I agree.. Lee Da Hae should be given a break.. i can't deny that she looks screen perfect and her skin blemish free from any dirt ... but the directors and make up artists should take some of the blame as well.. as an actress she is probably be guided by the team involved in the drama and I doubt she could over rule the ones directing and making the drama..

"However, I’ll argue that it may not be that viewers are just being inconsistent; they’re just tired of seeing the same shot over and over."

I haven watch Chuno, but sometimes i do read comments about other drama. i also think those critics are funny since its too minor. but i get it, if they show it the same thing over and over, i do feel irritated. u know, like when i watched bollywood, they sang every 15 minutes. but yeah, this has nothing to do with the actress, its just the director.

I do not know why, sth bothering me about LDH in this character.
Now I know. She is too pretty. Put some dirt on her, it will surely add more charms to the character.

People complained just because they wanted it to be perfect.

Oh please, this has nothing to do with jealousy. I think she really is the prettiest kdrama actress next to KHS Song Hye Kyo. But she is not portraying herself when she is acting, she is someone else and we should forget she is LDH when watching Chuno - she is supposed to be UN. As Javabeans said, it takes me out of the drama when she is looking like that.

She is to me the only disappointment with Chuno. Too pretty looking, too clean and wooden. I am uninterested in her character.

She couldn't let her nails go for this drama??? That is not commitment, that is vanity and she should not be doing sageuks, but contemporary dramas.

Too many negative comments here !!

go go go Lee Da Hae you are still the best among the women casts in CHUNO.

The male characters look really appealing as well as convincing for a historical drama, but, sorry, kill me if anyone tells me LDH looks every bit like a run-away slave. She's even cleaner than many free people.

Most probably the Lee family treated their slaves decently that Un Nyun make sure she is hygienically clean although she is in tattered clothes, and also her pureness in heart. This could be one of the reasons why Lee Dae gil is attracted to the slave girl.

@ Taohua, thanks for mentioning LYA's DJG. I had the exact same thought. I know we should not be comparing apples to oranges, she's fine in many scenes, esp the more melodramatic ones, but when nuances and subtlety r required, she's haphazardly all over the place, fr vacant/wooden to overacting for me.

After more thought, I don't think UN was that badly written at all, complexities and layers to her character that are just lost and unexpressed, may it be the fault of the acting or the directing/editing. She's been through her share of tragedy and trauma as well, but instead of witnessing how those traumatic experiences had weathered her, we got a character that's way too vanilla.

To me the prob is she is not delving deep enough into the psyche of the character and resorts to acting UN out in shallow posturing, and that in turn distracts us to focus on the superficial. There were scenes in ep3 where she's disguised as a guy and hanging out with the dudes and of coz the trope of sleazy men talking about u know what after some booze and she went all *grasp* *OMG* and fidgeting with the neckline of her 'boy' outfit and touching her supposedly blazing embarrassed cheeks. It's overacting, if done with more finesse, we would get the point without her exaggerations. And then in that disguise, she's still talking in her usual voice and no attempt to sound like a man. I'm baffled. A lot of actors can transcend the physicality, but clearly she needed more help in fleshing out her character.

May I be honestly, too !?

I try to watch this drama, as so many people praise it. And its quiet good and entertaining because of the male-characters. But regarding LDH, her acting is really bad. Is this the LDH all were so prasing?
Its not only her "overclean" style in this drama, which adds to her bad impression, my God her acting is so ....bad, I cant watch it anymore. And I am just wondering, or comparing her acting with the critisism of Han Ye Seul from WISFC. I am still speachless...LDH a "very good and talented actress" and HYS not? Beg me a pardon, but I dont understand this anymore.

Sorry, this is my first harsh criticsm of an actresses performance in my life. Even the bad girls with their strange haircuts in Stars Falling from the Sky are more bearable as her.
I dont care of LDH's censored upper body scenes or whow you do call it, I can even bear her tidy look (its her make-up artist, directors fault)...but her "unrealistic" acting, no thanks. It spoils the whole drama. I really cant bear it.

Well, maybe I am to disappointed, after the high pre-praiseses for her in Chuno. I was expecting much more from her. So it seems to be obviously my fault.

:(

how could people enjoy the drama if they criticize all the time
all this waste my pleasure

Sorry to Lee Da Hae's fans out there, but I really do think she's too wallflower-y. Also, I've never liked her in any drama... her face just looked too... plastic. It's so doll-like that I'm no longer sure if it's a human face I'm seeing or if it's just a bunch of silicon gels. I wonder if the plastic surgery rumors are true. I believe they are, anyway haha!

In all fairness to her leading men, they look awfully good. If I were to watch this drama, it would be because of them hahaha!

I don't think the guys are complaining about LDH... I'm sensing hippo green-eyed girls. ;-) Anyways, is it LDH's fault she had to look pretty and clean all the time? Come on! Blame it on the people who behind' this.. Besides, most of the guys actor like Jang Hyuk are half-naked most of the time.. that's alot of fanservice every scene every episode. No need for shower scenes. Besides, the dirtier he looks, the manlier he is!! :D

Da Hae Fighting!! Hye Won Fighting!!

Why worry about Lee Dae Hae's face ? everyone of us will have to retire one day is a matter of time, so don't waste your time on her. You should worry about your face in years to come. Like the saying goes "every dog has its day".

I THINK NO 109 IS A SPINSTER, they way she wrote it, like a very lonely soul, go and make a research first before u write something. I appreciate people give constructive critictism but not a people who obviosly just want to mess around.

If Lee Da hae was dirty & stinky looking wouldn't we wonder why these good looking leading men would fall in love with her. She was a happy laundry lady...a slave. If she was stinky & ugly would Dae gil, her noble young master find her attractive? She was happy until she saw her brother slash him & thinks he died in the fire with his family.
We see her still praying for his spirit & even sacrificed her hair as payment to the monk to pray for her beloved. She's running away from her noble husband so she has no reason to look happy.
If the leading lady, the leading men were portrayed like in the past, they wont be as beautiful, as good looking, as muscular. Their beauty is part of enjoyment to watch on screen. Even if LDH didn't wear any make she'd look adorable. I dont want her looking stinky like I could smell her though the screen. For good (photography) effects all the cast in front of the camera need make up anyway.
Yes, I notice some imperfection but overall I'm enjoying Chuno. It would look ridiculous if LDH will be portrayed as dirty & stinky now. I'd like to believe that she's by nature neat & tidy.
Koreans should be proud & happy for their popular good looking actors & actresses & dramas enjoyed & admired by many around the world.

BTW LEE DA HAE IS NOT MADE UP WITH SILICON. SHE'S NATURALLY BEAUTIFUL...DISCOVERED WHEN SHE BECAME MISS PERSONALITY.

Its wrong for someone to comment that LDH said she doesn't want to get dirty. Spreading bad rumour about a person is vicious & a crime.

I'd rather watch Chuno with real beautiful people. Some who can't appreciate the effort of these actors & crew.. Better for you to watch documentaries & animation.
I can imagine the hours spent of a 5 or 10 mins scene until its done to the director's satisfaction....
WHATEVER! I JUST WANT TO ENJOY CHUNO. LEE DA HAE FIGHTING! superb in My Girl! Chuno too!!

Just finished ep 1 to 8-wow, CHUNO is totally diff kind of sageuk-so artistically made. All actors, actress are wonderfull, LDH give 180 DEGREE change from her role in MY GIRL, and I'm OK with her potrayal of UN/HW, she's like a doll, porcelain doll, sort of girl men want to protect and love.

and got it from CHUNO soompi, wonderfully made MV by CHUNO's fans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzPfi8-93WY

relax everybody, just enjoy the show-if u don't like LDH, there is OJH there, what a handsome men.

@ omo 82

"But my rant is not about LDH. Gosh, by the same token, couldn’t they have scrubbed the men down, oiled them bodies, tied their hair up in perfectly coiffed knots and salon-strengthened those manly nails, so that I can enjoy them in full view?"

--I agree with you completely! LOL Where is the equality here? Hey, if the men can enjoy cleavage and a clean LDH face, give us women something to hoot about too!

OMG! that issue is just so damn exaggerated. i've seen more semi-nudity from "coffee prince" when it first aired because of the public bathroom scene, and that didn't cause any problems from the viewers.

Sorry. I meant to delete my comment at 119 because its a repeat of 116. I dont know why it came out again.
Anyway, since I'm here... THANK YOU. I hope to see more of Chuno recap.
LDH showing a bit of her boobs is fine. Soo fine. Her top underwear makes her boobs appear that way. Nowadays some women wear that kind of underwear or top to boost their cleavage. Thank you for showing more of LDH beauty. Anyone who appreciates beauty & art can admire LEE Da hae.

rofl

Dahee's fans way too defensive. Maybe because she is in My Girl. A cute and adorable girl. I donno. I never really get to her acting. Her face in Green Rose, Lotus EOE and Chuno just the same. I can see why people love her fiercely. She is like a doll. But for me, her face, character, is too attention seeking, porcelain and plastic alike. If she can shed her image in her acting and the way she potrayed her character she will be good.

I don't care about that boob thingy. That is part of production decision.

But for her too much makeup and over the top cleanliness.

And don't blame the director. She did the same in Robbers, My Girl too. Even in some events, interview etc. The same when we see her acting we see Dahee and not the character itself.

I can see how Soo Ye Jin, Moon Gue Yeung will shed their vain, image and whomever they are as a person to immersed in a character. If Dahee still portrayed the same way not only in Chuno, the talent she had wouldn't get to the heart of many people who sincerely want to see a great acting/actress. We can dislike somebody but when somebody is a great actress we can put whatever we felt for them to appreciate their talent, passion for a brilliant acting. My apologize for Dahee. You are not there yet.

Please don't say those who criticizes were those who can't appreciate beauty. We can see real acting!

She is not believable in her acting. Not yet. Not just here. In other dramas too. You love her. Be it. Not for us. Just yet.

typo: Please don’t say those who criticizes were those who can’t appreciate a beauty. What we WANT see is REAL acting & actress. This is not a runaway.

You can't simply put that perception. We talk about a serious, brilliant drama here.

LOOKS LIKE RATHER THEN COMMENTING ON LDH, THEN WHY NOT YOU ACT ?.
SEE WHAT OTHERS COMMENT ON YOU ?.

whatever

totally agree with u

another person trying to twist the fact (at no 122), do you think people who read this don't know who LDH nd her acting history-if u want to lie, make another blog, most of people here are got brains.

What happened to equal rights in Korea? If the guys can take off their shirts in Chuno, then why can't Lee Da Hae take off her shirt? They all look good without their clothes.

Wow, I read all the comments from no 1 till the end, what caught me LOL, why some people sounds so angry over something ex LDH acting can cause this person go berserk-any hormone imbalance-cheer up girls, like someone said go and watch Discovery Channel.Don't know LDH can cause someone so sad and unhappy-I need to check this girl named LDH, what so special abt her.

Btw need to see Chuno bcos of this hot issue-I love cleavage he he. I saw Brutus in the trailer-this is interesting

Maybe this is much ado about nothing but I do agree with the people who say she should look 'dirtier'.
The whole elfin iridescence can work in a Chinese fantasy epic or Lord of the Rings, but as far as I know this is period drama, not fantasy.
Just a bit of a rougher image would make her role a bit more likeable. She doesn't have to look 'smelly' or or cover her face in muck, maybe let her hair be a bit more windswept or something... you know?

Not fussed about the cleavage thing, it sounds really silly to me, all that blurring.

Anyway, I mentioned this a while back, on her 'dating a co-star' post:

''I have been looking for reasons to substantiate my growing dislike of this actress – I just couldn’t put my finger on it… till now. She’s too ‘polished and gleaming”. Like if you compare her to Lee Yo-won… the latter can look haggard and rugged (but still far from ugly) when the character requires it, like in Bad Love and Queen Seon-duk. LDH on the other hand just can’t. Maybe it’s the stylist’s fault I don’t know.''

Oh and BOTOX: http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu26/dramabeans/drama/2010/chuno1/Chuno5/Chuno501159.jpg

@ 126 nora, I don't see #122 twisting any 'facts' as you suggested. You might not agree but she was just merely stating her opinion, not facts

While some are blaming the make-up artist or director for not 'dirty up' LDH in Chuno, I can't help but wonder how come it's always the same issue that comes up in most of her dramas. Different directors, different make-up artist (I believe) but the make-up artist is not at fault as he/she is taking direction from the director or the actress of what the how the character should look like.

I guess people hounding on this LDH looking-so-pretty here cuz the roll she plays. It's not believable for a slave looking that so pristinely good while sleeping on dirt floor, travel for days.....

i think, those complaints (about her being too clean, etc..) were mostly about the character, which is undeniable unrealistic. of course, the problems are on the directional. but LDH took it too personally and also her fans.

rather than complaining about her being too clean, etc.. i find myself irritated by UN/HW's character. can i say she's too useless and also stupid? i know she's supposed to be a lifeless because she experienced too many hardship, but LDH herself looks so stiff and emotionless. I thought UN/HW's character should make the viewer sympathy, but she simply couldnt bring that to us, ok, at least me.

Poor LDH , she is one of few talented K actresses whom i like . Honestly a lot
of viewers are critizing her because they like Chuno , they would like Chuno to be perfect , realistic , interesting , sucessful as Jewel in the palace , Immortal Admiral Yi , Yumong, Damo , Yi san .....Some flaws as her look too clean as
a slave or as a run- away bride they are all easy to fix but some how it is hard to overlooked that why people criticizing her harder . But we all have to admit that this is a good drama with solid casts , everybody are touched by her chemistry
between her and OJH , JH , especially OJH in ep 6 to 8 . I'm still not sure regarding her
character , is it supposed to be passive ,frigile, lady like but nice , intelligent
character , if that the case her acting is perfect , but it is really hard to act but i have
faith in LDH .
The male casts , they are all excellent in acting .

I really don't have a problem with LDH showing her boobies or with the pristine makeup/finger nail polish. I'm however a little disappointed at how flat her acting is. If it was required for her to act like she does by the director then I understand. But she just seems so lifeless, emotionless, stiff, distant and disconnected. I guess I just want more out of her character. I really wish there will be major developments in her character in future episodes or LDH's talents will be wasted here. She's STUNNING by the way. And I love every scene HW & TH are in together!

I totally agree with you on the comment: "they’re just tired of seeing the same shot over and over. Lee has by now been seen baring her cleavage on numerous occasions — near-rape, injury, undressing — which has viewers weary of the excess." I also consider it unneccessary for Lee Da Hae's "baring skin" so frequently. Actually, up till now, I only like her acting in "My Girl", she acted vividly there. But apart from that, I always find her acting a bit "dull" in other dramas (I think "East of Eden" is the worst).

People are not observant enough to see the main big poster how they want the Un Nyun to be portrayed and it is all over Korea.

Do you think KBS don't know what they are doing for this drama ?.

Now, first attack on LDH look, NOW attack on her acting,
you can't please everyone. so yes ! director KWAK like what you WILL always say DURING FILIMING - Take ONE ! ACTION ! and ROLL the film !.

CHUNO BEST !!! waiting patiently for Un Nyun AND dae gil's reunion.

Aja Aja Jang Hyuk and Lee Da Hae !!.

Un Nyun and dae gil - AJA ! AJA ! waiting for your re-union patiently !.

again :-

http://kfrenzy.wordpress.com/2010/01/21/current-events-part-2/,

this is not merely haters, jealousy, thingy. some those who criticized is those who respected her.

From time to time I visit this forum, this controversy almost make me dropped my jaws.

Polish nails ?
Have you seen the hands’ guys ?
It’s almost the same !
Even the woman slave with a dirty face have beautifully manicured hands

Clean and make up ?
Seol Hwa is very clean too, she even wore much more make up than LDH (dark eyes liner, red lipstick) who complaint ?

And please save me from the showing shoulders !
From the first ep, we see a lot of half bare shoulders from the women around Watson and all the guys are half naked most of the time ! Why nobody complaint from the start ?

Chuno is all about visual beauty : Beautiful scenery, beautiful actors and actress, and when it’s beautiful why not show it !!!

I’m not Korean but I used to watch Korean films and dramas I love the beauty of your country, of your actors and actress and you “bashers” ought to be proud to have such a beautiful and talented actress such as Lee Dae Hee

She acted very well, from the happy and vibrant UN to the lost and dead inside HW.

You “bashers” have to go out of your corner and take a look at the world, learn to have open minds and some sense of art and beauty

And me, without understanding a Korean word, I will keep on enjoying Chuno, the hot guys and the beautiful pure and immaculate Lee Dae Hee, every body manicured hands, clean clothes and bare shoulders.

Thank you to let me voice my opinions !

How unfortunate that people have chosen to single out Lee Da-hae's cleanliness more than the other mild historically accuracies like the male cast's perfect teeth and hot bodies. (Though I concur, a little dirty wouldn't hurt Lee Da-hae.) As to the blurring of her bust line, an unnecessary move by the producers but nothing that detracts majorly to the overall story.

In my opinion, the only glaring problems (that I have seen thus far) with the drama are the mainly weak female characters... and that, to me, is no fault of the actresses. The story writer(s) has(have) created main female characters (Sulhwa and UnYeon) that seem to be written in to be more like obligatory elements to the kdrama rather than as meaningful characters that are meant to truly strike a tune with the audience. Hopefully, though doubtfully, this changes even slightly over the course of the drama.

Strange Koreans are complaining about LDH's character being so clean, pretty and so on. Koreans are kind of blind if not idiots because many of the historical korean dramas that I've seen are like that.

Even the refugees like that in King Dae Joyung are clean and watch the villagers' dress and faces. So funny because their clothes are not even torn or old eventhough they are poor and refugees!

That goes for many korean historical dramas too so what's the big deal?

Have a life and just enjoy Chuno without getting emotional!

there is only one complain I agree with and that is, that Lee dae hae's (also the other girl from the singing group) character is in a little too pristine condition . they are on the run constantly and yet has no signs of facing any hardship. I think this is in part the directors fault, for not making it more realistic. this issue is not only prevalent in this drama but many other dramas as well. most of the time lead actresses have perfect make-up and attire in situations where in reality it would be anything but. I understand it is a drama and the actresses have to look attractive, but at least make an effort to stick close to reality.

Aside from this issue, which is not that major, this is an excellent drama so far. all three leads do a phenomenal job portraying their characters and the supporting cast are great too.

Looking forward to future episodes.

"fans complain that it takes away from the believability of the storyline "

"believability"? really? are they watching the same drama I'm watching? believability went out the window a loooong time ago.

and also - the reason for over-the-top criticism is not because it's popular; it's because there's a lot of dumb ppl out there.

I totally agree with r.a

My criticism ? I m still amazed that the chick that play the revolutionary slave with a dirty face but her teeth are immaculately white ! That is what made me wonder for days. While the leading actress did not distract me that much. I think the reason they want her bare that much perhaps they have followed the Chinese bigscreen movie :" The curse of the golden mum" where maids are wearing tight wraps which could be untrue also.

@146 alamode
That female slave flirting with that male slave struck me too as as having perfect white teeth smiling for toothpaste advertisement while her face is smeared with black ash with no trace of burden on her cheery flirting face.

HA HA .

Full of ugly women jealous of LDH. She looks great and just fine in Chuno, does not take away from the story at all.

Confirms to me that a lot of people out there are in a conspiracy to bring down others who are better looking than them.

[…] I know, since professional actors and their family are used to this kind of act. Though the drama learned from Chuno and did not expose too much skin. To me, it’s like they want some romance for Sword Saint and […]