Lee Jong-seok considers new medical drama
by girlfriday
Yay, Lee Jong-seok (I Hear Your Voice) might be coming back to dramaland! Thank goodness because I really really missed him for those 2.5 seconds he was gone. The downside is that he’s considering a medical drama, which doesn’t excite me in the least. But who knows; this one’s got a premise that might shake things up a bit. It’s called Doctor Stranger (stranger meaning foreign, alien), and it’s being shopped at SBS for a possible spring broadcast to follow Warm Words.
On the upside, the series is being produced by PD Jin Hyuk of City Hunter and Master’s Sun, and writer Park Jin-woo of Conspiracy in the Court. They’re courting Lee Jong-seok to play the lead, which would be a Prosecutor Princess reunion for him and PD Jin Hyuk. But his reps have made it clear it’s far from a done deal, and that it’s just one of many projects he’s considering. I’m not sure I’m behind him taking on a medical drama, not least of which because he’d look like Doogie Howser in a lab coat. Unless that’s the point.
The drama is about a North Korean doctor who defects and ends up in the South, and it tells the story of his life as a stranger in a foreign land. If he signs on, Lee Jong-seok will headline as the titular defector doctor. I’m not sure what kind of setting that means for him as a doc—does he practice medicine in a South Korean hospital? Because that seems unlikely. It’d be fun if they did what Covertly, Grandly did with spies, and made him a small town doctor practicing on the down-low. At least the North/South divide sets us up for a much richer conflict than just another medical drama about a super doc… I hope?
Doctor Stranger is angling for a March broadcast on SBS.
Via My Daily
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26 Daisy
December 5, 2013 at 6:56 PM
NO! No more medical drama pllleeeaaassee!!!!! It's like one after another and none of them are interesting.
The only medical drama I have ever liked was a Japanese drama called Iryu Team Medical Dragon which was pretty damn good.
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27 Mar
December 5, 2013 at 6:59 PM
I'm not so sure about this premise but LJS could possibly reinvent the Doctor McSteamy thing.
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28 jomo143
December 5, 2013 at 7:38 PM
hahahaha! 2.5 seconds. Yes. hahahaha
Was there not a photo spread released in that time, either?
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29 Abbie
December 5, 2013 at 7:50 PM
I know he's a good actor and all, but seriously, he's way too young to play a doctor. We had Min-ho play a "genius" doctor in Medical Top Team, and he looks like he belongs in high school. I'm a huge fan of SHINee and Min-ho, but come one, he's too young! And so is Lee Jong-suk. He may be a great actor, but I won't be able to buy him as a doctor, genius or not.
Plus, I'm getting tired of medical dramas.
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30 Ssie
December 5, 2013 at 9:26 PM
I hope this is not entirely OT since we are talking about LJS about to play a doctor = Joo won played a doctor but...
Is it too much to ask Joo Won to act in a decent rom-com? He is amazing, amazing, and I want to see him play a lead role in something light. I mean, he already played hard-to-portray characters, so would it be a cop-out or a downplay of his acting skills to let him play a melt-in-the-puddle hero? Like something made by the Hong Sisters? I just want to be allowed to swoon at him... and with enough reasons T__T
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kuxi
December 6, 2013 at 12:57 AM
So,do I. That's why I can't wait watching his new romcom movie "Catch Me" ^_^ I think it's must be light and fun romcom and cha taehyun's cameo will be hillarious. If you have time visit joowon soompi thread, there are lot of still from Catch Me movie
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Ssie
December 6, 2013 at 3:31 AM
Thanks for the heads up, Kuxi!!! *immediately checks soompi*
But I was thinking, you know, a longer series? (So I can gush at his smirk-smile longer - at least for 16 episodes).
Also, I think he and puppy Jong Suk will make good friends, seeing as they both have set high standards in their acting skills. I think it's very mature of them to initiate on this, since there are more popular actors I know who rely on their good-looks to get by, so to speak.
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DayDreamer
December 6, 2013 at 5:38 AM
Yeah, I'm really hoping to see Joo Won in a really good drama. His Gaksital character just cemented this permanent soft spot for him in my heart.
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31 Jessica
December 5, 2013 at 10:38 PM
You know what would make a fun medical drama? A Korean version of the American movie Doc Hollywood. Can't you see Kim Woo Bin, or someone equally good at switching from stuck-up rich city guy to loveable endearing guy, playing the part? But the people in the small town would be the best because it could be very uniquely Korean country folk which are sooo different than American country folk. I'd watch it. And if there already is a Kdrama like this, please point me in that direction so I can go watch it right now. :)
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32 Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms
December 6, 2013 at 1:47 AM
I don't think even Lee Jong Seok will be able to pull me in to watch a medical drama..
I've just never been interested in them, and looking at those graphic/gory scenes of surgeries and sicknesses and stuff really icks me... (I can't help it I'm such a wuss when everything gets all medical)
Can we please have him work with the City Hunter PD, but on another drama?
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33 ravens_nest
December 7, 2013 at 2:15 AM
Since everyone else has already commented on his too young appearance, I won't beat a dead horse.
It's strange cuz I kind of want Lee Jong Suk to do a span of movies for a bit. I lurv him a lot and usually I'd be demanding a 50+ ep saga so I can experience him long term.
But for some reason I feel like he's at a crucial part of his acting experience and I want him to hone himself in the movie market. They are almost always better with better directors and better scripts.
Lee Jong Suk shines best when he works with talented directors and respected sunbaes who can pull things out of him.
I think he'd do well to be in the movie industry for a time before doing dramas again. I don't want insipid drama after insipid drama to ruin his burgeoning talent like it did with Jang Geun Suk, who's been phoning in his performances for a while now.
If he must do a drama, I do kinda wish he was considering a police show a la Special Affairs Team TEN or God's Quiz. I feel like he'd do well in that genre. He could stretch his acting a bit. Plus he'd make a more convincing rookie cop fresh from the Academy than he would a genius doctor.
If he does take this one on tho, I'll watch tho since I do enjoy him a lot. I'll just have to aggressively suspend disbelief the entire time.
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34 Ethalina
December 8, 2013 at 9:11 AM
"I really really missed him for those 2.5 seconds he was gone."
GF you made me snort so hard on this one...
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35 LangitBiru
December 9, 2013 at 10:23 AM
How bout he become the Oriental/Traditional doctor instead compared to the modern one. Well, if it gonna be aired on SBS for sure the station will take this drama since LJS on it. Hopefully.
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