News bites: March 11, 2017

by awcoconuts

Ji-soo, Park Bo-young, Park Hyung-shik

• The cast of Strong Woman Do Bong-soon is making good on their pre-premiere pledges. Prior to the show’s launch, the cast agreed that if an episode was able to exceed 3% in viewership ratings, Park Bo-young would see some lucky viewers home (reprising her role as a Herculean bodyguard) and the two male leads would hug 100 people. The premiere episode achieved 3.8%, while the fourth episode increased viewership to a whopping 8.3%, and the cast was quick to respond to the outpouring of support. Park Hyung-shik and Ji-soo will be giving out free hugs in Youngdeungpo’s Times Square on March 14, and recipients will be selected based on replies to JTBC’s official SNS account. Park Bo-young began muscling the first of five winners home on March 8 with the aid of castmates Im Won-hee and Kim Min-gyo, and footage of these fan interactions is expected to be available on JTBC’s homepage beginning March 17. [Herald Pop, Joongang]
• Congratulations to Han Groo (Marriage Not Dating), who recently gave birth to twins! Her rep said she is currently focused on recovery but that she’s planning a return to the industry next year. [Joongang]


Han Groo, Jin Gu, Seohyun, Min Hyo-rin

• Jin Gu may reunite with Jung Woo (they were in C’est Si Bon together) in the film Heungbu. He’s currently reviewing an offer to cameo as the trickster brother Nolbu in the retelling of a classic Korean folktale about two brothers, one kind and the other greedy. Jung Woo was recently confirmed to play the gentle-hearted Heungbu. [Osen]
• A new weekend drama called Thief-nom, Thief-nim (a working title that roughly translates to Jerk Thief, Honorable Thief) is courting Seohyun (Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo) as its female lead. About thieves who aim to take down a small number of vested interests that covertly operate in Korea, the drama will be written by Sohn Young-mok and Cha Yi-young (Dazzling Temptation, Gold Rainbow) and directed by Oh Kyung-hoon (Mom, Home Sweet Home). Thief-nom, Thief-nim is scheduled to follow Father, I’ll Take Care of You on MBC in May. Star News]
• Gearing up to return to dramaland is Persevere Gu Hae-ra actress and current Unni Slam Dunk regular Min Hyo-rin. She’s confirmed for a two-episode web drama that will also air on KBS called Individualist Ms. Ji-young. [Osen]


Dasom, Oh Yoon-ah, Chun Ho-jin

• Joining Kim Joo-hyun as the leading trio in Sister Is Alive are SISTAR’s Dasom (Strange Daughter-in-Law) and Oh Yoon-ah (Saimdang, Light’s Diary). Dasom’s character is the source of the story’s problems; she’s intelligent and is a looker, but she’s also described as a skilled liar and a charmer. She had to quit school to earn income to support her family, and thus the extent of her education has been some high school beauty classes. Since she was young, she’s done anything to earn money, and she absolutely hates being poor. Oh’s role is that of an intellectual and levelheaded former assistant to a large conglomerate executive, but once she births the child she’s always wanted, she’ll give everything up to become a homemaker and to focus on her daughter. The story about three friends who share the same pain and who raise a child together will air after Our Gap-soon in April on SBS. [Joongang 1, 2]
• Chun Ho-jin (Moonlight Drawn By Clouds) will reunite with Six Flying Dragons castmate Yoo Ah-in in Chicago Typewriter. Chun’s been cast as a novelist and giant of the Korean literary world, who was once a supporter of Yoo’s character. The two had a falling out and have turned their backs on each other for good. The fantasy rom-com will take the spot vacated by Tomorrow With You on tvN in April. [DongA]


Song Kang-ho, Jo Jung-seok, Lee Sung-min, Yoon Je-moon

• It’s easy to get blinded by the star power of the cast of Drug King, which cast Song Kang-ho early as the boss of a an illegal substance ring. Jo Jung-seok is now confirmed for the role of a prosecutor, Lee Sung-min (Memory) will play a policeman, and Yoon Je-moon (Last) a Yakuza member who supports kingpin Song. Also confirmed are Kim Dae-myung (Misaeng) and Jo Woo-jin (The Lonely Shining Goblin), who are reuniting with director Woo Min-ho (all three collaborated on Insiders); Kim will play Song’s younger cousin, while Jo will play a Busan thug. Finally, Kim So-jin (The King) has been cast as Song’s wife, and Lee Hee-joon (Legend of the Blue Sea) a drug dealer. Cameras for the film are expected to begin rolling by July. [Star News 1, 2]
• KBS is moving ahead with a new Producers-like variety drama, and has tapped PD Yoo Ho-jin of 1 Night 2 Days Season 3 to direct. This will be Yoo’s first time directing a drama, and it’ll be interesting to see what his collaboration with The Producers team will yield. [Sports Chosun]

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