Sibling rivalries take to the small screen

8 July 6, 2009July 6, 2009

by javabeans

Ratings battles are always part of the trials and tribulations of television dramas, but is the experience better or worse when one is going up against one’s own sibling? It’s not a common scenario, because while there are several sets of famous siblings in the biz, like Kim Tae-hee and Lee Wan, it’s rare that they’re both in dramas simultaneously, much less in the same timeslot.

But now, we have not one but two sets of siblings in this situation. Older sister Chae Shi-ra is currently heading the KBS weekend sageuk series Iron Empress [천추태후], but will soon face competition from her own little sister, Chae Kook-hee, who has been cast in SBS’s Style [스타일], which premieres August 1.

While Chae Shi-ra is the more famous name, her sister has had a wide range of theater and musical experience and has acted several times on television, including the 1998 KBS sitcom I’ll Make You Happy [행복을 만들어 드립니다] and the 2004 Drama City installment Anagram [아나그램]. The Chae sisters also acted together in a 1998 KBS sageuk, King and Queen.

Chae Shi-ra, Chae Kook-hee

In Style, Chae Kook-hee will play a manipulative fashion editor, alongside — and also rivaling — Kim Hye-soo‘s deputy editor character, who ranks just below her. The two women will fight in all aspects over the top spot at the fashion magazine that forms the backdrop for the drama. Chae said of her famous sister, “She’s encouraging me a lot. As a more experienced actor, she advises me on various things, and coaches me in things I’ve overlooked.”

Aside from the Chaes, there are also the Uhms — that is to say, Uhm Jung-hwa and Uhm Tae-woong. Big sis is currently in the KBS Monday-Tuesday drama The Man Who Can’t Get Married, but so far little bro’s series, Queen Seon-deok, is kicking major ratings butt, having surpassed the 30% mark — nearly 20 percentage points ahead of The Man Who Can’t Get Married.

But perhaps Uhm Jung-hwa will have a chance to catch up in Round 2, as both siblings will also release films this month — he in the maneating-pig-gone-wild thriller Chaw (releases July 16) and she in Haeundae (releases July 23).

Uhm Jung-hwa, Uhm Tae-woong

Via Economy Today, Asia Economy

Required fields are marked *

1 foo

July 6, 2009 at 3:37 PM

last!

Required fields are marked *

2 CrimemasterGogo

July 6, 2009 at 4:15 PM

This might be irrelevant but I have the biggest crush on Uhm Tae-woong, oh that smile melts me everytime.

Required fields are marked *

3 jackieee

July 6, 2009 at 7:35 PM

Wow! Did NOT know that Uhm Tae-woong and Uhm Jung-hwa were siblings! (Great genes... gosh.)

Btw, this is unrelated to the post, but I couldn't wait until Friday! Javabeans, I heard from a friend that KIM BUM dropped out of '71!' Is this true?? I'll be sooo disappointed if it is... I was really looking forward to it! :(

Required fields are marked *

4 Dramaniac

July 6, 2009 at 7:35 PM

@ CrimemasterGogo

I agree...his smile can make you melt. I loved his goofy drunk smile in Delightful girl Choon Hyang.

Required fields are marked *

5 Javabeans

July 6, 2009 at 7:53 PM

I do believe Kim Bum is out of "71." I think "Dream" is taking up all his time... (boooo)

Required fields are marked *

6 littlebunny

August 10, 2009 at 11:52 PM

The Man Who Can’t Get Married...is one of the best Korean romance/comedy series I've ever watched since Coffee Prince..It's a shame that episodes ratings won't reveal the laughter you will get out of watching the series. Truly enjoyable. Uhm Jung Hwa is not just a pretty face.. she's also a great actress..

At the beginning.. I didn't like the first few episodes of Queen Seon-deok and find them a little slow and boring..but the show somehow is starting to get interesting ..I'm watching the 20th episode.

Required fields are marked *

7 Julieputy

November 20, 2009 at 9:38 PM

The drama He Who Can't Marry is really funny and romantic. I love to see Uhm Jung Hwa and Ji Jin Hee in that drama, they have great chemistry in that drama, it's quite obvious. And for Uhm Tae Woong's Queen Seon Deok, I haven't get a chance to watch it, but I'll be watching from the internet soon, so far I've watch Delightful Girl Choon Hyang from television 1 year ago, and not bad, Uhm Jung Hwa's younger brother can act too ^_^ But I'm a fan of Uhm Jung Hwa, and I don't dislike Uhm Tae Woong either. Hope to see Uhm Jung Hwa and Uhm Tae Woong in the same Drama or Movie, hahaha, curious to see how will it workout. The chemistry will be better between Uhm Jung Hwa and Ji Jin Hee as the fact that Uhm Jung Hwa and Uhm Tae Woong are siblings.