHO ISN’T A GENIUS. What would we do?"

I laughed so hard at this!

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37 houstontwin

July 20, 2012 at 6:53 AM

The child actors are so adorable! Sometimes the "childhood" part of a drama is the best part!

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38 m92

July 20, 2012 at 9:16 AM

i have a feeling that this drama will be hit even it is still underated. Moreover, based on talented child actors, i think it must be a good drama because as far as i knew, these child actors's dramas are almosts of them are hit especially kim yoo jung's dramas(dong yi, moon sun,revenge of gumiho) so thats why they take a role in this drama. I heard that this drama will compete with Arang n Faith. But i think Arang will gonna left behind while may queen n faith are gonna compete head to head. I heard the scriptwriter and director for faith is the one that make Legend(2007) so i think that drama will gonna be hit too because Legend are really good!!

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gemerald

August 12, 2012 at 10:04 AM

I don't think it's under-rated, it haven't start yet but it's already one of the most popular topic in koreandrama.org website, i think this drama will make a big hit... the casting from child to adult are pretty solid and talented... :) i seldom watch 30 episode drama except when Kim Jae Won was in it.... he is really worth watching... the best actor i always admire in and out of small screen... There is something on his gentle look that makes me love him so much...

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39 nozomi

July 20, 2012 at 7:12 PM

Yay for Jae Hee!

Re-watching 3-iron.

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40 Sparrow

July 20, 2012 at 9:17 PM

LOL about genius chaebols! What would K-dramas do without them?

I really liked HJH in that drama Sweet 18, but I definitely could not watch The Duo. Her character was just annoying.

Aww, Kim Yoo Jung is really cute, and I thought a very good young actress. The other kids look adorable too :)

This looks like a drama I'll wait for the recaps for before watching though. I'm more excited about Arang, personally!

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41 antonia

July 21, 2012 at 5:27 AM

even if the plot doesn't sound interesting and it's 32 episodes i will watch cause it's Kim Jae Won!!!! i wish wish wish he's the lead!!!!
i mean CYHMH doesn't sound interesting from the previews and it's 30 episodes and i thing is the most perfect drama ever!!! and Cha Dong Joo will be one of my most beloved characters ever!!
i saw kjw and jh in wuri's family and i loved them as brothers!!!
i will watch for sure!!!

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42 avocado

July 22, 2012 at 8:23 PM

woahh..Jae Hee and Kim JAe Woon..who will be the first lead??
Regarding their past work..it should be KJW maybe...but Jae Hee is candidate of first lead too...
I guess the drama competition in Korea is very hard...there are a lot of new actor ...which can play well in fact maybe better..such as Kim Soo Hyun..and there are many senior actor that just come back from military duties...woah...

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43 nasus

July 29, 2012 at 12:59 AM

Jae Won and Jae Hee!
Yayyyyyyyyy!
Can't choose between the two!

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44 Heavenly

August 6, 2012 at 12:52 PM

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45 Gretz16

August 12, 2012 at 9:43 PM

Kim Jae Won is the male lead, i read on the character description from Official Website that the loveline is between Hae Joo (Han Ji Hye) and Kang-san (Kim Jae Won), on the other hand, Chang Hee (Jae Hee) will marry the character of In Hwa... :)... the rest you have to check out by yourself... it's actually a bit long description, it gets me more excited about this drama when i read it...

I personally like Kim Jae Won, so for me, it's him, all the way.... fighting...