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Lee Ki-kwang’s drama special My Friend Is Still Alive

KBS is launching another season of single-episode Drama Specials starting this week, set to air on Wednesday nights after the primetime drama slot. I hope it’s a good programming move because I like drama specials and this way they’ll get more attention, but it also feels like they’re coming at a time when I can’t possibly fill my plate with anything else to watch. It seriously overfloweth, that damn watch list. On the upside they’re one-hour dramas, so if one pops up that catches your interest, there’s literally zero commitment involved in watching a one-off show.

The first installment is called The Memories in My Worn Wallet, and stars Ryu Soo-young (Rascal Sons) as a man who sets out to find his first love before he loses his memory. I’m admittedly less interested in that one (the memory loss has me wary even though I love Ryu Soo-young). But the second installment due out next week is called My Friend Is Still Alive, and it caught my eye because the premise sounded too adorable to pass up: a high school student gets diagnosed with leukemia and decides he can’t die before his first kiss, so his two best friends set out on a mission to find a girl who will kiss him before he dies.

It’s a comedy despite the terminal illness, and that kind of gallows humor just sounds like the perfect mix of bittersweet, absurd, and adorable that I love. Idol-actor Lee Ki-kwang (Me Too, Flower!) stars as the boy with leukemia, and he’s actually an idol I find charming in all his roles. They’re still all small roles, but he does a lot with a little for a green actor. Lee Joo-seung (Noona) and Kim Chang-hwan (School 2013) play his two besties, and School’s Jeon Su-jin plays the love interest.

The drama special is written and directed by the people behind School 2013, which is why a lot of the cast comes from that show, and also another reason for me to tune in. If those people did anything well it was high school angst, and with only one episode, there isn’t even any room to meander with pedantic tangents about the state of the education system. Ahem.

KBS’s One-Act Drama Special 2013 premieres this Wednesday, and My Friend Is Still Alive airs June 19.

Via Xports News

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Ohhh. Don't like tragic storylines.... but other than that that special sounds really good!

Maybe he won't die? x_x

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Actually the trailer doesn't look tragic at all. I mean, it definitely will have some tear-jerking moments I'm sure, but the tone overall seems uplifting. I'm definitely tuning in! Lee Ki-kwang is one of the few idols I don't mind acting. He has an easy going charm about him.

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My Friend is Still alive was FANTASTIC. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! In one hour it brings up lots of great questions for having such a simple goal for its characters like a first kiss. It makes you think about if your or your friend was sick, how much of your life are you willing to sacrifice and for how long. Do you have friends in your life like this boy does?

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awww this looks cute and funny

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I'm dying to watch these kbs drama specials. Especially the 2012 season (the Spoonbill flies away episode with Song Jong Ho...) :( but I can't find it with eng subs.

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All i want to say is please dont die...i just cant see anyone die rn on drama...just want one sweet drama that touch my heart ^^

and wow kikiwang looks weirdly good on the stills...i hope he act well XD

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Sounds like they want to make the sick guy look more pitiful.

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Yay! I'm glad more School kids are getting attention!

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aww. i love kikwang. glad to be seeing beast on the screens in 'monstar' and now this. hee. i wish i felt more for doojoon. haha. anyways... i'll probably check this out!

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Yay Kikwang! Will keep an eye out for this one, though I probably won't see it till it comes on kbsworld.

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Aww.....the story looks so adorable....and if it comes from School 2013 team.....it's going to be great!!

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That sounds soooo awesome. My eyes got all misty eyed from just the pictures!

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I want to cry just looking at the pictures. His friends take him to the ocean!!! awwwwwwww man. Nothing like the ocean to make you feel alive, happy, and sad all at the same time. I don't think I can watch Ki-kwang die...

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That second to the last still just kills me. I have to see this. Possibly the Ryu Soo-young one too.

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I really want to see this. I hope it gets subbed fast at viki.

How adorable this looks and gosh, I hope he doesn't die. (But knowing k-dramas...)

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There is nothing as sad as a young life being taken away. All the potential, possibilities, poof! He dies knowing, fighting, trying to get an impt experience before he goes! I don't think I can handle it! I'd rather re-watch the Indian film: 3 idiots.

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Gikwangggggggggggggg. I'm SO happy. He looks so adorable in his beanie and so sad in the last 2 pics. This is an interesting plot so I will definitely be tuning in, especially since it's only 1 episode. None of this 16 episode nonsense only to drag halfway through and crash and burn until the last 20 mins of episode 16 where everything is resolved...I haven't been burned too often by dramas....of course not! haha

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Definitely interested in watching the one with Kikwang. The story line seems interesting. Cute, yet bittersweet.

It's only an hour, but I hope the drama does well enough in that short amount of time.

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Please do a re cap if you can. I want to watch this but I don't want to be heart broken if it's a sad ending!!! Ugh, if Kikwang dies .... I don't really like sad ending!!! ;___;

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Ah, this looks adorable. I'll watch it if someone subs it. But, is that a love triangle hinted in the trailer ?

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I hope this comes out eventually with English subs. It sounds bittersweet and with lots of heart. Of course hearing that it's from the school 2013 team just makes it a must see.

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I'd go for Ryu Soo Young. Sounds like basically a one man piece which would be interesting. Dying young boys is not my cup of tea as a mother of young boys.

Hope, someone will sub it...

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KBS' drama specials are always interesting and unique.

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Oh yeah...I loved the way School 2013 was written. With a heart. And they didn't go their way out to create a full blown romance just because you are supposed to have one in a Korean drama. I would make do with bromance and subtle hints of love, thank you!

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I knew it.

As soon as I saw the name Kim Chang-hwan, I knew the name rang a bell. And Jeon Su-jin too.

For anyone who might want to remember who's who, Kim Chang-hwan was Han Yeong-woo (kid in glasses with special needs, who likes poetry; yes, he looks SOOOOO different without the glasses) and Jeon Su-jin was Gye Na-ri (the one who "stole" the smartphone). XD More and more Class 2-2 people, I'm so delight! And makes me want to smile at Kiki's student life in "High Kick 2".

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Looks adorably sad D:

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Such a cutie pie. Gikwang, noona loves you. :")

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my candy is too adorable to be a sick boy.. better dance and act .. but well this role can lead him to a bigger role.. and this role challenge his acting skill tho

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just finished watching and it was great! it has a lot of heart and the friendship/bromance is center stage in this special, just how i like it haha. so impressed with kikwang and lee joo seung!

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I saw My Friend is Still Alive and it was awesome! I don't mind watching it again and turning on the waterworks. I was actually surprised how good Kikwang is; he really balanced the humor and the desperation in his situation. Hope this boy gets more roles.

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You have a new fan, Lee Gi Kwang.

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may I know what song is it at the end? the same song that the girl sing for gikwang^^

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Do you know the title of the song at the end of this drama? the same song that the girl sang to gikwang when he was in the toilet. I couldn't find it anywhere T_T

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Like this drama so much hope to watch it soon

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Love this actrice

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sad ending but kikwang did well in this drama.

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Enjoyed it. Disappointed at ending until I realized that the story arc with the girl was secondary anyway. The main story was bromance, not romance. Though story would have wrapped up better if he did take full responsibility as he had promised.

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