Jung Ryeo-won joins Team Genius, aka Medical Top Team
by javabeans
The cast is filling out for MBC’s fall drama Medical Top Team, which started out by securing Kwon Sang-woo to headline the follow-up drama from Brain’s writer and The Moon That Embraces the Sun’s PD. With the hero in place, the show has added Oh Yeon-seo in a secondary lead role, and now Jung Ryeo-won has been selected as its main female lead.
The drama centers around a team of briiiiilliant doctors, each at the top of his or her field. Which you knew, from the title that told you that. Jung Ryeo-won’s character is a thoracic surgeon with “strong charisma” and a “warm, human touch.” But that doesn’t mean she’s a pushover; she’ll also show an ambitious side, as befits her elite doctor status.
I find the casting a little unexpected since Jung has been gravitating toward quirky roles in recent years, in both dramas and films (see: cheekily satirical King of Dramas, darkly funny History of the Salaryman, and morbidly-humorous-with-a-sweet-center Never Ending Story), and medical dramas always strike me as straight-down-the-middle mainstream drama fare. That’s not a bad thing; it’s just not what I pictured her picking next. But I like Jung quite a lot and she’s been hitting it out of the park with her recent roles, so her casting is a definite plus for the show. She’s also worked with Kwon before (in the film Pain), which should help in the chemistry department.
Then there’s Joo Ji-hoon, who is poised to join the cast now that his MBC broadcasting ban has now been lifted. (The ban was instated in response to Joo’s drug scandal, and has now expired.) Joo returned from army duty with a movie (I Am the King) and a drama (Five Fingers), and it looks like his career rehab is proceeding nicely.
According to Joo’s management company, Keyeast, he has received the drama offer and is considering it favorably. His would-be character is an internist (a geeeenius, naturally) whose mild-mannered appearance hides his heart-of-ice interior. Sounds like he’s the sneaky type of shrewd and calculating, since he sees Team Genius as a mere stepping-stone for his goal of being the next hospital director. Everyone, watch your backs.
Medical Top Team will air on Wednesdays and Thursdays in October.
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- Kwon Sang-woo in talks to join Medical Top Team
- Joo Ji-hoon reunites with Naked Kitchen director
- King of Dramas: Episode 1
- Five Fingers: Episode 1
- Joo Ji-hoon plays both prince and pauper
- Kwon Sang-woo and Jung Ryeo-won in Pain
Tags: Joo Ji-hoon, Jung Ryeo-won, Kwon Sang-woo, Medical Top Team
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1 chane
July 25, 2013 at 9:09 AM
Finally, I've been dying to see her on another drama, she was amazing in HotS!!!!
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pearl3101
July 25, 2013 at 9:37 AM
My thoughts exactly. ^^ her quirky bad-mouthing Baek Yeo Chi is one of my fav. female leads....
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nomad
July 29, 2013 at 7:29 PM
Til this day, my favorite EVER!
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pearl3101
July 31, 2013 at 8:19 PM
+1 like :D
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2 Bellamafia
July 25, 2013 at 9:10 AM
Is it the same role as they offered to Lee Min Jung?
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lee
July 25, 2013 at 9:30 AM
yes, but unfortunately LMJ kinda declined the role, which i think is good, since JRW is much better than her.. that was just me.. :P
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~Feather~
July 25, 2013 at 10:36 AM
I love LMJ as well but when compared to their recent roles, I prefer the way JRW portrays hers. LMJ was starting to do that googly eyed being cute type of acting in the last thing I saw her in and while her googly eyes are pretty, I wasn't having it.
Plus, I saw something on a variety show that just made me like JRW more than I already had so now she's one of my favorite actresses. She was also the main reason I watched King of Dramas. I hadn't seen anything of Kim Myung Min to jump on his bandwagon yet. And I didn't want to be a poser while everyone else was going crazy over him just to join in the crowd. ^^;
Anyway, I'm rambling so I'll stop here. Hehe. :)
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Kiara
July 25, 2013 at 5:20 PM
Lee Min-jung has nothing on Jung Ryeo-won so this is an upgrade.
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biankoy
July 26, 2013 at 1:57 AM
Yes I agree. Lee Min-jung is adorable and I love love love her. but Jung Ryeo-won is the better actress. I used to hate her guts a lot way back in MNIKSS (cause who doesn't?) but girl has come a long way and gets better and better in every show she's been doing.
On the other hand, I loved Lee Min-jung at first sight (since BOF). I was crying for her and futile as it seems, I was pounding Lee Min-ho's face on my screen trying to shake some sense on him. I sat through 45 or so episodes of Smile, you (which was very draggy at the middle and very tiring at the end) because of her but lately Lee Min-jung just seems off. She's becoming this mature character/persona in her roles that I think she's starting to lose her spunk. The casting for Big was a dream came true for me beacuse it Gong Yoo(!) and her. And no matter how crazy the writing gets I think I would have liked it more if Lee Min-jung was the same spunky girl in BoF and Smile.
sorry this seem like a LMJ bashing thing. But I swear it's not. I love the girl and congratulations on her upcoming wedding. heh~~
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3 Nik
July 25, 2013 at 9:12 AM
Now I have to watch the drama.
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dramapotatoe
July 25, 2013 at 9:20 AM
My thoughts exactly, hah.
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Cam
July 25, 2013 at 1:37 PM
AYE AYE!! Looooking forward to this drama because of Jung Ryeo Won!! Ahhh...I don't know why I still like her since I first saw her in that drama "My Name Is Kim Sam Soon", keke! <3 <3
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mary
July 25, 2013 at 5:28 PM
I remembered KSS too!
She was refreshingly "frank" with Sam Soon.
Didn't she play a med student/doctor there too? Maybe Daniel Henney can cameo as her colleague or something. :D
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4 JoJo
July 25, 2013 at 9:15 AM
I love medical dramas...like the cast...hope this is good
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Windsun33
July 25, 2013 at 4:22 PM
I like good & realistic medical dramas, but I hate poorly done ones, like where the only medical devices are a cheap bed, a fake IV, and a humidifier...
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Gala
July 25, 2013 at 6:37 PM
Lol, I've never seen a medical drama like that!
The best Kdrama med series, for me, is New Heart. Nothing can beat that for me.
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mila
July 26, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Agree, New Heart is one of my top kdramas all time. It has complete package for a drama yet humanism portrayed there was definitely the best. Hope Medical Top Team will also be as good.
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ck1Oz
July 25, 2013 at 6:59 PM
Uh think you haven't been watching the newer ones. They are filming in some of the private University hospitals. The rooms are nice, the equipment is new.
The only thing they haven't sorted out, the condensation when they have the Hudson mask on... O2 not on :-)
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Windsun33
July 26, 2013 at 1:40 AM
That was a slight (!) exaggeration, But I have seen a couple where some of the main scenes are filmed in a hospital, but the "private rooms" have been bad mockups.
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5 snow_white
July 25, 2013 at 9:16 AM
I love Jung Ryu Won and now this drama looks interesting...
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6 Orion
July 25, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Jung Ryeo Won said in a fairly recent interview that she wants to play more characters in works she would want to see. She has played characters she wants to be, ones she finds interesting to play, but also wants to be in more characters and works she herself would want to watch.
I guess her shift is because of that. She is a wonderful actress and she packs quite a punch in terms of both skills and charisma, so I think staying on the quirky fun road would pigeonhole her eventually and it would limit her talent too. I personally really want to see her in darker roles. I think she would rock them.
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sososo
July 25, 2013 at 4:48 PM
I don't see her charisma, just like typical Korean actresses out there.
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Orion
July 25, 2013 at 5:42 PM
That's a shame, but we can't all like everyone. ;)
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sososo
July 25, 2013 at 9:34 PM
not a shame at all, not many are crazy about her talent except her fans here.
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Orion
July 26, 2013 at 4:09 AM
I'll assume you know everyone then. That is impressive. It's still a shame you feel you need to prove that to someone who disagrees though. But if you don't like the woman, you don't like her. As I said, we can't all like everyone, neither should we only say it when we like them.
7 Mystisith
July 25, 2013 at 9:18 AM
She's awesome and I think it's a good move for her. Diversification!
That said, it's not a good news for me: Good Doctor was enough as a medical drama until I had to learn she would be cast for this. Only 24 hours a day... *Sigh.* Good actresses who can take me onboard are not that numerous so I'm giving in.
On a sidenote, I'm starting to have a phobia toward the word "genius". Can't we have an alias or just write g***s?
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8 Betty
July 25, 2013 at 9:31 AM
I really like her! I wasn't interrested in this drama until now. I have seen most of her work and liked everyone of them, ok more like every character she played. I am now watching History of a Salaryman and she is hilarious... as always. I might tune in for this drama just to see her. I will wait to hear if it's good before tho.
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9 Arhazivory
July 25, 2013 at 9:41 AM
Reasons to watch this:
1. Writer
2. Jung Ryeo-Won
3. I'm a sucker for medical plots
4. Joo Ji Hoon will be perfect as a calculating bastard. <3
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skelly
July 25, 2013 at 12:33 PM
It sounds like she has come a long way since MNIKSS, where I thought she was nearly as wooden and bland as Daniel Henney. I think it's about time I gave her a second chance, LOL. And Joo Ji-Hoon does devious very well - I have always thought The Devil (Mawang) was his best role.
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Tru2u
July 25, 2013 at 1:09 PM
She really did came a long way since MNIKSS. I still cannot believe she is now one of my Fav. Actress. Like you said, I didn't really like her much in MNIKSS. But I really loved her in My 2 faced girlfriend. So when HOASM came out. I gave her a chance and fell in love with her feisty self. Then she became a fav. of mine after watching her in King Of Dramas. I really like that she can have chemistry with her leading men. So now I'll be watching this just for her and the writers of Brain.
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Arhazivory
July 25, 2013 at 4:44 PM
I didn't think much of her either way in MNIKSS, but I loved the foul mouthed Yeo Chi from HoTS and then her character in King of Dramas was also win. So yeah, I'm a fan now. lol
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Kiara
July 26, 2013 at 10:51 AM
She really has come a long way. I didn't care for her acting in " My Name Is Kim Sam-soon" and "Princess Ja-Myung" was an epic fail imo but she nailed her last two projects and got recognition for it (well deserved).
She won me over for the first time in "History of the Salaryman" followed by an even better "King of Dramas".
Here is hoping that she chose another good project.
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Bengbeng
July 25, 2013 at 7:59 PM
totally agree with your reason no. 4 =)
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acejihyo
July 25, 2013 at 8:25 PM
this is so accurate. i love brain to death, jrw has been exceedingly awesome lately, and i too, am such a sucker for medical dramas.
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10 amberscube
July 25, 2013 at 9:51 AM
I dont like medical dramas... But i love Jung Ryeo Won...
OTTOKE!
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observantzani
July 25, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Same reaction!
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Sandy
July 25, 2013 at 11:43 AM
i can't watch them over dinner! T.T
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11 Nessa (Bebe) 🌹
July 25, 2013 at 9:53 AM
I've also read reports that Minho (SHINee) is "favorably considering" a role offered to him.... I guess we will have to wait and see
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Chrissie
July 25, 2013 at 10:42 AM
Eh! He needs to focus on Shinee instead. Just NO!
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12 HeadsNo2
July 25, 2013 at 9:57 AM
Jung Ryeo-won AND Joo Ji-hoon? Stick a fork in me, I'm done.
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Tru2u
July 25, 2013 at 1:10 PM
*Sticks a fork in you*
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kumi
July 25, 2013 at 6:50 PM
*Sticks a finger fork in you*
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13 cherkell
July 25, 2013 at 10:01 AM
JOO JI HOON!!! *faints dead*
Time to start stocking up on stay-awake meds -- I am SO getting up early to watch this live!!!
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14 canxi
July 25, 2013 at 10:05 AM
I love her! I will watch this if she's in it, since I feel certain that it's not only writing that makes a drama but the actors, too. I can't stress how bored/annoyed I would probably have been if Shin Ha Kyun was not the male lead in Brain--which was good in writing, too!--but it takes a special kind of person to make you feel for someone who is so clearly a jerk!
Also, if Joo Ji Hoon accepts the role (I don't see why he wouldn't at the moment) then he'd really be great there. And Jung and Kwon have great chemistry too. And Joo Ji Hoon has chemistry with walls. Sooo, now I've gone to not paying attention to being all in. @__@
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Melmax
July 25, 2013 at 3:55 PM
Joo Ji Hoon has chemistry with walls! Truly LOL!!!
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merry
July 27, 2013 at 11:38 AM
Love your comment ... chemistry with walls. True.true. he can make them come alive!
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15 Kiara
July 25, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Sick of medical dramas but I lup her.
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16 kumi
July 25, 2013 at 10:06 AM
Wasn't she a medical student in 'My Name Is Kim Sam-soon'?
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Cam
July 25, 2013 at 1:39 PM
Yups~yups! ^_^
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17 pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
July 25, 2013 at 10:17 AM
ok, so it's as second lead, but I am THRILLED to see Joo Ji-hoon making a return to primetime network tv - with the exception of that mess Five Fingers (which he did pretty well in, notwithstanding all the things that sucked about it) he's chosen pretty interesting projects in his career so far.
(and he also made me cry in Mawang, which is one of the v. few kdramas to actually manage that)
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18 delta777
July 25, 2013 at 10:32 AM
I think both Jung Ryeo-won and oOh Yeon Seo are phenomenally talented and gorgeous chameleons. Can't wait to see this.
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19 Eunice
July 25, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Wow now I'm suddenly interested in this drama... Jung Ryeo Won fan here!!!
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Alexis
July 25, 2013 at 1:44 PM
ME 2 TOOOOO...!! Can't wait to watch this & I really hope that it will DEFINITELY turn out.....DAEBAK!
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20 browncoat_78
July 25, 2013 at 10:35 AM
And here I was totally prepared to pass this by (even though I really like Kwon Sang Woo, I never care for the dramas he chooses). BUT then they had to go and cast basically my fave Kdrama actress (and someone who had amazing chemistry with KSW in Pain). So now I have no choice but to watch this, even though medical dramas are not my thing. I just love Jung Ryeo Won that much!
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eny
July 25, 2013 at 7:07 PM
i didn't plan to watch it before even i like KSW, but suddenly the cast become really interesting.I have plan to watch good doctor, i'm not sure i can watch 2 medical drama in the short time
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21 Angeliam
July 25, 2013 at 10:38 AM
I think lee Ming jung decline is a good thing bc I don't think she has the potential to act serious but she is my second favorite actress though
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22 MsB
July 25, 2013 at 10:38 AM
I was teetering with Ji Hoon; now I'm firmly onboard because of Ryeo Won! I absolutely LOVE HER!!
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23 mjfan
July 25, 2013 at 10:39 AM
now am gonna watch this for sure , JRW is AWESOME , enough said ...
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24 taegyo
July 25, 2013 at 10:45 AM
I heard SHINee's Minho also got offered a role, which is interesting mostly because...um. I watched To the Beautiful You, and that is not a drama that would make me say 'I need that leading man in my drama, stat!' but to each their own, I guess. In any case, I love Minho (just not his acting) so I'll probably watch the drama – JRW being on it just sweetens the pot! :D
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skelly
July 26, 2013 at 12:27 AM
It seems like every drama these days has to have a token idol, regardless of whether that idol can act or is suited to the role. It's all about money, and as far as I can tell idols are like human PPL.
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25 kopytko
July 25, 2013 at 10:46 AM
I was going to ignore that drama. Completely. The mere number of geniuses mentioned is a reason to do so. KSW is not bad, but not enough to make me even watch a single episode. Now, JRW and possibly JJH are much more likely to lure me in :-). I find them both good, capable actors with charisma. Huh, now the problem is, will the roles in TMT give them enough space to show their talents an not just look cool dressed as doctors *imagines JJH in a doctor's coat and nearly dies of nosebleed*. I mean I hope we get more than the typical set of cold-on-the-outside noble guy, optimistic and hard working heroine, cunning and greedy (and with a difficult childhood) second guy and some jealous other girl. Ok, for JRW and JJH I might watch even that, as long as it's well executed.
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26 Jenny
July 25, 2013 at 11:20 AM
This still sounds like Iryu-team medical dragon. Every member of the team was a specialist in something, anesthesia etc.
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27 selina
July 25, 2013 at 11:23 AM
Please JJH join this so I have a reason to tune in. For whatever reason I find KSW unattractive and his acting bugs me the female leads also do not interest me.
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28 Daniaa
July 25, 2013 at 11:34 AM
Shit. Now I gotta watch this. Add one more into my Drama Basket. What is Time, what is Life, really.
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canxi
July 25, 2013 at 11:44 AM
That last sentence--I think you have the name of your Best-Selling memoir.
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HANI
July 25, 2013 at 9:32 PM
This makes me laugh but I dunno why. Can I reserve a copy now?
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29 Perrie
July 25, 2013 at 11:49 AM
I will definitely check this out. I love Jung Ryeo Won ever since Salary Man and King of Dramas,
She's gorgeous too and I love the mane on her head, haha!
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30 raindrops1
July 25, 2013 at 12:11 PM
This was not in my radar before but knowing that JRW has joined will def. make it a drama on my watch list. I think she is a really good actress and she seems so grounded. I'm excited for this news.
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31 Elisabeth
July 25, 2013 at 12:32 PM
Oooohhhh!!! I love Jung and Joo! Heehee I'm officially onboard. Hopefully the experienced actors will crank out a good drama... But history has revealed that its not always the case. :-))) hopes and prayers that this will be good!
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32 Katie
July 25, 2013 at 12:36 PM
I'm late on the Jung Ryeo Won train but I adored her in King of Dramas and I watched a bit of History of a Salaryman (but I just don't like historical dramas lol) but I will give this a try! She's just such a good actress.
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Orion
July 25, 2013 at 12:54 PM
'History of the Salaryman' is not a historical drama. O_O
But Jung Ryeo Won rocks in everything, so agreed there.
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33 Makoto
July 25, 2013 at 2:30 PM
She's a good actress but I found her character's too noisy and annoying in HotS. I love her more in Castaway in the moon. And now I'm curious about her character in this drama. :D
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34 coby
July 25, 2013 at 2:44 PM
I like Ms. Jung a lot! Yay! But the drama title gets me confused with Good Doctor, that I'd rather call Green Scalpel. I honestly have not seen any medical kdrama. Maybe this is my chance.
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35 niKai
July 25, 2013 at 4:19 PM
JJH, I personally like him as an actor. He came into the drama scene with so much potential and he proved himself with each project. Excited to see him in a new drama. His movie was hilarious. :)
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36 Maricel
July 25, 2013 at 4:24 PM
I like her, however the most exciting part of this news is his ,JJH's, possible role in the drama. I have missed him since Five Fingers where he was pretty good, and I really want to see him being a successful actor again... Looking forward to this drama :)
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37 Windsun33
July 25, 2013 at 4:28 PM
Despite having some of the better actors/actresses, I think we have all seen where even that is not enough to carry the show if the writing and directing are bad. This is looking better than average so far, but many times I have anticipated highly hyped shows only to be disappointed - and I have also been totally surprised by some that were not even on my radar, such as IHYV (which BTW seems to be the #1 non-weekend show in Korea right now).
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38 Bengbeng
July 25, 2013 at 7:55 PM
somehow i'm liking the role of Joo Jihoon, I think the character is perfect for him, I like him a little villainy. But I hope his romantic link will be with Oh Yon Seo, who has a bubbly character, quite the contrast, and can break JJH's icy demeanor. I might go to that ship rather than the main characters =).
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Alexandra
July 26, 2013 at 7:25 AM
I would definitely ship the JJH/OYS pairing. ^^
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39 kz
July 25, 2013 at 8:27 PM
What?? Joo Ji Hoon.. As cold and calculative guy.. Seems this drama really score some big names
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40 HANI
July 25, 2013 at 9:22 PM
Not a fan of medical drama (& Kwon Sang Woo tbh) but Jo Ji Hoon? Definitely. I even watch 5 Fingers until the suckiness & makjang elements become wayyyyy greater than my love for him.
plus Jo Ji Hoon as devious and calculating man? Like it so much!!!! Guess I'm doing mawang re-run this weekend~
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41 yeojacheol
July 26, 2013 at 10:02 AM
jung ryeowon and moon chaewon are probably within my top 5 korean actresses, jung having been in there since princess jamyung-go (which no one has mentioned in here yet :( i loved that drama to bits). i'm so excited to have them both in medical dramas for this half of the year!
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42 geenah
July 26, 2013 at 3:49 PM
I really don't like medical dramas as I'm a nurse and I think I have seen enough drama in my several-days-a-week work in the hospital, but because of this awesome Jung agasshi, I'm in. I can't ignore an acting talent when I see one. She just keeps gets better and better at it everytime I see her.
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43 Jasmine
July 27, 2013 at 12:05 AM
ooh JRW!! wasn't interested because of KSW, but now I'm reconsidering. love medical dramas when done right, Surgeon Bong, Brain, General Hospital...
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44 Uhnny
July 27, 2013 at 1:51 AM
I'm not fond of watching medical- themed dramas but since I'm dying to see Jung Ryeo Won in a drama again, I'll be adding this to my drama watchlist alongside Master's Sun.
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45 Lilly
July 28, 2013 at 12:46 AM
Like her better with red hair
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46 iamdeb
July 28, 2013 at 11:35 PM
JRW was the lead in HoTS AND King of Dramas. I will watch ANYTHING she's in. Love her as an actress and a person.
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47 Kate
July 31, 2013 at 3:04 AM
Yes!!! Jung Ryeo Won!! Even though I like Lee Min Jung, I think JRW has been a much much better actress over LMJ lately. The rest of the cast isn't bad as well, so I'm in. The upcoming dramas that I'm looking forward to are this and Two Weeks.
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48 Wa Ng
July 31, 2013 at 11:26 PM
Can't wait! I love JRW!!
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