Ripley’s cast holds its prayer ceremony
by javabeans
Pre-emptive strike: Yes, this is an Lee Da-hae post. Yes, there will probably be lots of random angry wank. Yes, I’d rather we stayed sane. Let’s try and keep things civil, shall we? We can prove we’re not slaves to this curious, near-Pavlovian response to go feral whenever the name Lee Da-hae is mentioned, right? Right??
Anyway…
The drama apparently now titled Ripley — formerly Goodbye, Miss Ripley — held its prayer ceremony last week, that customary event held by a drama’s cast and production team to wish for good luck and success in the coming months. (It’s not a religious thing, just common industry practice.)
The four leads were there at MBC’s Yongin set — Lee Da-hae with Micky Yoochun, Kim Seung-woo, and Kang Hye-jung — giving us our first glimpse of them interacting with each other. No doubt there will be many a superfan scrutinizing the photos for signs to be gleaned in the LDH/Yoochun shots. (They’re standing close together! Then they’re standing far apart — to overcompensate for being close earlier? That must be it! They hate each other! No, they’re in looove!)
As we’ve mentioned before, the plot is of the ripped-from-the-headlines variety, taking its inspiration from the well-publicized case of Shin Jeong-ah, a professor who’d forged her credentials (claiming to have a Yale degree). When she was caught, she became notorious overnight, and also triggered the outing of a number of other academics (and even celebs) touting falsified school records.
In a society that practically values your worth as a human being based on the quality of education you received, you can see why this was such a grievous offense not only to those in academic circles but to the Everyman and -Woman, particularly if you’d been passed over for someone with a more lustrous school name on their resumé. It was also an affront to the Everymom slaving to get her kid into the “right” academies and universities so as to allow her child to score the “right” job and marry the “right” spouse to become a “right” member of society. Only to be pushed aside by a lying faker with a lack of real creds and shame.
Shin Jeong-ah spoke to the media last week while promoting the publication of an essay book, where she was naturally asked how she felt about this new drama based on her life. She gave a vague, safe answer: “I saw the reports when my friends alerted me to them. The drama hasn’t started yet, but I’ll watch when it airs.” She did admit, “The fact that I am the subject of a drama does make me feel some burden. But even so, I think I’ll have to watch it.”
Shin’s autobiography, by the way, has been selling out and her name has once again become a hot topic, although there are critics who have harsh words for her book. One famous writer even expressed her suspicions that the autobiography was ghostwritten.
Shin’s public image is, to put it mildly, mired in controversy; she’s also seen as brash and shameless. The woman’s frauds were flagrant, and even in her new book, she reportedly paints herself the victim rather than copping to her misdeeds. So one wonders how on earth she’ll be portrayed as the heroine in a drama — because as much as Korea likes delicious, flawed heroes/heroines in fiction, it’s another thing entirely to humanize (or romanticize) one so disdained in real life. And it’s not at all a stretch to wonder how an actress who inspires such divisive, heated opinions will be able to reconcile her own public image with this character who is already quite a challenge to begin with.
Lest you think I’m all about slagging on Lee Da-hae, let me say that I think she’s a pretty talented actress, and three years ago I’d have been exclaiming that she’d totally be up for a meaty dramatic role, no question. But now I add the caveat that she can be good…when she feels like bringing it. Because let’s be honest, as much as she can be energetic and emotive when she’s on, she hasn’t been on in a long while. She’s been phoning it in for the past few years, and if she never taps back into that deeper part of her — that inner actress who isn’t so hyper-conscious of how she looks, how perfect her makeup is, or what people say about her — it’ll be a great shame. ‘Cause she coulda been.
Ripley is set to replace The Duo, taking over the Monday-Tuesday timeslot in late May.
Via OSEN
RELATED POSTS
Tags: Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley
![[Rate and Review] The Winning Try](https://dramabeans.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/TheWinningTry_reviewb.jpg)
![[Drama Chat] Same drama, different timelines](https://dramabeans.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/dramachat_august302025.jpg)
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 dany
March 30, 2011 at 11:18 AM
wow, no comments?
Required fields are marked *
2 dany
March 30, 2011 at 11:20 AM
I'm sorry, this was the first thing I thought of, about the movie, I don't know, the protagonist is not a great actor for me
Required fields are marked *
3 Lena S.
March 30, 2011 at 11:25 AM
it's better to keep comments to myself until the drama airs lol
Required fields are marked *
4 Carinne
March 30, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Well, everyone looks exhausted already. I too hope this production runs smooth and safety first to all cast and crew.
Required fields are marked *
5 vis
March 30, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Hahaha the pre-emptive strike worked!!! XD
Thanks for the interesting post, I've always liked how you analyzed things in a very cool-headed fashion :P I'm really interested in this drama because the setup is rather unique. It's got a lot of potential I think.
Required fields are marked *
6 yay
March 30, 2011 at 11:34 AM
i do wonder how they are going to make it so that we'll supposedly like the main character??? or are we supposed to hate her till the end and its kang hye jung who is the lead???
Required fields are marked *
7 Lenita
March 30, 2011 at 11:35 AM
well, she might be perfect for this role of keeping up on appearances?
btw, who/what is the 'ripley' they're referring to, has anyone got an idea?
Required fields are marked *
8 ohemgee
March 30, 2011 at 11:37 AM
they're totally doing it.
AHAHAH JUST KIDDING.
:P
Required fields are marked *
9 miss unknown
March 30, 2011 at 11:37 AM
This is sadd...but I already like the chemistry of the 2nd leads...LOL...
Required fields are marked *
10 Ahjummoni
March 30, 2011 at 11:41 AM
the played another errmm scammer in My Girl - and she was quite successful
Required fields are marked *
11 mskololia
March 30, 2011 at 11:46 AM
Wow, after that intro, I wonder how they will give her a "happy-ever-after" ending with whoever? :)
Required fields are marked *
12 Fasiris Fay
March 30, 2011 at 11:52 AM
this actually seems really interesting. and I agree, I think LDH can definitely act when she puts her all into it. but you're right, her last few roles have been dismal, at best.
With that said, the story does sound interesting and I'm intrigued to see how the writers and LDH will represent the character.
Required fields are marked *
13 nell123
March 30, 2011 at 12:09 PM
I don't care about the controversies surrounding the leads: break ups, dropping productions or whatever. Let it begin already!!!It's been soooo long since I've been this impatient about a drama, I can't believe it. LDH or no LDH they better deliver. There have been too many disappointments lately (yes, I'm talking about you, Midas).
Required fields are marked *
14 okitokki
March 30, 2011 at 12:15 PM
So this Shin Jeong-ah woman faked credentials... is this why it was such a big deal when people accused Tablo of that? (Other than that faking your credentials is illegal, I mean)
Required fields are marked *
15 absothe
March 30, 2011 at 12:16 PM
In the first picture, her fingernails and his lips are the same colour LOL
Required fields are marked *
16 supah
March 30, 2011 at 12:19 PM
Oh go on then, I'll do the obligatory bitchy anti-fan comment then: *cracks knuckles*
Lee Da-Hae -- y she be so uuuglay?
Nawww... I'm honestly kidding. I'm actually kind of indifferent to the actress, as she has yet to really blow me away with her talent in order for me to rate her. Yet I've not seen her in enough projects to really qualify to make any kind of judgement about her... I think she's decent. And pretty. I just don't GET the hate. Or maybe the former sentence explains that?
Ripley doesn't seem like my cuppa tea, but let's see how I feel when they do actually air it.
Ooh... Kim Seung-woo. <3
Required fields are marked *
17 jpark
March 30, 2011 at 12:23 PM
this is interesting drama choice for kang hye jung. considering her husband was under a lot of scrutiny for forging his Standford education.
Required fields are marked *
18 JinP
March 30, 2011 at 12:24 PM
Why the preemptive strike? I was looking forward to the comments turning dramabeans into a zoo.
Just kidding!!! :)
Required fields are marked *
19 sandy80
March 30, 2011 at 12:55 PM
I dont understand this really why should you me or anyone else give a damn about her fans and who says she is talented I dont think so she is not a first lady or any thing she is just an actress like the rest of them and we can say whatever we like about her my fav actress gets trashed everytime her name is mentioned and no one cared
Required fields are marked *
20 danna
March 30, 2011 at 12:56 PM
promising premise and cast..now i'm just crossing my fingers for proper execution from the production team...speaking of which does anyone know who the writer-director duo will be??...also what is with all these dramas and name changes??
Required fields are marked *
21 jomo143
March 30, 2011 at 1:02 PM
I can't believe you said that, and I quote:
Yes, this is an Lee Da-hae post.
Soooooo biased against Mickey, who was hardly even mentioned, and you said NOTHING about his brother.
Geeez!
Required fields are marked *
22 buhdoop
March 30, 2011 at 1:10 PM
She looks fresher in all the stills for this drama. Younger looking and just, well, fresh.
Required fields are marked *
23 @.@
March 30, 2011 at 1:15 PM
i'm sooo totally watching this one, for park yoochun and for the plot. i'm also going to watch city hunter for lee minho!!!! now, to await their aring dates...
Required fields are marked *
24 sandy80
March 30, 2011 at 1:31 PM
btw plot wise from what I have heard from other sites this is nothing new and really except the forging part there is no connection to the scandle the story is about a poor girl adopted by an evil family who make her miserable she is sold or abused or something she is angry she wants revenge she forges and rises and so on and all of that in the hotel world and not in the art field just just like the real story and yes along the way the 2 men fall madly for her this sounds like alot of kdramas it is similar to woman of the sun for instance
Required fields are marked *
25 Amy
March 30, 2011 at 1:32 PM
If Yoochun is indeed the lead male (aka hero, aka will get the girl), I just can't understand anyone who would pick him over Kim Seung-woo. I say this as a straight female and a long (long) time DBSK fan. Just look at Kim! Unbuttoned collar! Guh!
Required fields are marked *
26 whatis
March 30, 2011 at 1:35 PM
yea... I was also wondering how on earth are they going to make LDH's character into a heroine whom the audience will root for and sympathize with. Based on the description, I'm thinking a lot of people will dislike her character from the get-go. Adding LDH's recent public image... I don't know. Sounds like a perfect concoction for disaster and hating.
I really waiting for this drama to air, because I'm so curious how it will turn out. If the drama tries to justifies her actions, I wonder how the public will react. Sounds like a very delicate drama... I hope they do this well. Or it'll just explode in everyone's face.
Required fields are marked *
27 notoriousnoona
March 30, 2011 at 1:44 PM
Not excited about Lee Dahee at all but LSW is my ajussi for all seasons and I adore KHJ. I also have an interest in the plot and how it will be spun so I'm in... for now :)
Required fields are marked *
28 danni
March 30, 2011 at 1:52 PM
Lol, the Lee Da-hae posts have been getting a lot of hate lately.Seriously people, we just need to chill.
I'm looking forward to this drama because I do want to see how LDH's character is portrayed. Even if the real person is unfavored by the public, Korean audiences tend to love the power-hungry/money-craving heroine, so this could work, especially if the character skews slightly towards crazy. We'll see how it goes.
Required fields are marked *
29 tegami
March 30, 2011 at 1:58 PM
I DON'T CARE ABOUT ANYONE ELSE, I'LL JUST BE WATCHING FOR MICKY <3333
lee-da who?!?!?!
Required fields are marked *
30 orangy911
March 30, 2011 at 2:02 PM
Honestly, I'll be checking this out for Kang Hye Jung and Kim Seung Woo. I've missed both of them.
Required fields are marked *
31 Nana
March 30, 2011 at 2:02 PM
I still don't like her. I just gonna pay attention to other casts.
Required fields are marked *
32 kgal
March 30, 2011 at 2:16 PM
The story is intriguing to me, so that's why I'll be tuning in. LDH and Yoochun are meh to me as actors, so hopefully if the story is good, their acting won't disappoint.
Required fields are marked *
33 Sushi
March 30, 2011 at 2:24 PM
it bugs me that the woman is still alive and they're doing a drama about her. she doesn't deserve all the attention that she's getting honestly! sheesh.
Required fields are marked *
34 linz
March 30, 2011 at 2:28 PM
is yoochun wearing lipstick? o_o
Required fields are marked *
35 Deeliteful
March 30, 2011 at 2:43 PM
Word of the day:
di·vi·sive
Adjective: Tending to cause disagreement or hostility between people.
Thats all I gots to day :)
Required fields are marked *
36 SadieStarr
March 30, 2011 at 2:56 PM
i see chemistry in the first pic..im a person who dsnt allow the actor's personal life taint their pic of as a proffesional in my eyes..although dahae idk might hve or not hve ben a proffesional..i think shes a good actor who can do great lyk sara said..if she wants. so im looking fwd to this show..has a talented cast :D
Required fields are marked *
37 janna
March 30, 2011 at 3:09 PM
If this is more close to the scandal than what Sandy (comment 24) says I might tune in. Otherwise.. I don't know. I love Kang Hye Jung, but I'm not that head over heels for this project.
I think I might read up more on this Shin Jeong-ah. You know, who the hell cares where you went to School. Education is what you make of it. Yes, going to an ivy league is nice, but should not be a precursor to all the riches in life. If she was doing good at her job only to have it taken away because of credentials...well, that's just dumb. But perhaps she was just a schemer. Yeah, I should go google that.
Required fields are marked *
38 malta
March 30, 2011 at 3:20 PM
It's a drama people not a biopic. How many crazy things do drama heroines do in Kdramas anyway?
pretending to be someone else
pretending to have a job you don't
pretending to be rich/poor
pretending to be married when you're not
pretending to like someone when you don't to make someone else jealous...etc. and etc.
Dislike LDH and SJH, but the Kdrama heroine character might be ok. Anyway I think the fact that SJH EMBEZZLED funds in real life is a much harder thing to resolve in the plot than lying about her academic credentials. I wonder if they are keeping embezzlement in the plot cause' that basically makes her a felon (at least in the US).
Required fields are marked *
39 Annie
March 30, 2011 at 3:28 PM
Reminds me of the Hwang Woo Suk Scandal with stem cell research. I guess lying and forging information doesn't work out so well after all.
Required fields are marked *
40 Northern Star
March 30, 2011 at 3:37 PM
I am very disappointed that Mickey had to act alongside Lee Da Hae.
i don't like her at all!
Required fields are marked *
41 Barbara Starks
March 30, 2011 at 3:41 PM
She will drop out, instead of the runway bride she the runaway actress.
Required fields are marked *
42 jc
March 30, 2011 at 3:47 PM
I don't hate LDH, but I've never understood the raves that she got for being an awesome actress. I first saw her in My Girl and while I really enjoyed My Girl, what I disliked about it was... LDH. She reminds me of Kim Tae Hee in that people criticize KTH for being just a pretty face whose sole concept of acting is bulging out her eyes. This pretty much sums up my first introduction to and impression of LDH--a pretty girl whose eyes were just a little too... intense? I can't even describe what it is about her eyes. Maybe the fact that they are so round or black or something. On top of that, everything she did (in My Girl) was sooooo overly exagerated. I next saw her in East of Eden and while she wasn't playing a perky character, there was still something so off about her acting.
Required fields are marked *
43 kit
March 30, 2011 at 3:52 PM
my girl is like one of my favourite dramas of all time, so i can't stop myself from liking LDH. her work ethic has much to be desired buuuuut ...
well i'm looking forward to this. it'll be an interesting mix of actors, but it'll have a high chance of working out. <3
Required fields are marked *
44 Shikurai17
March 30, 2011 at 4:07 PM
I'm wondering about the hate on LDH. I never realized she was hated before. I don't have much of a opinion about her.
My Girl, Hello Miss and EoE didn't grab my interest at all. I never thought she was that pretty. I didn't really start getting interested in her until I watched Chuno. I must be one of the very few who liked her in that drama. I liked her character and how she played it. I thought she was great and really pretty in there, but I'm in the minority. :)
I'm really interested in her new drama now. I feel like she'll do great in it. Of course, I feel like this because of Chuno.
Required fields are marked *
45 Einna
March 30, 2011 at 4:27 PM
I'd check the drama out if only for Kim Seung-woo and Kang Hye-jung. But if Lee Da Hae ends up ruining the whole thing, not even my love for the KSW and KHJ could redeem the whole project.
Required fields are marked *
46 amg01
March 30, 2011 at 5:21 PM
*My Love/Hate with Historical Dramas/Movies*
One of the main reasons why I hate historical movies, and dramas, specially Hollywood ones, is the evident fact that they take such liberties concerning historical facts, that at the end of the day it all looks like the “history that never was”.
The Korean drama “Ripley”, is a 100% percent work of fiction, that may contain some vague resemblance from the real case history. How are they going to incorporate some of the story line is yet to be seen, but I can assured you all that the original case is already far, far, far, away from its drama counter part.
Shin Jeong-ah, the real life “Ripley Lady”, was born in on April 28 1972, I have not read her biography, so I do not know the real facts about her childhood.
At some point in her adult life @ her 30's she became romantically attached to somebody with ties to the “Blue House”, Byeon Yang-kyoon who at that time was an advisor to President Roh Moo-hyun, and also was 21 year her senior.
With Byeon Yang-kyoon, help, she was hired by Dongguk University on September 1 2005, at this point she had claim that she had earn two degrees from the University of Kansas and her Ph.D from Yale University,
Due to an error by a Yale staffer her credentials were certified as legit, not until April of 2007 when all hell broke loose, and accusations and recriminations begun, until finally by October 11, 2007, the “Lady and her Sugar Daddy” as he was called were arrested.
She was resealed from jail on April of 2009.
On her book “4001,” which the tittle makes reference to her ID number while in jail, she still unapologetic, tells the story of how she did what she did, but the most shocking allegations deals with former President Chung Un-chan, who also serve as the president for Seoul National University till 2009, she claims that her appointment for work as a curator was in payment for some form of “sexual favors”that she provided for President Chung Un-chan, what ever that may mean.
So the question remains the same: How much of the original story will be told by the drama? And the answer is not much.
1- She is younger, and her lover is 21 years her senior, drama she is older lover younger.
2- Her accusations concerning the former President, as we know that is a “No, No,” in Korea, so that is out of the question.
The real story is beyond “good,” it has all the makings of an epic drama, if we were in the USA, I will see no problem to sticking to the original story, but with the liability laws in Korea, I doubt whether they will follow to close to the original.
Don't get me wrong this may turn to be very good drama, but the more I read about the real case the less excited I become!!
Thus my feelings between love and hate!!! : O }
Required fields are marked *
47 NINA
March 30, 2011 at 5:35 PM
I'm watching this because I love YOOCHUN! I hope Yoochun improves from his SKKS drama!
Required fields are marked *
48 ditdut
March 30, 2011 at 6:51 PM
"She’s been phoning it in for the past few years, and if she never taps back into that deeper part of her — that inner actress who isn’t so hyper-conscious of how she looks, how perfect her makeup is, or what people say about her — it’ll be a great shame."
Wow, you have very eloquently stated what I've been feeling about Lee Dahae ever since she did the drama Robbers. God knows how much I loved My Girl, but the more I see her, the more she rubs me the wrong way. No matter how great of an actor she is, her self consciousness emanates off screen. I always get the feeling that her self vanity was too big for her to handle.
Required fields are marked *
49 Nancy
March 30, 2011 at 7:30 PM
I guess I'm a latecomer because there seems to be a tense attitude when Lee Da Hae's name was mentioned but I actually do like her. Did she recently have some controversy?? Anyhow, this one looks interesting so I will keep my eye on but I think I'm ready for some romantic comedy instead since I've been loading myself with melodramas lately.
Required fields are marked *
50 glencorajane
March 30, 2011 at 7:40 PM
I really dun mind LDH. I think she is pretty and lively. Very spontaneous. I always think her few years of australian education make her at odds with the korean culture which is really not her fault.
I am rather neutral about Micky Yoochun, I know I am going to be bashed but I find his face rather unbalance. His lower part of the face seems to be too sharp and ends abruptly and would have been nicer if it is longer.
But judging by the first pix, he seems to have good chemistry with LDH, so thats quite positive.
Required fields are marked *