Choi Kang-hee confirms Secret Agent War
by girlfriday
Confirmations are in: Choi Kang-hee (Protect the Boss) has signed on to be Joo-won’s leading lady in the new spy action rom-com drama Secret Agent War. I… can’t pretend to be ecstatic about this news, as I’m not exactly her biggest fan, but I’m willing to keep an open mind. Who knows, maybe she just played characters I didn’t like before, and somehow she and Joo-won will defy the strangeness of their coupling, have fantastic chemistry, and make me eat my words? Maybe? Possibly? A little bit? I’m trying here! Sigh, the things we do for aegyo monsters. Joo-won, if this drama sucks, I’m putting you on a timeout.
The series is based on the hit movie Level 7 Civil Servant, and will feature a pair of spies who keep their identities a secret from each other while they navigate the muddy waters of dating. It’s like Mr. and Mrs. Smith: The Dating Years, which is a fantastic premise. I loved the movie with Kim Haneul and Kang Ji-hwan, and have wanted them to make this drama forever. It’ll be a fun genre mashup: spy action thriller, romantic melo, and healthy dose of comedy. The 20-episode drama will be written by Chun Sung-il, of Chuno and Level 7 Civil Servant. Directing is Kim Sang-hyub, who was the second director on Dong Yi.
Choi Kang-hee will play Kim Seo-won, an agent with brains, brawn, and looks, but lacking in wealth. She’s the eldest daughter of a poor farmer, and works hard to support her family financially, from living expenses to all her siblings’ tuition. Seo-won is tenacious and independent, and a realist with fierce pride. Joo-won plays Gil-ro, a rookie agent who comes from a well-to-do family. Their initial conflict will arise out of — what else — money and pride.
Phew, well at least they changed it so that Joo-won will be the rookie to Choi Kang-hee’s higher-ranked agent, because I just didn’t see how they were going to pull off same-aged characters and agents on equal footing. But if he’s just playing the younger man and we’re not pretending they’re the same age, it works better all around. Chemistry concerns aside, I am still excited for the drama, because who doesn’t love spies and secret identity hijinks? I hope they milk the hell out of the comedy on this.
Secret Agent War will air in January on MBC.
Via Joy News
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- Joo-won interview: Ratings man and aegyo boy
- Joo-won offered Level 7 Civil Servant remake
- Protect the Boss posters and character stills
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- Drama version of Civil Servant in the works
Tags: Choi Kang-hee, Joo-won
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101 21
October 23, 2012 at 8:31 PM
I am happy because Joo won is in the drama!!! Please don't disappoint!
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102 Yayuk13
October 23, 2012 at 8:40 PM
I can't say any word now...(hiks..hiks).....just let's see what's gonna happen..
Hope the best for CKH, especially for joo-woon....
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103 GJ
October 23, 2012 at 11:24 PM
I hope they give justice to the movie because I so loved it. T.T
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104 Kdramarulz
October 23, 2012 at 11:41 PM
Are you for real? The age gap is 10 years!
He is way toooooooo cute to pair with a woman older than him 10 years! How can it be convincing?
Unless its with someone like Shin Min Ah who is about 3 years older than him....she is major cute and can kick some butt as proven in Arang!
Writers', producers', people behind the scene....please pick the right girl for JW!!!!!!!!!
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mars
October 24, 2012 at 11:13 AM
Obviously since they cast Choi Kang-hee they believe she is the right girl for the role and coincidentally her character is romantically linked to Joo-won's character so she is the right girl for him according to the people behind the scenes!!!!!!!!!
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105 fab
October 24, 2012 at 1:22 AM
I spontaneously burst into laughter when I read the title, I just know there are hundreds of fangirls who will be in mourning over this news. Sorry...
Country Calls was a bit different but if Secret Agent is as funny I'll be super content. :D
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106 AnnaCC
October 24, 2012 at 1:23 AM
Guys keep an open mind!
Yes CKH is older and you can totally see that, but don't mistake Joo Won the person with Joo Won the actor.
I think they can work this pairing out, JW can be pretty mature when he wants too and I think CKH can also act childish (without being over the top) if she needs to.
I'm actually excited to see this drama unfold...would I like a younger actress? Well maybe but I do adore CKH and I'll give it a chance to see what will come out of it :)
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107 Fasha Mamat
October 24, 2012 at 2:29 AM
horror..i always find her..un...interesting..
now she with joowon..Nooooooooooo!!!!
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108 kimie
October 24, 2012 at 4:43 AM
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO :(
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109 Gom
October 24, 2012 at 5:03 AM
STILL NO. NO. NO. NO.
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Gom
October 24, 2012 at 5:05 AM
Oh, so it's another version of a noona relationship. Pfft. Get over it, South Korea.
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lili
October 24, 2012 at 1:53 PM
You get OVER it, we need experienced actresses not newbies/idols who can barely act...I'm not Choi Kang Hee biggest fan but I'm sure I'll get used to her with time. Please, everyone, give her a chance!
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Gom
October 25, 2012 at 3:17 AM
I don't hate Choi Kang Hee either. I loved her in Protect the Boss. And I would certainly go for a good actress rather than a trendy name in idol-dom or an inexperienced newbie.
But I don't think drama land has a shortage of younger actresses who CAN act. There are other actresses out there who would've been a better match for Joo Won.
Now, since the information at hand tells us that Joo Won's character is the rookie, younger detective and Kang Hee's character is the more experienced one, then this just makes it another one of the many younger guy-noona dramas. I personally think that it's a plot that's been used a lot of times. And in most recent history, it didn't turn out quite as well (Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, BIG).
For the record, had it not been Joo Won, had it been someone with the same age and experience as Kang Hee or maybe just the same feel as her, she would've been perfect for the role. :)
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boni
October 25, 2012 at 1:33 PM
And
Me Too, Flower, I do I Do
110 Roshogolla
October 24, 2012 at 5:28 AM
I'm indifferent for now. Have to watch the drama to make a judgement on the pairing. I liked her on protect the boss (although drama sucked at the end.. seriously. wtf). As for Joo Won.. I'm indifferent. Neither love or hate. Hopefully this drama might make me love him..
As for Noona romance I'm all for it.. We have seen fair share of oppa romance, now its noonas time to reign. I agree it's not realistic but hey dramas are not realistic. Kim Myung Min fits in perfectly with his much younger costars, same goes for Lee Byung Hun. What's wrong with a girl doing the same?
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111 seyhan
October 24, 2012 at 7:19 AM
Maybe CKH didn't consider the her part as an ideal one herself as well, but kinda had to accept the offer because you know this is her job and she needs to earn money?
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112 Marwa
October 24, 2012 at 11:23 AM
Well, I'm not a fan of her either but frankly speaking Joo Won Oppa has the ability to pull off strong chemistry with just about anyone. He even did it with Shunji for goodness sake (Shunji is a character in Bridal Mask) their intense chemistry I still can't get over it LOL even though Shunji was a guy :P
So I don't think Choi Kang-hee unnie will be a problem whether the difference is 10 or 15 years between to Joo Won that's absolutely NOT A PROBLEM. Besides they did pair him up with an actress who's even younger than him (in Bridal Mask) but her acting sucked big time and she had zero charisma zero presence it's like she's not even there so what good does it do if the actress is near his age but can't catch up to him?? At least Choi KAng Hee can definitely act and she fits the part well. I believe in my Joo Won and I can't wait to watch this one (^_^)
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113 Lord of the Things
October 24, 2012 at 11:41 AM
I don't know, I think Choi Kang-hee is really fun, and she sometimes manages to get the serious beats as well, so its not like she's totally surface. I guess people can't help who they find annoying, but I think she's pretty refreshing.
I'm hoping that she and Joo Won will find some sort of wacky middle ground to build chemistry on.
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114 Kenneth Eager
October 24, 2012 at 11:46 AM
I liked the chick from Protect the Boss, I thought she was hilarious. I do admit that it is an odd couple put together, but meh, still watching it LOL.
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115 haro
October 24, 2012 at 3:09 PM
Even it breaks 50% i`ll not watch it as i couldn't finish 2 epi of kim samson, dont like these kind of stories.
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116 aster
October 24, 2012 at 4:53 PM
i agree with a couple of comments - i like them both but not together, and there's nothing wrong with noona/dongsaeng pairing if that issue is addressed in the story. if it isn't and the noona really looks her age, as in this case, then aigoo ... it's goodbye drama for me! i don't think there a shortage of young korean actresses who can act - is there?
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117 Addylovesbwood
October 24, 2012 at 8:39 PM
I have a feeling this drama will surprise all of us. I know it's going to be antagonizing watching our little JW liplocking this noona but it's not the end of the world people!! I have faith in both actors and i know the directors must hv a little faith to have casted them together so lets get over it and cheer them on!!!
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118 Carol
October 25, 2012 at 1:40 PM
OH, NOOOO!!!!!!!!!
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119 anicheung
October 26, 2012 at 1:18 AM
I usually don't speak out much, but after going through some of the comments here, I really have to wonder:
Is it possible that people stop addressing a series (rom-com or not) which features an older woman paired with a younger man, as a drama that addresses the "issue" of noona-dongsaeng romance? I totally understand that the older woman and younger man pairing is not traditional (and had been socially unaccepted for a long time), but it's not like it doesn't happen in real life. It's not an "issue" anymore and is just a fact of life. Are women supposed to forever only be with older men? Are men only ever supposed to be with younger women?
Why make an issue of it? Why not just see a series as what it's supposed to be? As a rom-com, two people who meet each other, go through loads of K-drama tropes, and fall in love, age notwithstanding. Instead we see that the series happens to pair an older woman with a younger man and immediately roll our eyes that the noona-dongsaeng "trend" is being brought up in another series. Well, DON'T make it a "trend" since it's a fact of life.
If anything then why don't we address the "trend" of older men/younger women pairings, which are in, oh, I don't know, almost every rom-com for the past how many years? Why is THAT not an eye-roller? Because it's traditional and NOT an issue? Or the same age pairings? Traditional? More aesthetically pleasing to the eye? Give me something I can work with here.
And yes, I HAVE read that some of the issues are with the mature-not mature image of the main leads not meshing well. Well, they're both actors, and maybe this is their chance to prove how well they can make something that everyone else is writing off happen spectacularly. I'm not a fan of either of the two; Choi Kang Hee didn't exactly impress me in any of her works and I've yet to see a Joo Won series, so I'm not taking sides per actor/actress. I'm just addressing this "issue" that I find kind of a lame excuse to be antagonizing the series as well as the main female just because of an age difference.
And now bring on the attacks, cause I know I'm going to be getting some.
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120 kira
October 27, 2012 at 3:03 AM
Shit!!! why her ??of alll ??sorry for the bad word but i was rooting for kim tae hee...i love Joo Won but pairing him to her will be a NO NO ..i don't like her..she's not good ''oh pls. ..i wish thisi sn't official...
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121 kira
October 27, 2012 at 3:05 AM
EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!
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122 jane
November 4, 2012 at 12:40 AM
This is basically a Kings2 hearts redux without the whole king drama. I wish those writers and Pds would get more creative and stop copying each other's works and try to pass it off as something new and cool. All the olderwomen/youngerguy romances i've seen on dramas so far i've been terrible, check the last one ''I do''. This could be Joo won's first flop, i guess he must have one lol
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123 luvyluna
November 23, 2012 at 3:05 AM
I like the idea about noona-dongsaeng love relationship. It's good they pick Choi Kang Hee because she has mature-but-cute vibe as Jo woon cuteness.. As long as they don't put wrong make up and stylist as Chae Rim in Oh, my lady!!.. Which I choose as the worst outfit ever until now..
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124 White Bouquets
December 2, 2012 at 12:05 AM
I just don't know why you aren't fond of this leading lady, but to each their own. This is the one thing I can't seem to wrap my head around! She seems to give her all to every role. Of course there are actors/actresses that I am not a big fan of that people just goo and gah over, lol. I am watching Protect the Boss right now and LOVING her in it. Anyways, sure enjoy your posts and site.....thanks for letting us all share! God bless! :)
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