Gong Yoo’s ‘Han Gyul’ Exactly as Writer Pictured
by javabeans
Can you tell I’m having a slow work day? LOL. Just one more Coffee Prince-related post before the weekend! (I swear, I’m Coffee Prince-ing myself out.) I found this interesting article and (what else?) felt the need to share. I love this kind of behind-the-scenes writerly stuff. Full credits and source behind the jump.
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Gong Yoo’s “Coffee Prince” Character Just as Writer Lee Sun Mi Imagined
Love rectangle created for a fresh take of the romantic novel for television broadcast
By Reporter Nam Eun Ju
Looking back at July, there was a writer, Lee Sun Mi (36), behind television programming every day from Monday through Thursday. As the original novelist of “Kyung Sung Sad Story,” adapted into the Wednesday-Thursday drama “Kyung Sung Scandal” [aka “Capital Scandal”], which just finished its last episode on the 1st, romantic novelist Lee Sun Mi is also penning scripts for the Monday-Tuesday series “Coffee Prince Store #1,” of which she is also the original novelist, screenwriting under the pen name of Lee Jung Ah.
I met the writer behind the romance drama in Seoul’s Hongdae.
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The writer who’d imagined the “sad story” around the independence movement, as well as the cafe operated by pretty-boy “princes,” said she is “addicted to stories that willingly sacrifice a bit of reality for the sake of romance.” Even while writing within the standardized format of romantic storytelling, she attempted to cross the lines between period piece and fantasy, and of course also genres such as homosexual love stories. After taking a position at Shin Young Media in 1999, during the eight years in which she wrote twenty romantic novels, she wrote with the intention of not repeating her settings and subject matter.
Of course, she had a strategy to survive in the romantic fiction world of broad, superficial romances that appeal to upwards of ten thousand people. “It’s a double-edged sword. The reader does grow weary of the patterns of romance fiction, but without those elements, you turn those readers off. In trying to explore something different in all my material, Coffee Prince is a novel I wrote keeping in mind the feel of popular Japanese novels, which fall somewhere between romance novels and pure literature.” However, romantic fiction is a genre that the writer herself enjoys, and so her main characters have not deviated much. Indeed, Sun Woo Wan of “Kyung Sung Sad Story” and Choi Han Gyul of “Coffee Prince” give the impression of reflecting the writer’s own preference for strong, masculine men.
In their respective dramas, those two have certainly been transformed into lighthearted, cheerful personalities. Although the original author is involved in these adaptations, she has been the one to urge the director to make cuts, saying, “If you can make it better, it doesn’t matter to me what you do.” She says, “Kang Ji Hwan (playing Sun Woo Wan)’s image was a bit more refined than in the novel, but Gong Yoo (playing Choi Han Gyul) was undoubtedly that character. He came across both like a youthful boy as well as a man, as well as being difficult to please… Even without having signed the contract, afterward when I was adapting the story, I only had Gong Yoo in mind as I wrote.” For him, Coffee Prince wasn’t just a novel to be unraveled with words. This was depicted in the 12th episode aired on the 7th, when Han Gyul (Gong Yoo) finds out that Eun Chan (Yoon Eun Hye) is a girl, and at the end of their fight, they officially embark on their romance. While this was the final wrap-up of the original story, the drama still has four episodes remaining in which to create something wholly original. “I thought the novel might exceed the first volume so I wrapped it up rather quickly, and felt some disappointment. I missed the opportunity of exploring aspects of developing the romance between the two main characters in the second half of the book.”
In the novel, Han Gyul seems to change suddenly, but, “in the drama, he goes through the process of naturally changing into someone who’s able to express his inner emotions.”
What does the writer feel fits her best, between being an original novelist and the writer of an adaptation? After Coffee Prince, Lee Sun Mi intends to try her hand at writing an original script. “In the drama, we’re creating dramatic threads and love triangles and rectangles that weren’t present in the original work. There may be those who are dissatisfied, but criticism is something I should willingly accept in order to create interesting, fun melodrama. Marriage? Putting aside what I’ve read, I’ll have to meet someone I like enough to go out with, I suppose.”
Source: Hankyoreh :: Hani.co.kr
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Tags: Capital Scandal, Coffee Prince, Gong Yoo, interviews, Kang Ji-hwan, scriptwriters
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1 Yopoyop
August 10, 2007 at 2:36 PM
Have a nice week end ! see you next ep ! ^^
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2 bjork
August 10, 2007 at 3:28 PM
Wow, i'm so glad that out of the many fine actors in Korea they've chosen Gong Yoo to play the role of Han Gyul. I mean, his facial expressions alone is enough to blow you away and when he delivers his line you can feel the emotions and all. I'm totally hooked, and can't wait till the next episode.......
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3 rainey
August 10, 2007 at 3:40 PM
It's good that she thinks he is the perfect Gong Yoo fits the role perfectly, cause I do too! :p
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4 mangoicy
August 10, 2007 at 3:56 PM
That was an interesting read (thank you, javabeans!).. In terms of finding a lifetime companion, I'd imagine Ms. Lee Sun Mi as someone who is difficult to please, you know.. being a romance novelist and all ^^.. But good luck to her for all of her future projects, whatever it may be.. who knows, she might score another Coffee Prince or even bigger and better script/book in near future.
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5 hua
August 10, 2007 at 4:44 PM
Thank you for the behind-the-scenes peek, Javabeans! It's great that the writer participated in the screenplay and had an actor in mind for one of her main characters (awesome choice too!). Makes me wonder what she thinks of YEH as EC! :-)
For all the Coffee Prince fans out there who wants something to help tide them over for the weekend, I found that someone had made little music videos for each episode of Coffee Prince (except epi05). Now you can watch your favorite scenes over and over again! YAY! These MVs can be found on his/her YouTube site: http://youtube.com/user/lcharmiel In the description for each video, s/he also provides a link to download the full video! Double Yay! Have a great weekend everyone! :-)
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6 tuesdhei
August 10, 2007 at 5:22 PM
i was actually wondering who else did they consider for the role and i'm surprised to know that it was written with him in the writers mind already -- and fits perfectly really...
but still among other korean actors if it wasn't made for gong yoo who do you think would be fit for the role as well? i'm thinking of Song Seung Hun, Kim Rae Won, Song Il Gook, Jae Hee but they are just a "maybe" it'll work ---- of course and again the role fits perfectly for GONG YOO....
And same here Javabeans.... I've been trying to get that Coffee Prince-ing out of my mind while waiting but I still can't help it... Yesterday I started to watch it all over again from Episode 1 and been checking d-addicts for the subs for 11th and 12th cup but no sign of it yet for both... hmmm i'm totally stucked! Can't get my mind off of it..... and i can't wait for monday's episode.... this is totally addicting! (your site is even my homepage now! LMAO)
Anyway, thanks for all your updates javabeans!
have a great weekend to you and to all the followers of dramabeans!
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I ♥️ bad dramas
April 20, 2017 at 12:21 PM
Apparently the director wanted Chun Jung myun as the male lead, but he wasn't available. She later cast him in Heart to Heart
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7 CW
August 10, 2007 at 6:12 PM
I always love reading about writers. Thanks for the post.
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8 Joenjwang
August 10, 2007 at 6:28 PM
What drama are you going to watch after Coffee Prince?
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9 yakatoo
August 10, 2007 at 6:51 PM
just as coffee prince-d as everyone else! absolutely hooked on anything coffee prince. seriously. and i've been reading the book (in english, check out xanga.com/coffeeprince) and i do tend to picture gong yoo as hang gyul when reading. i think he's really nailed down the part and gives it a certain kind of charm (admit it, all the gals reading this blog swoon over this guy!). thanks javabeans for giving us our much needed coffee prince fix (summary, articles, and what not!). more more more! :D
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10 gailt
August 10, 2007 at 6:52 PM
i, too, appreciate reading about what happened behind the scenes. that's why i appreciate those kind of special features in my DVDs of movies. yay.
i am very grateful, javabeans.
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11 tooizzy
August 10, 2007 at 7:15 PM
Thanks Javabeans it is nice to have something to tide us over. :-)
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12 asian-buzz.com
August 10, 2007 at 7:30 PM
Wow. Gong Yoo looks hot in this picture! I didnt know about him before Coffee Prince. He's definitely a very good actor. He is able to transform from a fun guy to a very serious and sensitive kind of person in his acting. Thanks to the writer for writing a very nice story!
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13 teokong
August 10, 2007 at 8:29 PM
Once again, THANK YOU Javabeans for all your postings. Yes, Gong Yoo fits the character in Coffee Prince out to out. A very fine and talented actor. The writer deserved a smack on the back for writing such wonderful novel. Yo...everyone, hang loose over the weekend. For me, I'm hanging out with Coffee Prince and drowning in happiness. Cheers!!!
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14
August 10, 2007 at 10:02 PM
I didn't know who Gong Yoo is before Coffee Prince...I'm last introduced to Kdrama about 5 yrs ago , now I'm a big fan, I'm a non-Korean , living in America. I'd seen a numberous of handsome K-actors , Gong Yoo was not a stunner at first glance for me but he won me over w/his acting skills , I'm his biggest fan now . Thank you Korea for sharing w/the rest of the world that love is universal , its can transform in any languages . And thank you Dramabean and the writer of this site , I'm addicted to your columns . Here's looking forward to your success. ;)
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15 lani
August 10, 2007 at 10:55 PM
Thanks for sharing. It is interesting to find out some details behind the scenes. I wonder though if like in the US, the leads audition before the director and screenwriters before final casting is made. In which case, if Gong Yoo was the first choice, did he have a read through with other actresses before they decided on YEH?
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16 tuesdhei
August 11, 2007 at 4:17 AM
Just some of his films that I know:
Spy Girl ( I love this movie!)
S Diary
One Fine Day
She's On Duty
Hardtack Teacher and Star Candy
My Tutor Friend (but i cant recall seeing him there... gotta watch it again!)
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17 LW
August 11, 2007 at 4:52 AM
WOW, javabeans, thanks for this insight on Coffee Prince's writer. And also thanks for all the other postings too (the novel, drama summary, etc). I didn't realise the writer for the drama and novel are the same person - no wonder :)
tuesdhei -> My Tutor Friend ??? Is he in it ?? O_O
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18 nhetski
August 11, 2007 at 5:23 AM
wow, so glad they chose GY for this role :) he certainly fits it to a T
YEH had to "audition" for this role, there was an article about the character of EC offered to someone else (can't remember the name, sorry) but the girl's company didn't take it coz of that girl's shampoo contract (so she can't cut her hair)?
i'd say that it's a blessing in disguise (just like when YEH wasn't able to do QSS) coz i believe CP is much more suited to YEH :)
and there's also some BTS pics of YEH shooting last Friday so i think she is ok now (health wise).
and the PD and the writer, they are both amazing! as well as the whole cast and staff, kudos!
thanks javabeans for giving us a Coffee fix. much appreciated!
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19 Beng
August 11, 2007 at 7:15 AM
gong yoo is perfect as HG. he's able to give life to the character. he is quite loveable and endearing. i think this is the best kdrama i saw of him. better than biscuit teacher and star pupil. love him =)
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20 Suzy
August 11, 2007 at 11:16 AM
Thanks for translating this article for us. Somehow I'm so happy to learn that the writer of the novel and the screenplay are that same person - makes me less anxious about the direction the remaining episodes will take.
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21 CW
August 11, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Yes, he was in My Tutor Friend. The leader of the gang that captured Kim Ha Neul at the end.
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22 asian-buzz.com
August 11, 2007 at 4:22 PM
I want to share with everyone a video of Gong Yoo singing at a recent fan event. Although not perfect, I thought he was acceptable. We love him anyway now. :) I'll post this on my blog, please leave comment! :) I'll also post a short preview of Coffee Prince ep 13.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2ZkruByBeN8
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23 MinMey
August 11, 2007 at 6:07 PM
hey javabeans!!! thanks so much for all CP's news u've posted before. as always i enyoy reading ur posts while listening to the cool music u upload.. but this time i don't why, since yesterday i can't download the song of this post. i think it was the same for all the songs(in all the posts), but it's only in this one.
is something wrong with the link ? can u check please:)? thanks in advance :):):):):)
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24 GreenT
August 11, 2007 at 8:09 PM
Hi JB,
Thanks for all the news and info on CP while we're waiting for next week. On a side note I think Kang Ji Hwan in Capital Scandal is also another good actor. Just like Gong Yoo, Kang Ji Hwan is not all that good looking but their acting is very good. I hope you'll be posting Capital Scandal too. Have a good weekend!!
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25 Gramps
August 12, 2007 at 12:44 AM
MinMey "i think it was the same for all the songs(in all the posts), but it’s only in this one. is something wrong with the link?"
Works for me. But the initial buffering time was very long (around 3 mins) because of the load on the site. Could it be that the other songs that work fine for you are ones you listened to on an earlier visit? In which case, those older songs will be stored in your browser cache, and so play instantly, whereas the new one has to be fetched firt time round from the dramabeans server.
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26 MinMey
August 13, 2007 at 6:30 PM
Gramps, thanks for replaying i think the problem was the link and not the sever. Anyways it's fixed and i can download it :) thanks
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27 Ceci
August 16, 2007 at 1:57 PM
Hello Javabeans! thanks for the info it brighten my day...this addiction is awesome....It's good to know that the writer is the same for both...and too bad that the writer ended the novel with him realizing he as a she. But hey it helps the drama be more interesting and in the novel the reader can debate if they finally get together or leave it at that...get it?....(rambling words in my brain....)
Have a good weekend!
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28 Tuesdhei
August 17, 2007 at 2:31 AM
have you read about the news? this will be gong yoo's last drama.... after coffee prince he'll be doing his military service -- ugh and that's two years... at the peak of his career right - that is just really -- ugh!!!
here's the link>> http://asianfilms-ent.blogspot.com/2007/08/gong-yoo-leaving-to-serve-his-military.html
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29 tuesdhei
August 17, 2007 at 5:13 AM
To: 17 LW
I just checked, he's there alright, "as the bully" (supporting cast only) he played as the school gang leader who got beat up by the lead actor in the beginning of the movie...
do watch "HARDTACK TEACHER AND STAR CANDY" --- IT'S A MUST SEE DRAMA!
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30 tuesdhei
August 17, 2007 at 4:42 PM
here's where you can watch "HARDTACK TEACHER AND STAR CANDY"
http://asianfilms-watchonline.blogspot.com/2007/08/biscuit-teacher-and-star-candy.html
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31 skyward
September 12, 2007 at 12:16 PM
She's so lucky! Many writers will create with a particular actor in mind. She got her wish!
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32 pim
November 7, 2007 at 7:02 PM
Hi!!!!Gong Yoo I come from Thailand Bkk, I be satisfied you so much. I hope you have series on TV and movie and I hope hear from you soon, Gong Yoo fighting fighting. Pim
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33 honeygeeko
December 18, 2007 at 6:39 AM
i'm glad to know that the author liked Gong yoo to play as the coffee prince. He is just SO PERFECT for the role!!nobody could do it right but him!hope he will be more famous because of this show..More Power to Coffee prince and of course goodluck to GY! wooohooo!!!
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34 Liza
January 9, 2008 at 4:02 AM
Hi!!! Im Liza from Philippines I like Gong Yoo’s “Coffee Prince" He's very cute and a good actor. I like him grabeeee
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35 reggie
January 14, 2008 at 2:53 AM
Hi, Im Reggie from Philippines. I love watching Knovela but not as crazy as this. At first glance Gong yoo was not that a goodlooking guy as i thought. My god when i finished watching the CPrince, His the man that every woman will be dreaming off. His really a guy next door. A very very good actor actor as well. Gong yoo fits the role perfectly. Little sad coz Gong Yoo will going to the military service. Hope the two (Yoon Eun Hye and Gong Yoo) will do more series like this again after the two years of service in military of GY.
More power and God Bless!!!!!!
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36 Bleuzelle
January 20, 2008 at 7:56 PM
Fall in love with Gong Yoo after watching this drama, that I'm currently trying to watch every single movie/drama he's in. Yes, he is not that good looking but there is just something about his facial expression; his shy smiles, the way his eyes tears up, when he eyes roamed about....sigh!
My second favourite moment in CP was after Eun Chan's confession and this is what he have to say
"I need someone who trust me, and even though the whole world laugh at me and call me an imbecile. I need someone who can tell me, Choi Han Keol just haven't the oppurtunity to prove himself; Choi Han Keol does what he puts his mind to; Choi Han Keol just havent found his way yet, but when he do, he'll be able to make something out of himself. I need someone who can trust me like that, not someone like you who deceives me even while we're in love. Who is afraid of being abandoned"
The way he delivers the line, make me root for him, whereas before I was like "Dude, get off your high horse! So she deceives you...big deal! Who has never told a lie in this life? She has her reasons - but now she comes clean..so get over it lah!" Hahaha.....
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37 divina anne
January 24, 2008 at 9:26 PM
ang gwapo mo talaga gong yu crush nga kita eh!!!!!!!!
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38 vanjah valerie
January 28, 2008 at 4:50 AM
how i wish gong yoo is my boy friend..hehehe! it will always remain as my dream!!! but how can it be..gong yoo is out in showbuzznesss for 2 years because of his military service!! i'm really dsapnted!! i'm really looking 4ward in seeing him in an another koreanovela with yun eun hye..but, unfortunately!! he's out 4 2 years..i'd reali cry wen i knew dat story..huhuhu!!oh,,well...gong yoo i love u... bby d' way i'm ur no. 1 fan her n d' philippines...
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39 ghia
January 29, 2008 at 6:00 PM
Wow!!! im not a fond of watching koreanovelas but i think after watching coffee prince I'd be watching more koreanovelas...i love the fact that its a heavy drama...Coffee prince is a feel good series. it makes me feel good whnever im watching it. it lightens up my mood.
I also love Gong yoo!!! gosh!!! i love his character in Coffee prince, gong yoo and eun hye really look good together. they are a good tandem.
i love how all the cast of Coffee prince brought to life each characters....
good job!!!
thanks to the writter of Coffee prince too. you have conceptualized an amazing masterpiece....this is the kind of love story that id let my kids whatch in the future!!!!
i love Coffee Prince!!! i love gong yoo!!! hahahah
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40 bebs
January 30, 2008 at 9:15 PM
ang gwapo mo tlga sobrang cute.........................., pa
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41 chekie
January 30, 2008 at 9:21 PM
I really loved the story even though its a bit short, i think!.....i wonder if there's 2nd shop of coffee prince....i wish your planning to write the second part of it with my fingers cross. I really have sleepless nights just to wait for the next episode and imagining what will happen next. I love the characters....I was intrigue what will happen for the other character in the movie I hope they too have their lover on the next part. I really admire writers who can make this kind of drama. Hope i can hear from you!
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42
February 2, 2008 at 10:21 PM
iuhutyh
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43 angel
February 4, 2008 at 4:03 AM
hay naku ang gwapo mo arthur choi (gong yoo) i hope na sana after 7 years mkta kta kc pupunta koh dyan sa korea
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44
February 9, 2008 at 10:49 PM
i love you gong.from kim
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45 nikki
March 2, 2008 at 7:26 PM
hay naku...ang cute talaga ni arthur...hay....!!!!
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46 kaye
March 3, 2008 at 4:00 AM
hi gong yoo how are you??
i do hope that you are in good health. i am Kaye one of your fan here in Philippines. i wish i can see you or may i say i can meet you someday. i hope also that you can read this message. Many people in the Philippines love your drama espiecially the coffee prince. Most of the Filipino love it. And yoon eun hye i like her role in that drama she is so funny..
but sometimes i was crying because it really touches..
more power to you..
also to yoon eun hye..
God bless you...!!!
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47 roui
March 20, 2008 at 10:49 AM
hi!you are my most vip idol in the philippines!
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48 putri syazleen
March 30, 2008 at 6:08 PM
i realy love the coffee prince drama.... everytime i watch it... i just hope.. that love story will never end.. congratulation to the team... u guys make my day...
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49 leoby
March 31, 2008 at 4:37 AM
hello everyone, i am a filipina fan of coffee prince. i really love the show and i hope there's a part 2 when gong yoo come back from his military service. i don't want any actor to portray as but he only. eh and gy are really good loveteam. i like their chemistry. i hope that by 2010 there's a coffee prince 2. thank you very much, hope you grant my request.....
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50 mariana garcia
April 15, 2008 at 7:47 PM
Hi!
Hope you read this, im mariana from the philippines, i love your movie 'coffee prince" and its because of you.i watch more of your movies like one fine day, s-diary ang spy girl .you are really a great actor.hope to see you in person.
god bless!
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