Although i initially thought of Park Shin Hye when it was announced that there will be a k-version of playful kiss, now that you mention it, I remember Park Bo Young's potrayal in Speedy Scandal... and I think she'll be excellent as the female lead too... This drama will surely be a hit.. I read somewhere that Kim Hyun Joong is the top contender for the male lead..

At first, I thought she was an elf! >.<

But I watched the Taiwanese version and it was all right. Really hope the Korean version won't disappoint!

yes!!! loved her in speed scandal, didn't realize she hasn't acted since then bc of legal troubles ): her + hwang inroi should be great!

@ais lol my mood was just dampened by the mention of kim hyunjoong D:

Oh! This would be great!

Not only is she talented, personally, I find her quite fitting appearance wise. I think she would be great as Aihara Kotoko.

Edit: KHJ for second lead!? Eh... I mean, maybe due to his F4 status (somehow those who became part of the F4 always remain part of F4 even after the end of the drama....), whenever people think "Ah... flowerboy?" you think of BOF. And of course, the directors might think KHJ might be perfect to fit the Naoki Irie role...

Honestly, second-lead... okay. Main? NO.
Not only is he a Yamapi look-a-like, he's got the dead fish eyes thing going too.

What a beautiful dress!

Ooooo.....this would be wonderful. I loved her in Speedy Scandal.

Please no Kim Hyun Joong as the male lead. Just the mention of him in any drama would totally kill it for me. If they go for an idol, can we please have Choi Siwon instead. Out of all the current male idols taking their stab in acting, Siwon is the only one that I actually see going far with his acting career.

Great news! I think she would be perfect for the role.

But please, no KHJ!

She's very lovely and talented, I approve! I hope they will cast the male lead soon. KHJ is okay but he needs to challenge himself by playing a different type of character than the cold, wealthy pretty boy.

oooooh. i'm kinda hoping lee min ho would be the guy. i know he just finished personal taste but i want to see these two together ... ever since that scandal/rumor ^^

Please no more Jihoo Sunbae..Does he even have time to do this? SS501 just released an album and are starting their rounds of promos..

As much as I would love to see Siwon in this, I know he won't have time to do this as well as SJ is gearing up for their 3rd Asia concert tour.

He might be too young, but Yoo Seung Ho from God Study and 4th Period Murder Mystery would look good in the male lead role methinks.

Gasp! This is exciting. I have yet to watch it started with a kiss but maybe I'll do that before playful kiss starts. I really wouldn't want to see kjh play lead. It'd just be annoying because there'd be a constant comparison to bof then. Sigh. And my personal opinion is that he isn't too great of an actor.

I think she's a great choice! I loved her in Speed Scandal!

But please, I hope they won't cast an idol. Cast an actor, a real actor who can act. Not some pretty boy idol. I mean, I love my idols, but I rather have an actor act than an idol-turned-actor.

I really loved ITWAK & TKY, so I hope the remake won't be too disappointing! The two leads in the Taiwanese drama had major chemistry when it came to the intimate scenes and the crying scenes!

Park Bo Young? I totally want! This is great news if it is true! Loved her in Speed Scandal and I thought she was a great actress in it! I also saw another movie with her awhile back (ESP Couple) and I thought she was good in there too. If they get PBY to do this drama then there better be a great male lead!

I thought she look like Dara Park for a second, amore mature version.
Im happy though.
I hope the guy is Kim Bum

First time posting here! I started following you a year and a half ago Javabeans and I have to say I Love your site!!! I've been following almost everything since a bit before the whole BOF thing but I've never commented, till now, because ISWAK is one of my favorite Taiwanese dramas and I'm so excited the for Korean one!

I love love loved Park Bo young in Speedy Scandal and just could not believe how young she is cuz she is soo talented, way beyond her years! So I hope she gets cast. I liked Ariel Lin and her amazing chemistry with Joe Chen, but the way Ariel played the main character got on my feminist nerves at times and I'm not even a huge feminist to start with.

And I so totally second Kim Soo Hyun for the main lead! Absolutely fell in love with him in Will it snow for christmas!! I think if he gets cast and does well (which I think he will!), there is potential to propel him to Lee Min Ho-esque popularity :)

and at #15: Omg the crying scenes in ISWAK were amazing! I was bawling my eyes out everytime!

PLEASSSEEE!!!!! If she gets on this movie, I won't doubt it and will give it a chance. This would be GREAAATTT!!! Hopefully they'll make this version better than the Taiwanese one.

i may sound bais but i think Park Shin Hye would be wonderful for that role. She plays the dumb girl so well. But then again she wouldn't want to play that kind of role again. Since it's rather similar to "you're beautiful".

Park Bo Young would be great.

Lee min Ho should fit the male lead perfectly. Though i want to play something different these manga series.

I'm thinking Song Joong Ki? lolz

I third Kim Soo Hyun for main lead. He and the actress you played the young version of the lead female gave the best performances of that series in my opinion. I think he and Park Bo-young would make a fantastic leading pair.

A major concern is that the female role is really hard to play. PSH did a great job in You're Beautiful playing a very innocent and naive girl but those kinds of roles (innocent, naive, gullible, ditzy etc) can get really irritating if not played well. Here's hoping that the actress/writer don't mess it up.

Oh and definitely not KHJ, it goes without saying that he needs some lesser roles to broaden his acting skills before he plays the lead role in anything.

Love, love that dress!!

I love her in Speed Scandal & I want Kim Bum was the male lead xP

Ohh!! I like her and I am now reminded of her role in Speedy Scandal, she was great~

I think the casting of the male lead needs to be just perfect now~~~ Had this been Ji Hoon/Eun Hye's era, I would have made those two the leads (cause it's quite similar to the characters in Goong) but it's not possible now.....I think a fresh face is needed, someone young in their 20's~

Right now I'm leaning towards Jang Geun Suk~ He does look a bit older than the role requires (I mean, if they are keeping the ages the same, the characters are in high school when the story happens)...but I think he'd make a good smarty pants

Oh I would looove to see LMH collaborating with PBY for the 3rd or 4th time?
They were soooooo cute together onscreen, and have remained good pals offscreent too!

Out of curiosity, can anyone tell me if the drama will include Christina subplot? And whether or not they will follow manga with the subplot or do their own thing? I doubt anyone will answer me, but thanks in advance

OMG I WOULD TOTALLY WATCH THIS WITH HER IN IT!

i kinda liked the taiwanese version, but sometimes it got on my nerves

but i love this actress and this might actually turn out to be a pretty good adaption!

:/ as long as the lead actor is okay tho...

im excited! i know some people may roll their eyes because it reminds them of Boys Over Flowers, but i think Lee Min Ho could be casted for the main lead. I mean, he's had plenty of experience as the "bad boy", and the only reason why i kept watching BOF was because of him. I really enjoy his acting and i think they would make a cute couple.
but please...I love Kim Hyung Joong...but i wish he would stick to singing. He has an amazing voice but his acting makes me cringe.

i vote for im joo hwan for lead

baek sung hyun for 2nd.

but im actually fine with any young,unknown actor who can act. as long it's not that someone mentioned here.

if not, we're gonna be sitting thru another drinking drama! and it doesnt really help when the cinematography's gonna be excellent. :(

Whoever plays the male lead is going to have to get the sneaky she's-such-an-idiot-but-I-love-her-anyways side glance look perfect. Joe Cheng did that one so well.

I actually really love Ariel as an actress because even though she isn't that stupid in real life, I'm always astounded when I see her talking at press conferences and the like. She was pretty convincing as the female lead.

Not really a fan of It started with a kiss due to the idea of a girl desperately after a guy... I don't really know about Park Bo-Young. Hmmm, but the taiwanese version was a hit so I guess it shouldn't be too bad.

As much as I love lee min ho, I don't think he'll
take this one. I think he's still exhausted from pt and isn't ready for a new project yet. not only did pt just finish up-but he's also stated many times how he wants a new image as a mature role. I like his bad boy image but I think he's looking towards melodramas now :( But it'd be a smart move for him to take this if offered because pt was not as successful as he had hoped rating wise and I think playful kiss will definitly be. But I agree that the male lead for this has to be perfect.

* Javabeans, who do you want to see as the make lead?

Park Bo Young! I was happy when I heard they were doing a Korean version, so if she's cast I'll be sure to watch it (provided they cast the male lead well). I really enjoyed her in Speed Scandal and ESP Couple. She's adorable and is a good actress to boot. *crosses fingers*

Hmm.. Lee Min Ho!

OMMMGGG! I had Park Boyoung in mind (and Jung Ilwoo or that evil guy in BOF). Hopefully it'll come true.

WOW!!! park bo young for the cute drama??? I am sooooo going to watch it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Park Bo-young has always been my top choice for this role. It will be fantastic if she does get it.

For the male lead, my choice is Im Joo-hwan although he might be a bit old now. BUT, absolutely absolutely please - no KHJ! We need a tall, lean cold guy who can do side glance well as said by @ 35 Moo. Fresh off from OML, I don't mind seeing Choi Siwon again on the drama screen but he is a bit stalky.

The magic of ISWAK - despite a very annoying female lead who could rub off all the feminists in the world (and as such, big credit to Ariel Lin's terrific portrayal) - is due to its directing. Director 'Winnie" had assembled a great ensemble cast to deliver a story full of heart and soul in both a fairy-like but also earthy-on-the-ground manner. I am still thrilled at how ISWAK brought me back to the high school fantasyland! Please give us a director who understands the spirit of this amazing story.

aww i really wanted Seo Woo and Im Ju Hwan for this. im not familiar with Park Bo Young so cant really share my opinion. the male lead will be important cause CHEMISTRY [no matter how overused that word is] will make this drama a success.

but im saying this now whether i'll love this korean adaptation or not, no one can replace Ariel Lin and Joe Chen as Kotoko and Irie. i will never take back those words because i believe those two [taiwanese] actors really brought Kotoko/Irie to life!

@40 Didut - "or that evil guy in BOF"

If you mean Jung Eui Chul, then I must say great minds think alike. I would like to see either this actor or Kim Soo Hyun as the male lead.

ISWAK & TKA are the most favorite drama at all times!!! shet!! koreans will make this drama beautiful as the same as the TW ver. i mean much great.

i bet her. if she will cast, she needs to prepare her self with many kisses like the arjoe.. hahahaha!! who will be her partner??! dats the big Q!

I Really would like to see Kim Soo Hyun as a male leader^^
Sorry girls but I don't think Kim Bum is feat for this role