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Sungkyunkwan producers would also like an extension

With its adorable and heartwarming storylines, not to mention engaging cast, Sungkyunkwan Scandal has attracted a mighty fanbase that belies its modest ratings numbers (although those have been steadily climbing as well). As a result, it has been flooded with fan requests for extensions, and even despite it being late in the game (with only this week and next week remaining), producers have also spoken up to say that they’d be eager for one as well.

First off, the caveat: Don’t get your hopes up. We can hope, but I don’t think an extension is forthcoming with the obstacles it would have to overcome in a very short period of time.

With that said…

To compare the fan fervor of Sungkyunkwan Scandal to other popular dramas, the source article compares the online activity from the first 16 episodes (which is what Sungkyunkwan had aired as of the article’s publish date) of various dramas. Sungkyunkwan’s official homepage message board has more than 120,000 messages posted by fans, which is triple the response of Chuno, four times as many as Baker King Kim Tak-gu, and twice as many as IRIS.

Additionally, the drama’s board at popular portal DC Inside has 160,000 messages. It is DC Inside’s second-most-active drama board, next to uber-hit Boys Before Flowers.

It’s interesting to note that those other dramas all hit 30% ratings (with Baker King topping 40%), while Sungkyunkwan started off at a modest 6.3% and has steadily risen to its highest number last Tuesday, 14.3%. (It was aided by the departure of long-running Dong Yi.)

The fans who are eager for more of their drama crack point out that the love story between Yoon-hee (Park Min-young) and Sun-joon (Micky Yoochun), with only three episodes left after today’s broadcast.

The CEO of production house Lemon Rain, Kim Dong-rae, said, “It’s a story that can easily be extended, by ten episodes or any number. Even in this situation, we could add another four. We’d like to do it, if only the actors would agree, but it’s difficult because if the production period goes on for longer than planned, it interferes with their schedules.” He added that it’s disappointing to end it this way.

What would he like to do in the hypothetical situation of an extension?

Kim said, “We would be able to get deeper into the emotions of Moon Jae-shin (Yoo Ah-in), and expand on Lee Sun-joon and Kim Yoon-hee’s story. Aside from the love story, there’s a lot of plot about the academic angle. There’s so many good stories to tell that I’m sure we could really make a great drama, but realistic conditions aren’t supportive.”

The difference between extending a drama like Dong Yi and Sungkyunkwan Scandal is because the former is longer-running, has sufficient time to establish its presence, and consequently draws in enough advertising money that the stations are eager to capitalize upon. Miniseries, however (20 episodes or less), often find themselves hurting financially with extensions, and production companies are less likely to move forward with them. (Plus, despite the show’s online popularity, mid-teen ratings are usually not considered high enough to be worth the broadcaster’s while.)

This is why it’s unusual for Sungkyunkwan’s producers to be so willing to take that financial risk, and to declare themselves ready to forge forward with full confidence.

The sticking point remains the cast, and in particular lead actor Micky Yoochun, who is about to embark on an Asian tour with his pop group JYJ. Initially the drama was scheduled to conclude filming at the end of September, but that has already been pushed back once and conflicted with his schedule.

A few more statistics that attest to the drama’s popularity (as if we didn’t already know): The OST has sold over 120,000 albums, and the episodes have been seen online from KBS’s homepage 190,000 times (compared with Chuno’s 150,000 and Baker King’s 130,000).

Via Yonhap News

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Ah, the dilemma! I don't want SS to end, but at the same time, I absolutely can't wait for Mary to start. Cruel Korean showbiz industry!

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Yes, I concur too! A season 2 would be awesome.

Our dear Sunjoon - Micky :) - could go on his Asian tour with less pressure

And absolutely, little Sunjoons & Yoonhees (2 of each) would be a great idea!

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You can't be serious!!! little sj&yhee

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Watched episode 17, love love love it. YH and SJ so cute and sweet together..but of cos MJS is really sad.
Normally i do not want extension but this one they still
has a lot to tell..But I do not think is possible,is too rush .I still hope for season 2.per the novel still have a lot to tell.

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Just wanted to thank Dramabeans - i'm hooked on this drama cause of your recaps! now, i can't get enough of it! and hopefully, i'm not spoiling anything, but in ep 17, when SJ takes YS's hat off....swoon!

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This is off topic, but thundie is having a live sungkyunkwan recap and it's pretty awesome.

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yah, I actually just finished reading episode 18 recap without watching it yet and it's soooooooo---I'd better end this so as not to spoil everyone

anyway, I'm in favor of an SKK sequel

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If it's a 4 episode extension at this pacing, I say: GO FOR IT! I'm all about the SKKS love.

Actually, I'd love for them to have a Season 2. Really.

ARG WHAT WILL I DO WHEN SKKS ENDS??! I was so shocked to realise the last two episodes are running next week :( What will I do without my weekly dose of Song Joong-ki as the all-adorable Gu Yong-ha??!

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I've actually started watching a korean variety show just for Song Joong-ki. My god. I've become a fangirl, a full fledged squealing fangirl.

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in case anyone wants to know the storyline for episode 18

http://www.randomdetox.com/tag/sungkyunkwan-scandal/

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Thanks so much....you are an angel..))

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Thank you nutty. God bless you!!!!

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Please to extend only for Jae Shin... :-)

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I vote for a second season. That way more episodes and a better storyline not just dragging the story to make it longer. I'll bear the waiting....and hope that Geol Oh's love would be reciprocated...my heart ached from the last two episodes (16 & 17) where he is suffering silently...anyways I still love to have SKS 2 to see more of Yoo Ah In and hope to see him in more projects...he is such a good actor and this drama had shown the "better" actor in him.

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SKKS-2 would be best solution for everyone. Still I'd love to see Yoo Ah-in in other projects, he's such a great actor. I have a feeling that he's kinda down to earth person, really love to know "THE REAL YOO AH IN"

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i want this to be longer too :(
but isn't jang guen suk's mary stayed out late coming right after this? i swear their producers won't be very happy if this is extended.
but i will be happy :) just 4 episodes moreeeeee

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Everyone, let's chant "we want more, we want more" :)

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there are still a lot of stories not are not yet told..

Jae Shin and his hyung back story

Chosun, and how she ended up in Insoo's

Geum Deum Jig Sa was only officially introduced at episode 17

Jae Shin- Yoon Hee- Sun Joon love triangle..

All 4 of them does not know that each of them knows Yoon Hee's secret!

Noron-Soron-Namin rivalry

I mean.. I think there are a lot of room to expand on for a season 2..

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I'd like to see a 2nd season too! an extension is impossible, though we love love skks a lot of fans are waiting for the JYJ tour too! & i'm sure the other casts have other engagements as well.

jaeshin is so dreamy! hope he gets a spinoff, and the other guys can do guestings if their sched allows them to.
but having said this don't know why but i still prefer sj

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OMG! If the show really carries through with what it implies at the end of 18, I swear, I will be soooooooooooo furious!!

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OMGGGGGGGGGGG ep 18!!!!Im loving SJ again

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Nice Episode but am watching it raw so not really clear if what I understand is right...*spoiler*...for Ep 19 preview they better not take out Jaesin or I will send the writers some hate mail BIG TIME...:(((

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bring on the extension!!!!!!!! *please* =D

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definitely an extension, a few weeks ago their was an article that there won't be a season two and i was already begging for at least an extensions. but i know what you mean, there's only 1 more week till the finale...i'm not sure whether the writer can come up with a different scenario to extend the drama :(. they should have done it way before the episodes wain down to its final 3.

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I agree with what someone said here that adding an extension is not going to hurt the storyline since the drama covers a whole variety of storylines, and it seems like not everything has wrapped up yet.

Of course in the drama, there is more focus on the 2 leads relationship with each other but there is lots going on with the other characters as well so adding a few episodes to clean up the loose ends would make more sense.

And I also agree with javabeans that we can't expect too much for an extension since there's only 2 episodes left and its kind of too late to try to shoot more episodes.

We can only wait and see.. Thanks for posting!

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PLEASE PLEASE!!!! THIS IS MY FAVORITE DRAMA NEXT TO BOYS BEFORE AND YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL!!!

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Now that MSOAN is confirmed, does that mean there won't be an extension after all?

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I'm not into extensions at all. Why?
I really need my LIFE back! This drama is seriously your health hazard. I even skip DB for the whole day(or more?), can you imagine that?

20eps are appropriated for this drama, ending with a high note and leaving us with good memories to treasure.

Seriously, with these whole 18 eps (no spoilers), I feel the writer constantly keep throwing me her secret weapons again and again. I manage to dug left/right/up/down and survive until thisssssss last episode, I slipped and fell.... . my jaw dropped and........seriously SHRIEKING *swoon*

I've been enrolling in SungKyunkwan for so long. Just think of the finale, I feel like crying already.

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as much as i love this drama... im not for extension or season 2. its like eating candy... and too much of its sweetness later ruins the initial craving. in other words, its possibility of becoming a 'boredom' is inevitable. surely the end is good enough not leave the viewers hanging.

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I was one of those who actually watched this late and got hooked!
I wouldn't mind an extension or a season 2 perhaps, (not a spin off because it doesn't work) re: Goong S
But if their schedules will not permit the extension..hope they make a really happy ending..

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20 episodes for SKKS is definitely not enough for me, and I believe most of my fellow SKKS fans feel the same.
I want to see more of LSJ-KYH!!!
Sunny Greetings from Penang, Malaysia!

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If SKKS gets an extension then when will Mary Stayed Out All Night air? o , 0

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I agree that sometimes a part 2 is not so good than a part 1. But not all. Look at Lord of the Rings. Although someone also said that some korean dramas don't have extensions/sequels, I'm still hoping for a Season 2. I just hope they learn lessons from some not-so-successful sequels.

But sigh I love SKKS too much and I hope they'll have part 2. This drama is not showing here in the Philippines but I do hope they'll have season 2 of the drama.

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i dont want this drama to end.:(

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Jae Shin/Yong Ha spin off, please.

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