Hwang Jung-eum courted back to dramaland for Lucky Romance

108 March 17, 2016March 31, 2016

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

108

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26 jichangwooklover

March 17, 2016 at 9:14 AM

I like her. But my first choice still would be Kim Seul Gi. As for the male lead please let him be hot and not too old lol. I would love to see Seo In Guk again but I think he has another drama upcoming on OCN with Sooyoung from Girls Generation.

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27 soapbox

March 17, 2016 at 9:18 AM

If she only tones herself down a bit then she'd be a good actress for comedy since she does have that spunkiness. Though I do tend to like the 'straight man' in comedy instead of over the top characters/actors so it might be preference.

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28 sweetsour

March 17, 2016 at 9:22 AM

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29 Chandler

March 17, 2016 at 9:24 AM

"I can see how Hwang Jung-eum would be a good choice for the role, even if she overdoes her comedy moments"

- I'm still hoping she can rediscover her comedic chops from High Kick 2. She was hilarious there and while, yes, she had moments of over-the-topness, for the most part she was fantastic.

And this would be the PERFECT chance to reunite her with Daniel Choi (I will never give up on this pairing!). Seriously, they play off each other so well when she's acting the crazy wack-job and he's acting the uptight, serious guy forced to put up with her. Please put them together again!

Or at least cast Daniel Choi in a drama already. I miss him.

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jules

March 17, 2016 at 9:41 AM

He enlisted in the army last year, so I wouldn't expect to see him in dramas for about a year and a half.

(I did love them as an OTP in HK2 and I'd also want to see them reunite in another drama, if only to right certain wrongs.)

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zepthee

March 17, 2016 at 9:46 AM

I miss daniel choi,too. I was looking for hos latest news and just found out that he went to military quietly, his last drama was so long ago. He is perfect for this role. And i was laughing so hard at HJE' comedic acting in high kick, but not so much in her recent dramas.

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30 korfan

March 17, 2016 at 9:36 AM

I can actually see Hwang Jung-eum in this.

It sounds like this could be laugh-outloud-funny. Let's hope it is!

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31 Suzy

March 17, 2016 at 9:57 AM

I thought she was getting married... Can't we get a break from this woman?

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renebean

March 17, 2016 at 10:19 AM

She's married already

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32 goldeng

March 17, 2016 at 10:13 AM

HJE gets on my nerves when she thinks being funny is doing the crazy eyes and the screaming but if they can make her tone it down it should be ok... well, as a stingy serious inexperienced in love male lead i thought about Kim Ji hoon...! hes older than HJE irl but he looks younger than her imo and he can be hilarious and deliver in dramatic scenes

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33 Adal

March 17, 2016 at 10:14 AM

There are some actors/actresses that do I project a year, if even that, and there are others that do back to back to back projects.

I would think that just getting married and having a honeymoon is a good excuse to take a break from acting for a while.

In any case she's welcome. If the writing is good, she would probably be looking at another hit at her hands. I wish her all the luck in the world and a sincere congratulations on her marriage. Peace.

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34 Juliesean

March 17, 2016 at 10:32 AM

I don't like her at all. She's just grating on my nerves with her over acting and nasal voice. Either Park Bo Young or Kim Seul-Gi would be awesome!!

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Sour Grapes

March 17, 2016 at 6:09 PM

Both are too young for the role. Didn't you read the character description?

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35 goodytwoshoes

March 17, 2016 at 10:44 AM

If kang ji-hwan wasn't in a drama already, I see him pulling this off. I mean, look at him in 'Don't lie to me'. He pulled off the uptight boss role.

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36 Cocoboo

March 17, 2016 at 11:44 AM

I adore HJE. I would like to see her in this drama. I like her in cute and quirky roles.

Not sure who I want for the male lead though... not Joo Won.

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37 R

March 17, 2016 at 12:05 PM

How about Lee Je-hoon ? He can be good in romcom, some of his scenes in the movie "My paparotti" were very funny ^^

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38 Daisy

March 17, 2016 at 12:23 PM

I see the hate comments have begun. Such a shame. Anyways, I love her and I'm so excited to see her in a new drama. Hope that everything goes well.

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39 Nissin

March 17, 2016 at 12:33 PM

Cha Tae hyun and Gong Hyo Jin or Song Ji Hyo (she was adorable in ex girlfriends club)

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40 Nafiza

March 17, 2016 at 1:02 PM

I don't know if it's just me but I don't find Seul Gi to be a very convincing actress. Splish Splash Love was very cringeworthy at the end. In my humble opinion, HJE is a better actress but of course how much a person likes an actor is subjective and just because I don't like someone's acting doesn't make them a bad actor...just an unconvincing one.

What really pisses me off are comments like "she needs to take a break" etc. The privilege in those comments leave me speechless. Just because you don't want to see her she has to stop being in the spotlight even though that's her job? Wow.

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Gwinna

March 17, 2016 at 2:21 PM

Yes! I do not understand the people who complain about HJE's "overacting" and praise Kim Seul-gi in the same breath. The only thing I've ever seen KSG in was Flower Boy Next Door, and I found her acting majorly OTT there. Like HJE's acting dialed up a thousandfold.

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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐

March 17, 2016 at 6:45 PM

If to compare between these two, of course it is given that HJE is a better actress because she has more experience compared to KSG. I prefer not to compare who is better.

It is just that, KSG is so underrated and ppl wants her to be given more chances after Splash2 Love.. I think KSG is convincing enough in doing comedic roles and she is likeable.

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41 museofmanymasks

March 17, 2016 at 1:31 PM

I'd cast Lee Yoon Ji and Oh Min Seok if star power wasn't an issue.

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red

March 17, 2016 at 2:13 PM

yes lee yoon ji!!

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42 AnotherOne

March 17, 2016 at 1:42 PM

LOL at these comments.

Anyway, yeah her acting can definitely get super OTT and screechy at times (which is why I never understood the She Was Pretty hype but whatever, different strokes), but I don't think that necessarily makes her bad by any means.

And lmao at people telling her to not act as much anymore and take a break.

She's an actress, her job is to act. If you don't like her, don't watch her dramas. I don't understand people that hate watch certain dramas and actors/actresses because they don't want to feel left out.

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43 sorrynotsorry

March 17, 2016 at 1:59 PM

I like her and apparently most of Korea does as well because she is definitely one of the "it" actresses right now. I don't have strong feelings about the actor. Most these guys can pull off mean Korean dude with one hand tied behind their backs.

The hope I have about this drama is that "heart" that javabeans writes about gets adapted well in the drama because that elevates a silly premise into a lovely story.

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44 red

March 17, 2016 at 2:12 PM

omg I can so see Joo Won in this role!!

I think hwang jung eum is a good choice

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45 Gladys

March 17, 2016 at 3:25 PM

No please.... I just can't.
Nothing against Hwang Jung Eun but I'd love to see new faces. I feel like whenever I turn my head she's in a new drama. Splash Splash Love's couple would be perfect

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46 hawoojinruinedme

March 17, 2016 at 6:19 PM

I like HJE. Really, I do. But I dont think I can stand her screaming theatrics anymore. Kill Me, Heal Me, I understand because of the drama's tone. But She Was Pretty was already bordering on ridiculous.

ALSO, I WANT ME SOME KIM SEUL-GI.

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47 JISG

March 17, 2016 at 7:46 PM

She is one of five actresses whom I would watch for anything!! Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!

For male lead: I wish for Park Hae Jin - if China can lend him out lol

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48 JISG

March 17, 2016 at 7:50 PM

Or Ryu jun yeol for lead. It'd be a big get for him to leap onto "serious/mature male lead" status ?

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49 Aleeis

March 17, 2016 at 8:48 PM

Yes, let it be Joo Won! He'd be perfect for the role.

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BlueFish

March 17, 2016 at 10:57 PM

I've no doubts JW will be able to deliver any role that given to him. As long as the storyline and the co-star is promising. He was pretty unlucky in my opinion in terms of co-star, except his pairing with Kim Tae Hee in YP. With HJE, what I can see is just a repeat of his drama 'Level 7' - Ackward pairing, yes! 1000x

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50 BlueFish

March 17, 2016 at 10:48 PM

Cast Ju Ji Hoon (Princess Hours, Mask) instead. He pulled comedy as well as melodrama.

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Lucky Romance