Cha Ye-ryun, Shindong added to Dr. Champ

12 July 23, 2010July 23, 2010

by javabeans

Medical sports drama Dr. Champ sure has been busy casting, and is pretty close to done with these latest additions: Cha Ye-ryun takes one of the lead roles (technically she’s lead #4), while Super Junior’s Shindong has come onboard as a judo player.

The drama first secured its leads in Kim So-yeon (IRIS) and Uhm Tae-woong (Queen Seon-deok), who play doctors at the Taereung sports facility (she’s new to the place, he’s crotchety in the mold of Dr. House), and judo player Jung Kyeo-woon (Loving You a Thousand Times).

It followed that by casting Song Ji-eun (Chuno) as Jung Kyeo-woon’s sister-in-law and young Kang So-ra (Fourth Period Murder Mystery) as an Olympic-level swimmer. The former is a supportive figure to Jung, while the latter develops a crush on him.

Cha Ye-ryun also adds some romantic complications to the mix, playing a swimming coach who becomes Kim So-yeon’s rival for Uhm Tae-woong’s love. Something tells me it won’t be much of a rivalry. I don’t say that to be snarky; it’s just that Kim So-yeon oozes screen charisma, and Cha Ye-ryun doesn’t.

I don’t have strong opinions about Cha, but I wonder if she’ll be better when she starts getting lead roles. But then again, maybe not. She has a very quiet energy, which tends to make her fade as the rival second lead. (See: A Star’s Lover, Invincible Lee Pyeong-gang.) Cha is also slated to act in the monster-action flick Sector 7, which is another case where I think she’ll get overshadowed by a much more dynamic co-star, Ha Ji-won.

Generally, the main pairing of Kim So-yeon and Uhm Tae-woong makes this a must-watch for me despite not being sold on the plot. However, I’m not thrilled to see that the director is PD Park Hyung-ki, who did Get Karl Oh Soo Jung, a thoroughly mediocre (or worse) drama. Well, I won’t write him off for one flop.

Dr. Champ will follow I Am Legend (which follows Coffee House).

Via Sports Chosun, CBS.co.kr

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Tags: Cha Ye-ryun, Dr. Champ, Shindong

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1 supah

July 23, 2010 at 8:55 AM

OMG! I swear I was just thinking of this actress the other day, about how I have an inexplicable girl crush on her and why she doesn't do more dramas. Her and Kim So-yeon in the same drama? OMO, I'm in girlcrush heaven!

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2 immakiddo!

July 23, 2010 at 9:12 AM

@ supah:

Saaaame here! ;)

I always loved Cha Ye Ryun. Loved her in Doremifasolatido and ILPK. She's so pretty! I always checked for updates about her after watching ILPK x)

I hope she gets a lead role soon!

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3 danna

July 23, 2010 at 9:42 AM

i didnt like CYR in do re mii fa so la ti but i did like her in Invincible Lee Pyung Kang...which is wierd cuz she ws the lead in the first and second lead in the other...lol...maybe it has something to do with fact that i didnt like the movie...bti am looking forward to this

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4 andiwaslike

July 23, 2010 at 9:58 AM

um taewoong and kim soyeon makes me want to watch it
versatile actors!

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5 otk

July 23, 2010 at 10:08 AM

ALWAYS loved her ~ She's got this 'unique' beauty due to her eyes and I LOVE her name...it sounds cool (coming from a non Korean)

I wish she got happier roles, or roles that don't fall in love triangles. She needs more versatile projects >_<

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6 Annie

July 23, 2010 at 10:30 AM

still waiting for that scriptwriter!!!!!

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7 indigowine

July 23, 2010 at 12:18 PM

Hmm, and here I am, wondering where exactly Shindong's position is among those (seemingly) multi-angle love relationships...

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8 ar_arguably romantic

July 23, 2010 at 12:44 PM

I really liked Cha Ye-ryun in doremifasolatido...but she seems awkward to me in other roles. hopefully, this role will give her a chance to get leads.

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9 Keylye

July 23, 2010 at 1:58 PM

Hmmm, I still want to watch this, but I'm a little leery of how it will all turn out. *crosses fingers*

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10 ed

July 23, 2010 at 2:28 PM

Whoa, the Block 7 cast are all swarming back to drama huh? I like Cha ye-ryun and am glad to see her get more work. She got a bit quiet with her activities there, after Star's Lover... As for what's to like about her hehe, other than the astonishing leggy beauty (no photoshop, ha!), she has really strong (and seldom over-stated) concentration for playing characters with a cerebral edge or strong willpower: catch her as the near-rape victim in A Bloody Aria, or the quietly commanding, mysterious girl with Jo An in Muoi. It's all psychological details driving the story with her, so yeah she's not the type to compete in blow-ups with people with bigger star presence/charisma or energy. As a newbie I feel she's done better in these 2 movies (stay away from the limp, teen stuff), than dramas where she's largely decoration so far.

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11 belleza

July 23, 2010 at 2:51 PM

I think Cha ye-ryun is serious talent. Her line readings have depth, and she listens and reacts well opposite other actors. When she does melodrama, she's never going for an effect (which, say, Han Hyo Joo struggles from time to time.) When she does comedy, she can do "broad."