Rival and love interest added to period drama Basketball
by javabeans
A few more cast members have been added to tvN’s basketball and 1930s/40s period drama Basketball, following the casting of Do Ji-han (Incarnation of Money) as the lead, and are featured in their own character posters. Both these actors are relative rookies, which I actually find promising; I like that the show is staying low-key and not aiming for stunt casting.
Do Ji-han plays the main character Kang San, who grew up poor in a tiny village and finds success through basketball; he makes it all the way to the historic 1948 Olympic team that advanced to the quarterfinal round in Korea’s first and last single national team, just a few years before the peninsula divided. Playing Kang San’s rival is Jung Dong-hyun (pictured above) in the role of Min Chi-ho, a basketball star enjoying nationwide popularity. With his fame, he inspires pride and spirit in his compatriots in the midst of the difficulties suffered during the Japanese Occupation.
Naturally, the two boys also fall for the same girl, Choi Shin-young, who is played by a newcomer whose name I think is spelled Lee Elriya. (Apologies for errors; I was only able to locate one iffy source using an English spelling.) Even with a relatively fresh story, I suppose there are some fixtures you just can’t get away from in dramaland, and the hero-rival love triangle is one of them. Another fixture: poor hero, rich rival, rich love interest. Shin-young comes from a rich family in Kyungsung (now Seoul) and attended school in Japan, after which she returns to Korea and begins working as a magazine reporter.
So far this drama sounds fascinating; it’s got so much interesting stuff going on and a director who knows how to set a beautiful tableau. Basketball comes from Chuno and Runaway Plan B PD Kwak Jung-hwan and will air on tvN in September.
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Tags: cable programs, Do Ji-han
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1 KDR
May 27, 2013 at 2:22 PM
Wow.. Looks interesting! I love period dramas!
Capital Scandal started that love!
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2 Annie
May 27, 2013 at 2:34 PM
Wow, the new actress is gorgeous!
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mehkko
May 28, 2013 at 7:51 PM
I love that she's not uber-typical. I hope her face doesn't change too much.
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3 canxi
May 27, 2013 at 2:43 PM
This looks good and I love the costumes.
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4 ida
May 27, 2013 at 3:06 PM
Ehrmagawd. This is a more superficial reason to be excited, but can you imagine the period clothes they'll be wearing??! I mean... I cant wait for that.
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Rovi
May 28, 2013 at 3:53 AM
See also:
-Capital Scandal
-The Land (Toji)
-Gaksitaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahl
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5 blokkoms
May 27, 2013 at 3:07 PM
*squee* So much love for period costumes! Here's hoping it will reach Gaksital levels of clothes porn.
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6 eunchans
May 27, 2013 at 3:32 PM
Omg those costumes... gorgeous. I want everything she's wearing. This drama needs to get into my life already. It sounds amazing.
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kit
May 27, 2013 at 9:50 PM
Yesssssss. The 19th and 20th century is a fascinating era, and there isn't much out there in terms of Korean history. And costumes say so much! Just last Sunday my sister was wearing bright pink flats and a woman came up from church complimenting her on them, saying that she wore twin ones in the 40s. My grandmother of a similar age has the most beautiful collection of dresses and brooches, kept from before her family (and the rest of the country) was ravaged by war.
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7 kooriyuki
May 27, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Kang san. Is he a doppelganger for kang to's brother??
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8 Jo
May 27, 2013 at 5:22 PM
The heroine looks like the type of girl who will always have her hair perfect and idk...but I wish the heroine had more of a "traditional" face, as in, a face that emulates the beauty standards of that time. sighsighsigh. I hope her acting proves my superficial conjectures incorrect.
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houstontwin
May 27, 2013 at 6:41 PM
Do Korean women look so different from how they looked a few decades ago? I mean aside from clothing and hairstyles.
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houstontwin
May 27, 2013 at 6:42 PM
Jo, I am just asking because I don't quite understand your comment. Thanks.
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Jaeminuf
May 27, 2013 at 9:55 PM
Well, I myself thought she was a foreigner. At best a Korean-X. She looks almost Mediterranean or something.
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KDaddict
May 27, 2013 at 7:36 PM
I think the standard of beauty in every country changes over time. To take a case we are all familiar with: Look at the Hollywood stars over the past several decades from the 1930s on. Rita Hayworth, Jean Harlow, Barbara Stanwyck, Vivien Leigh, Grace Kelly, Kim Novak, Brigitte Bardot, Julie Christie, Mia Farrow, etc. They have very different looks and jibes. It's not so much that the women of these countries have changed in looks, but the standards of who look the most gorgeous have changed. In S Korea, add the prevalence of plastic surgery, and faces on screen aren't so "traditional" anymore.
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9 pinktape
May 27, 2013 at 5:53 PM
I'm fine with the usual love triangle as long as it's made rationally and beautifully. It depends on the actors too, and I have big hopes for this one!
Our heroine doesn't look appealing to me though. But it's only the poster, I'll hold the judgement until the drama really airs.
Going to watch this <333. tvN makes interesting dramas this year
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10 POPSMISSION
May 27, 2013 at 6:02 PM
Mmmh, I am not too sure about this...
I am not exactly against it or anything but I have never watched a sport drama before and not being particularly into sports I am wondering if it will be very appealing for me.
I like the time period though so that is a plus!
I guess I will give it a go and see what happens! :)
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11 snow_white
May 27, 2013 at 6:17 PM
This drama looks so promising.....
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12 Rashell
May 27, 2013 at 8:59 PM
I'm going to check this one out. I like the concept. I like the PD. And I like that some relative newbies are being given a chance to lead this one. Plus I love the period costumes and hair.
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haruka
May 28, 2013 at 7:46 AM
Ditto! This drama is behind by pretty much unknown peoples and that's the reason why I think I should give this a try.
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13 Hmm
May 27, 2013 at 9:58 PM
A sports version of Seoul 1945?
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Dramafed1782
May 28, 2013 at 5:11 AM
Was wondering whether I should watch the drama. Is it interesting?
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14 QT765
May 28, 2013 at 1:53 AM
I have a feeling that this drama might be another Baker King where the lead is unknown & will be famous after the drama
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15 nuxludia
May 28, 2013 at 3:46 AM
Looks very promising!!
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16 GodWonBin
May 28, 2013 at 4:42 AM
I REALLY LOVE THE LEAD! DO JI HAN! <3
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17 Dramafed1782
May 28, 2013 at 5:17 AM
I read on allkpop that Wonder Girls Yenny will be in this drama too. Wonder whether she is a major character or just a supporting character?
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18 Lilian
May 29, 2013 at 3:48 AM
ooh wow. totally unknown cast! So if this becomes a success, it will be realli like Reply 1997... hope it turns out well!
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19 Sur
May 29, 2013 at 1:16 PM
hope this ones an underdog like reply 1997
the costumes are awesome love the hair but the girl she doesn't look korean she is mix or something..... but she is good looking
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