Hwang Jung-eum courted back to dramaland for Lucky Romance
by javabeans
This wouldn’t be giving her much of a honeymoon, but Hwang Jung-eum always seemed like the kind of actress who couldn’t stay away from acting for too long: She’s currently in consideration to star in an upcoming MBC drama that has me excited, a webtoon adaptation called Lucky Romance. (Perhaps it would be more accurate to say luck-centric or luck-obsessed, since the heroine is incredibly superstitious and arranges her whole life around what’s lucky.)
I started reading the webtoon when the drama was first announced, and found it fresh and laugh-out-loud funny. The heroine is zany and cute, while the stern, humorless hero offers a fun contrast with his rigid ways. At first, it’s your classic opposites-attract setup: She’s Bo-nui, a wacky thirtysomething office worker who’s behind on her rent and spends all her energy trying to maximize her good fortune, seeing psychics, getting charms written, scattering beans to ward off bad luck — you name it, she’s tried it. He’s Taek-hoo, the uptight 29-year-old who has scrimped every penny to buy an apartment building, with rather epic Scrooge tendencies: In one case, a pretty co-worker brings him a coffee, and he immediately hands her his tumbler and directs her to return to the cafe to claim his 20-cent discount.
It’s unsurprising that Taek-hoo’s first order of business as landlord is to evict Bo-nui. She fumes at his high-handedness, but she has a bigger problem: According to a fortune teller, death is in the cards this year unless she cures the bad energy before the month is over… by having a one-night stand with a man who’s a tiger sign in the zodiac (born in 1986), preferably a virgin.
As it turns out, Taek-hoo happens to be a tiger sign… and he’s also never dated before because he’s so maniacal about saving money that he refuses to spend any on romance. He even wears a promise ring to himself! So Bo-nui makes it her mission to sleep with Taek-hoo, which is complicated by the fact that they disgust each other. It’s great. And there is a deeper heart behind the outlandish premise, which gives both characters more layers beneath the surface.
I can see how Hwang Jung-eum would be a good choice for the role, even if she overdoes her comedy moments, because she’s great at mining the poignant beats in between the zaniness. Now, for the penny-pinching tiger-man lead… Who’s free these days? Kim Soo-hyun? Seo In-gook? No, I think it really has to be Joo-won. He still has a few months before he’s drafted, right?
Lucky Romance will follow Goodbye Mr. Black and premieres in May.
Via Star News
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Tags: adaptations, Hwang Jung-eum, Lucky Romance
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1 NiaIpeh
March 17, 2016 at 5:22 AM
HJE belongs to MBC now :D
Is there any link for the webtoon in English? This looks fun.. Wanna read the webtoon :D
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susan
March 17, 2016 at 9:16 AM
+1
I love the over view... is there English translation..?
My scare list
1) webtoon adaption..too many horrible experiences
2)HJE screams...she is good at emotional not comical scream plz
3)JW is best at doctor role / emotional(he should get official degree)but not good with comedy
Both are hardworking awesome actors with bad comic timing.. plz nooo...
May be splish splash couple.... they will be perfect....
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Juliesean
March 17, 2016 at 10:34 AM
Yes!!! Second half that. They both suit the roles. But there's no hope is there? Sigh......
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midi
March 22, 2016 at 10:26 PM
Ryu JunYeol
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2 blubluskye
March 17, 2016 at 5:25 AM
If Joo-won is in, I'm in.
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BlueFish
March 17, 2016 at 5:48 AM
The male lead role seem fun and I love Joo Won. But pairing him with HJE (and MBC) reminds me to 'tragic' Level 7 pairing. Please say No, Joo Won! Jaebal..
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3 kanz
March 17, 2016 at 5:33 AM
Too bad Siwon is in the army, 'cause I can already picture them together as a great couple (because of SWP no doubt). Jackson and Kim Shin Hyuk are the best things in SWP.
Well if we talk about 1986'er, maybe Choi Jin Hyuk or No Min Woo?
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mistress
March 17, 2016 at 5:38 AM
Choin Jin Hyuk can't work for now. I suggest Lee Min Ho.
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poko
March 17, 2016 at 5:45 AM
Lee Min Ho is already considering other drama from Park Jieun.
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4 Lizzy
March 17, 2016 at 5:36 AM
Another overrated actress
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tig
March 17, 2016 at 3:02 PM
It is either overrated or underrated. Please mention an actress name who everyone can universally agree she is rated just right.
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Beanfan
March 17, 2016 at 3:44 PM
Touche!
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Marie67
March 17, 2016 at 4:29 PM
Jun Ji Hyun?
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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
March 17, 2016 at 6:28 PM
I just love this comment. :D
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NiaIpeh
March 17, 2016 at 10:18 PM
Your comment is life ? Thanks ?
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Elena
March 18, 2016 at 12:00 PM
Mmmm, maybe you are right, but at least she is charismatic and likeable. I usually love her roles and she makes me care about her characters.
So in case her acting was not that good, I do not really care that much...usually her dramas are enjoyable.
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5 coffea
March 17, 2016 at 5:39 AM
It's going to be fun, Jisung vs Hwang Jung Eum on wed-thu time slot.
I hope they offer the male lead to Joo won, heard the rumor is Han Suk Jin
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NiaIpeh
March 17, 2016 at 5:55 AM
Yeah, just saw someone shared the news on Twitter.. HSJ is offered the role. Is he any good? :)
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fay17
March 17, 2016 at 6:21 AM
Who's HSJ?
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NiaIpeh
March 17, 2016 at 6:22 AM
Han Suk Jin
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fay17
March 17, 2016 at 6:26 AM
Ah,ok,thanks.But he's old! Isn't the lead supposed to be 29? They could atleast send the offer out to RJY.He does the bickering well.
genkibaka
March 17, 2016 at 10:58 AM
Han Suk Jin is 34? That's old???
varms
March 17, 2016 at 9:58 PM
He's a cutie! I can totally see him being a stingy freak, haha...
tig
March 17, 2016 at 2:53 PM
I had to google to see who he was because the name did ring a bell. Then I realize I have seen him a lot in movies, just not drama. He is cute, and I cam totally see him having chemistry with HJE in a comedy. I hope he accepts it.
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madame kim
March 18, 2016 at 4:36 AM
Damn, Ha Sukjin would be really good at it. I already have flashes of Saengchori!!!!
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6 PeepsLeAwesomePotato
March 17, 2016 at 5:43 AM
Sh-she's thirty-something?! Pffft. The way BoNui thinks made me think she was in her mid-twenties all this time, so I was like... Hwang JungEum...?
Not to say that older actor/actresses can't portray younger roles but Hwang JungEum has lost the air of a twenty-something to me and is a solid, confident thirty-something.
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PeepsLeAwesomePotato
March 17, 2016 at 5:45 AM
Also, what are those horrible sleeves? -~`
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Gwinna
March 17, 2016 at 2:15 PM
I think that is some kind of scarf or wrap that she is wearing, not part of the sleeves.
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7 lordseungri
March 17, 2016 at 5:47 AM
Oooh so she will be up against Ji Sung's new drama?
If only Siwon wasn't in the army. He could have done great in this role.
I think Joo Won is enlisting very soon so no chance there sadly.
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8 poko
March 17, 2016 at 5:49 AM
I know actresses don't get much love here. So before the whiny comments begin, I have to say I Love Her and can't wait for this drama.
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fab
March 17, 2016 at 6:09 AM
Too late. She's already deemed too old. SIGH.
HJE is versatile and has actual range to pull off any kind of role. She's still considering, but I hope she accepts soon.
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gaeinalee
March 17, 2016 at 7:47 AM
You're not alone. I loved her too since Golden Time days.
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Ek Ladhki Thi
March 17, 2016 at 8:20 AM
I totally agree about actresses not getting a lot of love around here, especially this actress. I love her a lot, she's one of my 'actresses in their 30s' bias. I've loved her since Incarnation of Money, or was it Can You Hear My Heart? I can't remember which I saw first. She can't do wrong as far as I'm concerned and this character is something she could do in her sleep. If she accepts, I hope they cast an actor that doesn't bore me, like someone I know.
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AnotherOne
March 17, 2016 at 1:55 PM
Unless it's MCW, PBY, JJH, KGE, SMA, or a select number of older established actresses like Go Hyun Jun or the younger starlets that have yet to hit it big like KSE or KSR, people won't be here for it. LOL.
At least now that Han Groo got married at 23 and royally fucked up her image in the process, with the hot mess surrounding her relationship with her "step-family," I no longer have to scroll through 50 comments like every time an actress in he 20s gets cast that people don't like.
"What about Han Groo?"
"Is Han Groo available instead?"
"Why don't they cast Han Groo for these roles instead?"
I mean nothing against her, I just don't care.
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kuromitsu
March 17, 2016 at 6:02 PM
Okay, I read about what happened with Han Groo. It seems she made a mistake, but I don't see why it's supposed to mess up her career.
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dramakid
March 17, 2016 at 7:34 PM
Now that Han groo is on hiatus,I guess kim seul gi is the new Han groo now on this site.on every casting news,u see comments like:
"Let's have kim seul gi in this"
"Ah,kim seul gi would be perfect for this role"
"I can totally see kim seul gi in this"
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NiaIpeh
March 17, 2016 at 10:14 PM
LOL ??
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9 loophole
March 17, 2016 at 5:57 AM
The promise ring bit got me rolling. Like seriously??
This should be fun. Can't wait
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10 bips99
March 17, 2016 at 6:05 AM
I dislike her. Of all of my dramaland experience, she is the only actor i dislike. She is so screechy. I feel second hand embarrassment when i watch her. I loved KMHM but had to mute so many of her parts. Same with She was pretty.
The strange thing is that when she dials it down and does an emotional scene, it is perfect. But 90% of the the time she is just OTT. So after these 2 shows, i've decided to pass anything she does.
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lolabeans
March 17, 2016 at 8:00 AM
This is my fear. The story sounds fun enough, but in HJE's hands I can easily see the cute and zany heroine becoming shrill and loud and kind of annoying (at least as for the first few episodes).
I wish the Kim Seul-gi suggestion was a possibility.
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Trinity 🍆
March 17, 2016 at 9:24 AM
She is perfect in serious roles. She was excellent in Secret. But when she does comedy she goes way WAY overboard into overacting. But it seems like after a few episodes she dials it down. In both KMHM and She Was Pretty she was almost unbearable the first few episodes but I don't know if someone said something because after about 5 episodes in both dramas she toned it down and started doing a good job. Hopefully she has learned to keep it dialed down and we don't have to endure 5 episodes of overacting before she finds her stride.
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bips99
March 17, 2016 at 9:34 AM
I honestly did not see any change after first 5 episodes in her. Maybe bec as episodes progress, you move to the more serious territory. But as soon as some 'funny' scene came up, we were back to square one.
If it was a melodrama, i would tune in without fail. But i cannot bear her in another rom-com. And the premise is so whacky that I have no hope.
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meganG
March 17, 2016 at 5:53 PM
+1
Couldn't agree more. I like her in serious roles, but can't stand her in comedy. Screeching and flailing are just not my cup of tea. I really wish I did like her in comedies.
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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
March 17, 2016 at 6:36 PM
I like her, but I prefer her in in serious role / melodrama not in a comedic role. She did a good job in KMHM and SWP but it is quite unbearable to see her.
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11 whatnot
March 17, 2016 at 6:20 AM
if joo won then i'll pass. he can't act comedy gezz just look at 7th level
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Trinity 🍆
March 17, 2016 at 9:26 AM
Ya but the character sounds a bit like his character from Cantabile Tomorrow, which he did a good job in.
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12 Sancheezy
March 17, 2016 at 6:29 AM
I have a feeling that she wouldn't accept this offer, Idk why but my guts telling me so
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13 moonpetal
March 17, 2016 at 6:46 AM
I'd prefer Im Seul-ong :) I watched him in Ho-gu's love and I can see him good as the penny-pinching man lead :D
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meganG
March 17, 2016 at 5:54 PM
That would be fun!
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14 boomboompow
March 17, 2016 at 6:47 AM
This drama sounds hilarious. I love HJE and Joo Won when they are NOT doing comedy, she overreacts and he doesn't really deliver.
Can we please have Cha Tae Hyun instead?
The only funny girl I can think of right now is Kim Seul Gi but she's so tiny she would look like CTH's kid.
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15 songsong
March 17, 2016 at 6:47 AM
It seems HJE has already accepted. I guess Han Suk Jin will too.
The drama to premiere after GMB, that's pretty soon so the cast will get confirmed very soon.
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16 john
March 17, 2016 at 7:13 AM
So Bo-nui makes it her mission to sleep with Taek-hoo
I can think of a lot of other actresses I'd like to see in this role other than HJE.
Not familiar with the webtoon, but I'm afraid the script will be homogenized and sanitized to consist of:
accidental fall on top of you scene: Zzzzz
drunk tryst that neither member remembers: Zzzz
As far as male leads, please, not Joo-won, just don't.
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17 leila
March 17, 2016 at 8:13 AM
LMAO omg just reading your short recap of the webtoon makes me want to read/watch it right now!!!
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18 BA
March 17, 2016 at 8:14 AM
They should jist call this She was pretty -2. Similar aloof guy that will first dislike/annoyed and then fall in love. ?
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19 Mandy
March 17, 2016 at 8:23 AM
Omg I have major issues with HJE and her over acting/loudness. I missed out on SWP and HMHM despite liking the male leads because I couldn't take her. Please don't let it be Kim Soo-hyun or Seo In-guk. I love them too much that I'd be forced to watch it. Joo Won is good too but I feel I'd be able to afford missing him in a drama.
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BlueFish
March 17, 2016 at 10:46 PM
Awww...this is harsh! I wonder what Joo Won did to you in the past..
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20 Emmygold
March 17, 2016 at 8:24 AM
hmmmm.... HJE can deliver but in an overboard manner! although am a fan of her but i think i'll prefer kim seul gi in this one! she can also do a great job while not over doing it.. for the hero's part i'll go with joo won though not sure about him yet!
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21 Prettysup
March 17, 2016 at 8:26 AM
I heard the male lead is Ha Seok Jin
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22 Lyna
March 17, 2016 at 8:32 AM
Based on the description, can I say how much I wish that it could be Kim Seul-gi and Doojoon that would be courted for this drama.
I literally can see them in those two characters to fit so well. Oh dear drama god, when are you going to hear my prayer and have those 2 get their full kdrama length lead drama! LOL!
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23 mindy
March 17, 2016 at 8:39 AM
I'll also announce my love for Hwang Jung Eum here and I hope she takes it. I first saw her in Can You Hear My Heart, which to be honest I have yet to finish (I'm on episode 15?? haven't watched more in almost a year). I loved She Was Pretty despite all of its flaws, and it made me love HJE.
Does she tend to overdo it? Yes. But I actually like the way she overdoes it, hehe. I find her hilarious and I like that she isn't afraid to go all out or "ruin her image".
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24 bugs_bunny
March 17, 2016 at 8:45 AM
like HJE, she overacts for comedy but she's golden on dramatic parts. she was really good in Giant & Golden Time:)
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25 erwinia
March 17, 2016 at 8:56 AM
oh gawd...there will be lots of shrieking and screaming and hysterical laughing. Not from me but from HJE. Doesn't she know this thing about overexposure as a celebrity? Too much is not a good thing.
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