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News bites: December 13, 2015


Kang Dong-won, Lee Byun-heon

  • Offers are out to Chungmuro stars Kang Dong-won (Black Priests) and Lee Byung-heon (Terminator Genisys) to team up in the film Master, the latest from director Jo Eui-seok (Cold Eyes). The criminal action thriller about cops and crooks will begin filming next year. [Dong A]
  • A few updates on the sageuk Hwarang: It will begin filming in January, finish production in May and begin airing concurrently on KBS and Youku Tudou in Korea and China next June. As of now, Park Hyung-shik has confirmed, while Park Seo-joon and Go Ara are still in talks. The number of episodes is still TBD. [Osen]

  • Eom Ki-joon, Song Chang-eui, Leo

  • The revival of the musical Mata Hari, based on the life of the infamous female spy and dancer, has cast Song Chang-eui (Dr. Frost), Eom Ki-joon (Masked Prosecutor) and idol Leo of VIXX (real name Jung Taek-woon). They will rotate in the role of Armand, the only man Mata Hari ever loved. The musical was a flop when it first hit the stage in 1967 and a 1996 revival didn’t fare much better; let’s hope this version directed by Jeff Calhoun (Broadway’s Grease and Newsies) is much more successful. Mata Hari aims to make its world premiere at Blue Square in March. [Sports Kyunghyang]
  • He’s mostly been in musicals over the past few years, but soon-to-be father and old school Hallyu star Ahn Jae-wook (Light and Shadow) is currently mulling over a role in weekend drama Five Kids, which will follow the conclusion of Please Mom on KBS.[Xports News]

  • Ahn Jae-wook, Seohyun

  • SNSD’s Seohyun will star as Sophie in Mamma Mia! on stage. The musical based on ABBA songs ended a successful run in Korea a few years ago, and many from the original cast, including renowned musical theater actress Choi Jung-won and singer/actor Lee Hyun-woo (Oh My Lady), have returned to reprise their roles. Seohyun will alternate as Sophie with rookie Park Ji-yeon, and Mamma Mia! will run from February 24 through June 4 at Charlotte Theater. Tickets will be sold beginning December 17. [Xsports News]
  • Writer Kim Soo-hyun has been commissioned to write 60 episodes of upcoming weekend drama Yes That’s How It Is. It’s a sign of SBS’s faith in writer Kim and in her fan base, as many weekenders span 50 episodes (not to mention SBS had gotten rid of the timeslot entirely and are now resurrecting it). Yes That’s How It Is will premiere in February and wrap in September. [Joongang]

  • Kim Tae-hoon, Shin Hyun-bin, Seo Joon-young

  • It feels like he was everywhere this past year, and now Kim Tae-hoon (Hidden Identity, Angry Mom) will play Yoo Inna’s husband in One More Happy Ending. Born to a wealthy family, he dreamed of a happy marriage with Yoo’s character, but he’ll suffer because his wife distances herself from him after childbirth. Shin Hyun-bin (Fermentation Family) has been cast as the former wife of Kwon Yul’s doctor, an ob/gyn in her own right. One More Happy Ending airs Wednesdays-Thursdays beginning January 20 on MBC. [Sports Worldi, New Daily]
  • Cute, Seo Joon-young will play the lead opposite Lee Yuri (his Woo-hyuk puppy-loved her Mi-rae in Superdaddy Yeol) in her upcoming daily, which has had a name change from Rose of Betrayal to Heavenly Woman. Seo’s character had a horrible childhood and was abandoned by his mother. Raised by his physically and mentally abusive uncle, he poured all of his energy into studying while growing up, vowing payback upon those who looked down on him. It’s too bad the daily drama sounds like typical daily fare; I couldn’t get past the first few over-the-top plotlines before my eyes glazed over. [Joongang]

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YO KIM TAEHOON KEEPS APPEARING IN THE NEWS DAS MY MAN

(but please for once I'm quite worried for him please stop working you'd be taking Trick and this concurrently sobs)

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There, there... *pat hugs*

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He really is everywhere, he even made an appearance in Answer Me 1988 as Jung-bong's doctor!

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I was surprised to see him there, too.

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Ditto

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Yes, KDW's pic made my day

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Kim Tae Hun character is so like his character in My Love Eundong instead he not crippled and maybe not bad or shady either. So he got a children in this marriage or the child dead during birth... Better prepare tissue for this...

Seo Joon Young will be my forever the fifth prince of TWDR. People need to discover his awesome acting and be the main lead in the prime time.

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SJY was fantastic in Sirius. Ever since that 4-episode special, Ifollow his career up close; Bleak Night was my ultimate verdict. Unfortunately, no big roles for him in K-dramaland until now *snif *

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Thank you for writing about Lee Byung Hun (Inside Men). It's great that he will (hopefully) have a Korean movie in 2016, making it three big screen features in a row. Thanks again for highlighting it at DB.

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Ahn Jae-wook is going to be father? Awww. <3 He'll do great! He was wonderful with the Lee twins on Superman Returns!

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Kim Tae-hoon will play YOO DA-IN's husband, not Yoo Inna's! Yoo Inna's character is a single school teacher.

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Oops, you are right, typo! Thanks for the catch.

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That seems like a better fit. I really couldn't see Yoo Inna being paired with Kim Tae Hoon.

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Kang Dong-won combines uncommonly well with senior actors in his movies, from Kim Yeon-seok to Song Kang-ho.

And since he and Lee Byung-heon are stars of the two most successful movies currently running at the Korean box office, I think this could be interesting.

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<Offers are out to Chungmuro stars Kang Dong-won (Black Priests) and Lee Byung-heon

Noooo. How do I resolve watching everything KDW but nothing LBH? Not a pairing I want....

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I know. It's quite the predicament...

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ugh. same.

well, i think it's a pretty dreamy pairing acting wise, especially for a thriller film about cops and crooks. lee byung-hun has frequently been great to watch on screen.

however on a personal level i'm absolutely disgusted with him and i wish he'd go away.

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Ditto...

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Especially when compared to Eom Ki-joon and Song Chang-eui. Maybe he's one of those idols that are more comfortable on stage?

I'd like to know who is playing Mata Hari.

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Mata Hari will be played by Ok Joo Hyun and Sohyang. The other male lead, Colonel Ladoux, will be played by Ryu Jung Han, Shin Sung Rok, and one more actor but I can't recall his name, sorry.
Interestingly, currently Eom Ki-joon, Song Chang-eui, and Ryu Jung Han are acting as Maxim de Winter in musical Rebecca, so they will work together again

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The pictures I saw of Full House indicate that Leo is way more expressive on stage. He also seems to be coming out of his shell more and more.

Unpopular opinion, but I'm willing to put money down that Leo falls on the Autism Spectrum. After watching a LOT of VIXX TV and such, I notice tons of behaviors that point in that direction.

With all that being said, I'm pretty excited because he's going to be performing in the play when I'm in Korea. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't contemplating getting a ticket to see him perform even though I won't understand the dialogue. Leo's my favorite idol.

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I have a rigid facial expression when I know someone is filming or taking picture of me, but I'm totally fine when I have to present my project in front of a group of people. I think Leo is similar. He really transform into a different person when he is on stage or singing.

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Finally another drama for Seo Joon Young! Too bad he still hasn't got his breakout role despite the acting skills... Even though a daily drama will try to preserve to watch it solely for his sake.

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He caught my eye when I first watched him as the lead with Han Hye-rin in "My One & Only" the KBS daily drama from 2011-12.

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I will too. For the sake of Seo Joon Young and Lee Yoo Ri. I thought Lee Yoo Ri will not stuck to daily drama again, after won Daesang prize, but....

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KDW my loooooooovvvvveeeeeee! I actually can't stand LBH but I think I can sacrifice a few hours of my time for KDW's sake...

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Choi Jung-won is a musical diva! Mamma Mia is going to do well. Excited to hear about the cast, Seohyun, Lee Hyun-woo and my new favorite stage actress Park Ji-yeon.

Best of luck to the cast of "Yes That’s How It Is." I'd be scared to work with Kim Soo-hyun.

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YAY .... Ahn Jae Wook in a drama again. It's been a long long time.

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Does anybody know the story between him and his brother the one in "Blood"? Different mothers?

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I'm not sure. Sorry.

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Yay for Seo Jun Young!! Too bad it's a daily. T.T I would watch anything with him. I even watched that horrible Love and War 2(?) ep for him. He needs to be in a mini series stat!

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Is Lee Santa playing the crook then :-D :-D

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The Mata Hari play and idea of the main lead role rotating amonga ctors sounds sooo intresting,so sad i can't see it...the cast looks good...so Hwarang will be entirely pre-produced...

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Kang Dong Won's pic makes me smile like an idiot. Can we have him in the small screen this 2016? Puhleasee

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We can only believe in miracle, for him to do that. After 10 years of absence from dramaland, I wonder if he will be back to dramaland ever again.

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I cannot past the smelly private business of Lee Byung-heon. Too soon for me to forget. I won't see him in a movie.

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Actors' private lives have nothing to do with their projects nor us, the viewers. In Hollywood, tons of "bad boys and girls" have been on screen and won Awards for decades. This fixation on "fiction characters" vs. real-life persons is a bizarre phenomenon in K-ent. I've been reading this kind of comments for years, however, I'm still unable to comprehend their cultural background...

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Never liked him as an actor, but it seems like LBH really never had to take an extended time off due to his "bad behavior" unlike other K-celebs for things like getting a DUI or gambling overseas.

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LBH has been pretty absent in the public media for close to 2 years now I'd say. I think it's been plenty of time.

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LBH may have cut down on his public appearances, but he did film a few movies during that time and do the publicity for them.

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miss ghj so much

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Mehh...
Does Korean entertainment so lacking of good talents? Another Dong Won and Byung Hun movie??? *sigh*

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Actually, lots of talented actors, but it's all about being able to get the financing - which usually requires a couple of big stars.

Numerous more talented actors stuck in minor, supporting roles, as 2nd leads or as character actors.

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Wut? Chungmuro is filled with Korea's raw talents and are in demands like Song Kang Ho, Deon Do Jeon, Hwang Jung Min, Ha Jung Woo, Choi Min Shik, Kim Yoon Seok, Park Hae-Il, Park Geun-Hyung, Ryu Seung-Ryong etc.
I could list 50 or more but these are just a few actors who are well known for their talents and star power.

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LBH & KDW! I would pay large amount just to see this 2 in one glorious film. I don't think KDW would pass up the golden oppurtunity of working together with LBH. 'Master", no doubt would be a powerful film in the making.

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Waiting for MASTER, Lee Byung Hun and Kang Dong Won.

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news just in that LBH & KDW are confirmed for MASTER. another surprise is Kim Woo Bin is also cast. Wow! I should say...KWB hit jackpot, so are the audience.

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More than leo acting in a musical, I'm more concerned on who's gonna act Mata Hari... She's an exotic, seductive dancer... I hope who ever portrays her can do her justice.

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