I can always count of MBC, so reliable in their shxt they are! ;)

Ugh worst news i've heard in a while. All my excitement for this drama has been killed.

Just thinking of what it could be if they had cast Choi Si Won just makes me depressed.

@ 85 Lahlita

Totally agree how CSW is too perfect, oozing sexy and casting him to transform into an “eomchinah” will delay production. I think CSW is better off in Athena as how his performance in recent activities have evolve.

@ 87 momosan

I skip the opening credits every... single... time... after it gave me paralysis watching it for its first time. What in the world.... ^___^! It was a decent show but I happen to love the anime too much. Oomasa Aya and Kamenashi Kazuya are too pretty for me so I couldn't give up on its live action show.

LOL Judging from all the comments above, I'd say we petition against it. j/k, it's pretty much confirmed. Same with everyone here, NOOOOOOOOO!!!! He sucked in BOF with his same expressions etc., how can he portray Naoki is just beyond his capabilities? I guess fans just stare at him and forget that he's actually acting and in a drama :)

But honestly, I think any other actor is much suited for the role. Too bad, I was really looking forward to this. Hopefully, it won't suck like BOF.

Oh come on,

While I aree that his acting wasn't the best in BBF I'm willing to give him a chance his role in BBF was basically say five words and stand there and look pretty.... and even then the chemistry with the actors seemed a lot less forced with KHJL than with lee min ho.. apart from that it was his first role in a drama... his acting did get better as the drama progressed so I have faith that we will see a great improvement in his acting in this new drama.

Fighting KHJ!

this totally killed all the excitement i had for this drama. LMH or CSW would've been awesomely perfect for the part. KHJ totally made me totally cringe with his awkward screen presence in BOF. wonderful ..

Wow, I never knew how javabeans can be soo rude to KHJ.. First you don't want him in Athena and now you don't want him in playful kiss... I guess u don't want him in any drama at all.. U said before that the role in Athena requires so much acting and that he shouldn't be in it... And now playful kiss is a light romantic comedy which is not a heavy drama at all...you still don't want him.. Wow... I think KHJ deserves a second chance.. And this light romantic comedy is the best choice for him to do a lead role...!!!!

This pleases me. Bad actor for a bad story.

man I was hoping Siwon would've taken this, now this drama is going to be a pile of garbage, i hope people don't buy into this crap.

Yeah this sucks. Period.

It's not so much about not having faith in the guy and you know he'll work hard to improve, but it's a huge jump. If I were him, I would try another supporting role before jumping into a leading role of a very popular adaptation work, for which he is bound to comparison. Joining Bae Yong Joon's agency does not make you a good actor instantly. For those who compared him in WGM and his acting roles, I think you got it mixed up. For one, WGM showcases his own personality, which I find very charming. If it were Christmas, I would like it to be Im Joo Hwan. Now, that's one underrated actor needing a real breakthrough vehicle!

This smells. I swear it sounds like they're wanting to bank on the idols' fans watching this to try and gurantee a crazy boost in ratings, along with this being a remake of a known manga and Twdrama. Snark-fest it is unless something amazing and magical has happened to his acting abilities or it's somehow a camp-so-bad-it's-good time. Still...arghs. The one time I thought I'd might want and see what's all about this story and now it looks like never.

Lolz, I thought according to survey, KHJ was voted no. 1 by netizens to be the perfect guy for the role..... I guess the majority of the people who voted for him doesn't read javabeans at all.. Or else they would have reacted to all your ranting!!!! Anyways, goodluck KHJ!!!!!

crying so much
i was actually looking forward to this too...
sigh

well this sucks. I loved the taiwanese version to bits and pieces, it's probably my favorite t-drama. What on earth are they thinking???

I'd sat through all 3 make slash re-makes of Boys Before Flowers and mostly enjoyed them, I've also seen the other 2 versions of It Started With a Kiss, and liked them... I might skip this one though... LOL

WHY OH WHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Is it some kind of a trend to choose idol stars that can't act to star in dramas?? There are SOOOOO many better actors out there that can do a better job. I was anticipating the korean remake so badly, but now i'm like =.=" seriously director?? No one else came to mind? I'm praying to god that kim hyun joong's acting has improved and he'll do this character well but somehow, i don't think this particular prayer request is gonna come true. And for the girl lead, i'm hoping it's NOT another idol star *sulli who is 16 (anyone find it a lil bit too young hence . . . ?)* *seung yeon*.. At least we know for a fact that park shin hye can act fairly well.. Please pick Park shin hye!!! That will at least save what's left of the drama..

@ 104 Carinne

I’ve got a question for you. Please see post # 126 on the Open Thread. http://www.dramabeans.com/2010/07/open-thread-142/
Thankye, lady!

Also, I agree with you that Athena is better for Choi Siwon (that beautiful, gorgeous, deadly noona-killer) because it'll will give him a chance to expand his range and work with seasoned veterans. He has already played the high-schooler, and has proved that he can be a leading man, as has Lee Min-ho. So as much as I would have loved to see either of them in this, we have to let our babies fly.

Well, at least Kim Hyun-joong is very, VERY handsome. I'll say that for him. Rui never looked sooo good.

@Mar21: That is just her opinion, I can easily just say your opinion is biased as well because you like his pretty face. One of my biggest pet peeves is when some people act because they were offered a role for their popularity, and not for their proven acting potentials. Someone who went to acting school is missing out on the opportunity because they don't have a pretty face, and an established fan base, just shows how shallow the production is.

I never knew I cared so much about the Korean version of this drama. I've been raging for an hour and my voice is feeling kind of hoarse. Pathetically, I'm hoping for a boycott or a miracle. I had such high hopes :[ . I hoping something could save this, ANYTHING.

Every second I think of siwon being a better lead I feel like raging again.

Lol its sad, but I can't get this off my mine.
WHY? WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY?!

Lee min ho, just finished personal taste, and choi siwon just finished oh my lady... Both their ratings were not that impressive... So I guess it's time to give somebody else a chance to prove themselves.. If the company trust him sooo much.. Then I think I should watch it...btw, cinderella's sister has a powerful cast of good actors.. But in the end it's not a very good drama at all!!!! So I guess.. My point is sometimes a drama doest need an ace actor all the time to mAke it a successful one!!!!

So bummed. Maybe he'll pull it off though. *sigh*

I totally agree with what you're saying about Kim Hyun Joong and I applaud you for being honest about it. He SUCKS (acting wise of course), but he has a great personality in real life. KHJ in a variety program or singing? Hell yes! But acting? I don't think so...

I wasn't really looking forward to this anyway. the story is so cliche and I doubt they'll be able to bring it up to date. I'll give it a chance, but I'm not expecting too much.

@ 21 Lahlita

Yes ma'am. I read you loud and clear. See # 127 on the OT.

@ 24 SJForever

My point is sometimes a drama doest need an ace actor all the time to mAke it a successful one!!!!

Well said.

Haha. I'm at work right now and I just got some funny looks for screaming, "NOOO!"

Damn. I'll still watch, but still. Damn it all, lol.

i better pray he'll improve his acting once the series are broadcasted :( and puuuhhlllleeasseee don't choose idols as the female cast!!! at least balance it out....... i dont know what to say anymore, i'll just see what happens... khj fighting?

I don't hold your opinion of Kim Hyun-joong's acting abilities against you but I'll admit that every time I see his name here I cringe and look away because I know if I read too much of any post in which he is mentioned I won't want to read any of the posts here at all. (And that would be a shame, for me, because I like it here for the most part.) You state your opinions as fact, and I understand that you think that his soulless acting is fact, but not everyone thinks so. I wasn't even a huge supporter of this guy before but I know I never thought he was as bad as you constantly paint him.

... there isn't a lot of constructive anything in this comment but by getting it out I feel like I'll be able to stick around for the pretty a little longer. : )

lol... JB, your love for KHJ's acting always amuses me.

oh man, none of the leads are appealing whatsoever. I don't even what to imagine what the kiss scenes is going to be like.

the least he can do is look the part...ie. should have his hair short and coloured dark!

okay, i don't know why everyone is freaking out at javabeans. this site is pretty much her blog for kdramas. it's her opinion. she can state whatever she wants as fact on here. if you have a problem, leave. no need to get so defensive.

kjh is lacking acting skills. she's just saying he wasn't so great in bof, but as you can also see, she said he might have improved...so you all just need to let it go. this is her page, for her opinions. if you can't stand reading it, no one is making you.

anyho, i was going to wait for the korean version, but i don't think i'll be watching it now. group 8 needs to stop remaking things. off to watch the tawainese version.

@ lovenyc52

I don't like the story so I'll skip Perfect Girl, but cracktastic dramas I do love normally! As for Tatta Hitotsu no Koi (THnK), I started watching because of Ender's Girl's recommendation and review, and OMG I absolutely love it (so far, I'm up to ep 8).

It's a straight renzoku, nothing wink-wink, silly, parry-and-feint about it. It is a love story, period. About a once in a lifetime love. And the execution is nearly flawless, the shot selection, the cinematography, the soundtrack, the pacing. And of course, Ayase Haruka is perfection, she can do no wrong in my eyes.

The surprise is how Kame rises to the challenge of being a certifiable hunky lead, but with the j-twist (he's always been a MUCH better actor than Pi, but here's he's really something special). The story itself has been done a million times before (rich girl, poor boy, but they have chemistry and it's a joy and treat to watch).

@ Val

Totally get your point of view. Love that you state your position. But I think it's wrong of you to say that JB's opinion of KHJ's acting is stated as a "fact." Nowhere does she write "it is a fact that KHJ cannot act." She simply states that he cannot act, and since this is her BLOG, it's clear and implicit that it's her opinion of the subject matter.

Yes, she could write "it's my opinion that KHJ cannot act" but that's silly to preface everything she writes like that. Again, it probably hurts because JB's opinion is highly respected and valued by K-drama lovers. But she has every right to state a negative opinion. Without the need to remind her readers that she is merely stating her own personal opinion. If JB can't state her opinion, she might as well run a new site.

Kim Hyun-joong sshi, why did you take this lead role? Aren't you biting off more than you can chew?? I have seen your performance in BOF, I am afraid you need to take baby step when it comes to acting, Kim Hyun-joong sshi.

LOL, I find the polar opposite reactions to the news here and akpop absolutely hilarious. Anyone that dares to speak the truth and say this is a bad casting is bashed terribly on akpop.

Anyways, I'm pissed as hell. I didn't want either KHJ or Yonghwa to take the lead. Neither are cold and broody enough nor do they have the acting chops. I was so excited for this drama but that's all gone now. Whatever, I'll see what people's reactions are and decide if I want to give this a chance.

And please no Sulli, I adore her but that age difference would be beyond awkward.

i'm happy for him but why do i secretly want YongHwa to be chosen????????

*sigh*

i hope he wins me over in the drama den!

hwaiting!!

@jun: I know every individual has their own opinion but I was just expecting writers to be more neutral and open minded, and not act and convey their ideas as a crazy fangirl too. I agree with u about the popularity thing, it may be sad to say but I guess that's how they run it in entertainment industry. First u must have a face value, second is talent. Unless otherwise, if u really excel with a single talent. Well btw, I'm not a khj fanatic, but I just feel bad for the guy.

OK, I went to sleep for a while, and my roommate woke me up. I came in and saw this wasn't a bad joke. I decided before I went to bed if it really was true then I would go full pollyanna on this news and play the glad game.

I am glad he looks really pretty.

I am glad he can have charm and charisma without saying many words.

I am glad he doesn't have too many conflicting schedules like when he was making BOF. Maybe he can focus on acting.

I am glad the director and writer is capable and good. Maybe they can work with him and bring out things never before seen.

But Most of all I am glad I have 3 other versions I can watch whenever I feel the need. Tiawan, Japan, and animation crew, I thank you.

Agree with #6 In both Meteor Garden and Hana Yori Dango, i have always been on Rui's side and I would fast forward to watch all the Rui and Makino scenes but Kim Hyun Joong totally killed that character for me that I was actually rooting for Makino and Doumyouji for once.

I know we should give him time to improve and all that but he's NOT even close to being ready to take on a lead role. Watching him in BOF was a big turnoff that I couldn't finish the series at all.

I would have like Choi Siwon or Im Joo hwan to play the lead male character.

@85 Lahlita - ah, well our CSW is pretty busy right now. Like Mel, I'd have chosen him for this role, for Athena, and the Sageuk drama too. But maybe if they did even offer him the role, he wouldn't have time to do it. Wished this was set up for next year when CSW would be less busy. I guess it's the same for LMH and JGS. Life really isn't fair. =(

Just a note, PT and OML may not have impressive ratings (YB didn't either), but you can't say anything about the acting of the leads and the casting of the supporting roles too. And outside Korea, those dramas are successful and has loyal followers.
It's not about the ratings, although maybe for MBC, it is. Does anybody remember when was the last time MBC had a decent drama? Was Coffee Prince the last one?

@ockoala

I don't think you have to say "this is a fact" to state something as fact... although typing it out like that makes me think I am wrong. : ) Also, while I stated my own unhappiness, no part of my comment asked for change. It IS her blog, I agree. I just feel that things like this: "Because his acting sucks. It isn’t merely mediocre (which I can tolerate, given good plot, co-stars, etc) but so incredibly lifeless and enervated that it sucks all the joy out of the room like a black hole of acting ability." go beyond stating as opinion and into stating as fact, which is part of why reading her posts on this subject squick me. That's me, and my opinion. Hopefully I'll just get better at skimming so that I won't need to vent again, since I get that it is my choice to read what she is writing on her own site.

He's adorable! Even if he sucks in the drama, I'll still watch it.

Rant coming......
Pop culture in Korea is all about popularity. Polls, who do you like?
Who do you want to marry ? The producers are desperate for financing which is tied to the ratings. So we get a veteran here, a great actor there and as many Pop idols as the audience will watch. KHJ and the DBSK guys are extremely popular so they are chosen over proven actors. But if audiences respond to a mess like BOF it will keep happening (full of cliches for good measure.) Producers everywhere are
looking for a Big Hit...... but short cuts, like rushed scripts, untrained idols ,overworked actors and underwritten characters, (like watch me BE COOL Gun Wook) are ruining a lot of good drama projects. At least if the idol is not the main character we have more hope for it. Beautiful people are not everything, look at Bad Guy's low ratings. The story ! the writing! the motivations are JUST AS IMPORTANT AS THE PRETTY FACES. No one wants to feel cheated of their hours of investment in these dramas. Quality writing should always come before the fortune spent on locations and glitz. Korea is full of real talent.

WHAT?! Come on, I like KHJ, but to go from Joe Cheng to him? Not what I was envisioning when I heard about this remake.

I'm just cringing reading all these comments bashing KJH... I mean YES the man was BAD for BOF. But... I mean... Give him a second chance. We all deserve second chances. And even though I don't like idols becoming actors, I'm willing to give KJH another chance at acting. We all make mistakes, and actors/idols are no different. I'm neither excited nor disappointed for this drama just yet. Nothing has been decided until the drama actually premiers! Who are we to judge so quickly??? Perhaps he's improved. Perhaps not. But personally, now that I see everyone so against him, I'm hoping he will do well in this drama. Just to prove people wrong. Hopefully I won't eat my words later.... Hahaha. But final line for me is: Just give him a chance. And if he does bad... Bash/vent all you want.

@ Val

I really don't get what part of JB's opinion, written down, translates into a fact? Other than maybe her opinion is so blunt it feels like its written in stone or some such. But let's agree to disagree. :-D I like you have your perception, I am merely stating mine. Similarly, ppl who think KHJ is a great actor should feel free to state their opinion.

@Val

I get what you're saying, but there is no way of expressing an opinion without using "in my opinion" or phrases like that that will not make it sound like fact. What is "fact" anyway? There are no facts in art. Someone will hate one's acting, someone will like it. She's passionate about her opinion and is strongly stating that she thinks he's horrible, as do I and many others. But that's our opinions. We're not experts on the subject and there can be no experts when it comes down to taste and preference.

The sad truth is though, most people who are not simply fangirls blinded by the moe factor and thiking even their air he breathes is great, think he is not a good actor. The majority (the majority equiped to pass an as objective as possible judgement on his skills) is what makes it more of a fact, not JB's comments.

Most people think he's not a good actor. Some might say he's really not that bad, some might say he sucks. It all comes down to how much you like or don't like him and how passionate you are about your opinion, but most of us here agree that he is just not talented enough to pull off a leading part in such an important work.

It's just that JB and some others choose to express their dislike in a more raw way. Would saying "I personally think" all the time make it all better? Of course it's personal. It's their opinion. ;D

Done deal. I'm not watching this. As soon as I heard hyunjoong was cast. I might seem to hard on him, and maybe he has been better but there are so many Better and Experienced new actors that they could have chosen. Seems like they're determined to choose an idol turn actor.

Just ewwwww
I'll be waiting on lee seungi's new drama. That has a promising script and actors. Plus I hate group 8. Their dramas are teen obsessed with no substance