The boys of Equator Man
by javabeans
Or should we call them the Equator Boys?
Lee Hyun-woo (God of Study) and Im Shi-wan (The Moon That Embraces the Sun) will be carrying the first couple weeks of KBS’s upcoming Wednesday-Thursday drama Equator Man, before the melodrama moves on to their adult versions. The adolescent characters will give us a look into their close childhood bond as they grow up in the same orphanage and become successful businessmen, although the friendship sours with a betrayal later down the line.
The adults will be played, respectively, by Uhm Tae-woong (Dr. Champ) and Lee Jun-hyuk (City Hunter). I still have no idea how that works, age-wise, but I think we’re just going to have to accept Uhm as playing a half-decade younger than his real age and Lee Jun-hyuk playing a half-decade older. (Their younger counterparts will also have to meet in the middle, although in the opposite direction. Basically in this drama, Uhm Tae-woong must’ve lived really hard and Lee Jun-hyuk sold his soul to maintain his smooth youthful skin. One aged nearly two decades, and the other about two years. Ha.)
Age-math aside, I do think they cast well in terms of ambiance; Lee Hyun-woo’s the tough guy with the bloody face and the scruffly hair and the untucked shirt, while Im Shi-wan’s the gentler, clean-cut guy with his neat uniform smoothed into place.
While this drama is promoting the drama as a story about two equal leads — rather than hero-villain, or leading-supporting — I think it’s safe to say that Uhm edges out Lee as the first headliner. The same balance probably holds true of the ladies, with Lee Bo-young (Hooray For Love) being aligned with Uhm and Im Jung-eun (Joseon X-Files) paired with Lee Jun-hyuk.
Touted as the male version of the intense melodrama Women in the Sun (same writer), this drama looks like it’ll be a centerpiece for dramatic acting, full of fierce rivalry and heightened angst. With White Christmas’ director behind the camera, I’m expecting stand-out visuals to go with all the tears. There’s gonna be lots of tears, right?
Equator Man premieres on March 14.
Via TV Report
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Tags: Im Shi-wan, Lee Hyun-woo (2)
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1 kbap
March 5, 2012 at 3:11 PM
Wow pretty boys are pretty :)
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kbap
March 5, 2012 at 3:14 PM
Oh my god, White Christmas' director? I swear my list of dramas to watch just keeps growing. I love White Christmas - everything from the characters to the visuals. Yay!
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Jo
March 5, 2012 at 4:21 PM
I loved EVERYTHING about White Christmas. I loved the characters, music, the whole feel! Wow. I'm very very on board for this drama.
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Annie
March 5, 2012 at 8:46 PM
Yay for White Christmas director, but nay for Woman of the Sun screenwriter. Eeek.
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Mama J
March 5, 2012 at 3:24 PM
Yeah, I'm totally on board for this!
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buttrcup
March 7, 2012 at 7:08 AM
Oh me too xD
I'm totally psyched for this; oddly enough considering the fact that I somewhat dislike or at least tend to stay well AWAY from melodrama's but I guess this will be fine. Idk, I'm kinda making this an exception... hopefully I'm not disappointed
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2 Miky
March 5, 2012 at 3:26 PM
Really hope that there woun't be that much crying <_< so far i like the actors,both young&adult ones...I really like Shi-wan,i discovered him in Moon/Sun and to be frank i don't like his adult version at all,it just hasn't the same feel as the young one emitted...like what cool guy and full of oportunitis and what shadow had become...well i'll watch this one for sure...
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3 Salie
March 5, 2012 at 4:02 PM
I will watch this! :)
Oh I'm just curious, some of Korean Actors/Actresses acted more in movies than K-drama, does it mean they're more famous/popular?
I hope somebody will answer me :)
Super thanks :
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kbap
March 5, 2012 at 4:52 PM
I think some actors and actresses act more in movies because of the grueling schedules of Kdrama. I've heard a few dramas (Moon/Sun being one of them) with a schedule of shooting on the day that episode will be aired. Dramabeans in fact does have a few posts on the shooting schedule, you should check it out. :) No wonder some actors/actresses prefer movies over dramas, dramas are very exhausting.
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Salie
March 5, 2012 at 5:28 PM
Aha..Now I know. :) thank you so much..
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STAR
March 6, 2012 at 12:06 AM
Movies over TV series as far as famous goes I think though many actors do both. The more famous they get, the less and less dramas they tend to be involved in.
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spark67
March 7, 2012 at 12:08 PM
Sometimes, movie producers will cast unknown actors/actresses based on their stage work in Korea for artistic-style movies that can generate a lot of buzz for the themes that the movie explores and the actors/actresses who can carry them off. But many actors and actresses want to be cast in movies to be acknowledged for their acting prowess, even though they may not necessarily be "popular". Also, actors/actresses who star in MOVIES also carry the assumption that they can prove their ACTING, although that's not always the case-*achoo*kimtaehee*. Movie producers will often pick stars because they already have star power (doesn't necessarily mean they can act very well, though) and want to bring in the buzz to their movies, but this has not necessarily meant that those movies do well in Korea. But, if an actor who DOES well in movies, continues to do them and not dramas because, right or wrong, the actor/actress who is starring in movies is often considered to be an "ACTOR" vs "TALENT" (those who mainly act in television). Case in point: Ha Jung Woo. He had a very supporting acting part in a drama called "Lovers in Prague" with Kim Joo Hyuk and the incredible Jun Do Yeon. Fast forward to Ha Jung Woo's movie, "The Chaser", and now he's a mega star actor, headlining movies opposite leading actresses like Jun Do Yeon! Actors and actresses prefer movies because it shows their acting prowess, which increases their visibility, popularity and their wallets.
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Salie
March 8, 2012 at 8:40 PM
very well explained.. * clap,clap*
love it. specially the last sentence.
thank you so much :)
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4 comradeS
March 5, 2012 at 4:04 PM
White Christmas's director and a great cast make me really excited. And to be completely honest, I don't see the age difference of UTW and LJH to be all that jarring. I always see UTW as younger than he is, and LJH as older than he is, so I'm okay with the two of them. I'm just happy that their both good actors. Yay. I'm excited for this one. Please be good!!
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5 lonesome27
March 5, 2012 at 4:42 PM
so lee bo young is the lead after all she is the one romancing the lead and she was interviewed first in the poster shoot ... the other girl is more of the bad girl seems there was some misunderstanding that she was the lead ! still since I have seen women in the sun what I recall is that there were no OTP cause the female leads ended up switching men so the same might happen here
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Rob
March 8, 2012 at 10:12 PM
You're really obsessed about this,you know that? Obsessed :)))
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6 ar_arguably romantic
March 5, 2012 at 4:45 PM
i wasn't interested at all until I heard it was the white christmas director.
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7 danna
March 5, 2012 at 4:55 PM
OMO White Christmas' director?! damn....this wioll be one heck of a gorgeous drama then...also...why o why does this drama have to start on the same day as Roof Top Prince AND K2H...are they tryin to kill me?? Always Feast or famine in Kdramaland
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8 mariolawpanda
March 5, 2012 at 5:06 PM
Lee Hyun-woo suddenly grew up. He looks so mature in these photos. Even in his MC duties in that one music show, he still looks young but in here he's all mature and could really pass a the same age as Im Shi-wan.
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gala
March 5, 2012 at 7:13 PM
he'll always be my young King Sejong. this kid...when he cries, he can really pull you in! i feel like i watched him grow, as i've seen most of his dramas. i'll definitely watch this then drop after the kids grow up. this is the one drama i'm just tuning in for one specific actor - and that LHW.
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Yubin
March 6, 2012 at 7:33 PM
we're two. I had totally no interest in this drama -it's not that it sounds bad, just that it's not what I feel like watching recently- but I saw Lee Hyun-woo and I was like "OMG. ME WATCHES". I'm so canceling my night schedules.
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Czak
March 6, 2012 at 1:13 AM
Hyunwoo...!!!
He will always be my cutie and happy go lucky ChanDoo...!
So excited to see him again...
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9 jen
March 5, 2012 at 5:08 PM
oooh i look forward to some great acting :D
great acting is always a plus for drama
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10 HANI
March 5, 2012 at 5:12 PM
Not that interested at first but now they thrown White Christmas's director in the mix, I guess I had to check it out. I LOVE White Christmas, the cinematography is so beautiful.
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11 jubilantia
March 5, 2012 at 5:14 PM
Damn, I wish this wasn't a melodrama. We'll see how I feel after the first episode...
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12 dodo
March 5, 2012 at 5:49 PM
lol i see 2pm's wooyoung in lee hyun woo
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puddingpie1206
March 5, 2012 at 7:51 PM
me too.. hahaha
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13 Yee
March 5, 2012 at 5:55 PM
im shi wan?!!!!!!
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14 KDaddict
March 5, 2012 at 5:57 PM
This is shaping up nicely. I liked Siwan in METS, n would like to see how he does in a bigger role. Lee Jun Hyuk did really well in City Hunter. Look fwd to his next role.
Wow, come Mar 14, we'll be soooo busy!
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taraLuvJJ
March 6, 2012 at 7:26 AM
yes, march 14 make us very busy
^_^
i like lee jun hyuk in city hunter & lee hyun woo in god of study, i'm a fan of han ji won since what happened in bali and i'm die fan of park yoochun so will drama should i watch first..?!? sigh..
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15 Geneva
March 5, 2012 at 6:06 PM
Am I just obsessed with Shut Up or is he kind of rocking a Ji-hyuk-y perm?
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Mama J
March 5, 2012 at 6:35 PM
a little of both? At least, that's the answer for my own case!
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16 nurii
March 5, 2012 at 6:11 PM
Is March is the new May? I can't choose. i don't want to choose. i want to see em all.
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17 peony
March 5, 2012 at 6:15 PM
droool. can't wait for equator man! :)
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18 Angela
March 5, 2012 at 6:32 PM
LEE HYUN WOO <3
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19 estel
March 5, 2012 at 7:24 PM
Cha-dol~ah! You're so grown up!
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20 hpn88
March 5, 2012 at 7:39 PM
White christmas director! UTW and my beloved righteous, beautiful prosecutor? Add to my overflowing drama plate.
Looks like I'm not getting work done the next couple months
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21 Cam
March 5, 2012 at 7:58 PM
YAY!! :D It might be interesting, ooo ~ ooo! Gosh, Lee Hyun Woo is growing up so fast since I first watched him in that drama when he was young, of course. That's greaaatt!!! I will definitely watch this (if I have time), yupssss! ^__^
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22 Cammaynn
March 5, 2012 at 8:00 PM
Woot Woot for both guys: Lee Hyun Woo and Im Shi Wan!! They seem like they're good friends w/ each other (from these pictures "behind the scene"), heh!
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23 panshel
March 5, 2012 at 9:23 PM
Lee Hyun Woo is <3. Please give that boy another drama soon.
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24 nobodyimportant
March 5, 2012 at 9:34 PM
Siwaaaaaaaaannnnn~!
sorry i just had the urge to scream/yell/squeal when there's anything concerning Siwan.
n i'm getting excited to see him doing some angst/melodrama.....
n more bromance is always loved... xD
thanks for the article/pics
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25 Rob
March 5, 2012 at 11:35 PM
Great! People who haven't seen "Women In The Sun" should know that there will be a switching between the female leads at some point >:) , meaning:
-Im Jung Eun to be aligned with Uhm Tae-Woong.
-lee boyoung to be aligned with Lee Jun-hyuk.
And since Uhm Tae-woong is the big name, looks like Im Jung Eun was the main lead after all :)))). I think it's great because she's more talented than boyoung.
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DMSAK
March 6, 2012 at 7:34 PM
You're so obsessed with Im Jung Eun being the female lead, which I have nothing to be against you. But I don't know why you're so sure there will be a switching thing like you mentioned. If so, I wonder why people would care to watch such predictable plots?
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26 melonhead
March 5, 2012 at 11:39 PM
wow Lee Hyun Woo. So damn hot.
That aside, "Basically in this drama, Uhm Tae-woong must’ve lived really hard and Lee Jun-hyuk sold his soul to maintain his smooth youthful skin. One aged nearly two decades, and the other about two years."
Hahaha. Uhm Tae-woong is an adorable man, but he looks 40 to me. Will definitely be excited to see how this turns out though!
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27 7SignsofAging
March 5, 2012 at 11:53 PM
hahahaha... I like your write-up because I was a bit confused about their age-gap yet the same age...hehehehe....only in korean drama...remember queen seondok where the adopted mother of queen seondok is like 2 years older than queen seondok herself in real life. in giant, the main character aged but the "kontrabida" looks the same throughout the years --- he has ageless beauty...in fact in the last episode they both look of the same age...there is also east of eden...i can go on and on...probably the miracle of bb cream...
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28 soojin08
March 6, 2012 at 12:26 AM
BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE....MY EYES *__*
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29 cocoonedsoul
March 6, 2012 at 3:21 AM
i've seen hyunwoo in every role he had (i even watched hwarang fighter as a tween... xD) and no matter how they cut him up, i can't believe in his bad boy character. a face like that, beating up the neighbourhood kids? no...
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30 Linda165
March 6, 2012 at 5:47 AM
Oh noes!!! He has Ji Hyuk's (SUFBB) hairstyle. I hope it won't become a trend
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31 KStyle
March 6, 2012 at 10:04 AM
Awww White Christmas director plus City Hunter prosecutor, I think we have ourselves a show ladies& gents.
You got me when you said White Christmas director.
Raises both hands, I'm in!!!
I can't wait for next week, oh yes, what great fun!
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32 Carinne
March 6, 2012 at 10:33 AM
Well, the Equator boys already set the pace, they do look half a decade apart.
I still can't get over poodle hairstyle, and one of my closest guy friends had that style for a decade now.
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33 blee
March 6, 2012 at 6:02 PM
Lee Hyun Woo --> Uhm Tae Woong again? They did this before in Queen Seon Duk and when they did the child to adult transition the age jump in Kim Yoo Shin shocked me! This was before I knew about Lee Hyun Woo or Uhm Tae Woong. I feel like Lee Hyun Woo has too much of a baby face and Uhm Tae Woong looks old for his age.
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34 Viki
March 7, 2012 at 12:45 AM
Awwww, I wish they continue playing the roles!!! Lee Hyun Woo became so hot nowadays...he was a kid back in God of Study hehehe...and Siwan oppa is so awesome anyway...besides, he's an adult....why can't they give him a adult role?
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