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Hearts and smiles at Moonlight Drawn By Clouds’ press conference

How adorable is this cast? It’s not unusual for actors to be full of smiles on the day of their drama’s production press conference, but the cast of fusion fantasy romance Moonlight Drawn By Clouds seems especially bright-eyed and sparkly, and it puts a big goofy smile on my face. They’re just so young and pretty! *squish*

The drama is a week from its premiere (really just four days now), and held its press conference on the afternoon of August 18 at Seoul’s Yeongdeungpo Times Square. In attendance were its young main cast, which consisted of leading-man-in-the-making Park Bo-gum (Answer Me 1988), child-actress-turned-leading-lady Kim Yoo-jung (Angry Mom), idol-actor Jinyoung (Warm and Cozy), and rising rookies Chae Soo-bin (Sassy Go Go) and Kwak Dong-yeon (Modern Farmer).

The producing team ain’t too shabby, either, and has plenty of experience depicting youthful foibles and romance: PD Kim Sung-yoon directed Dream High, Who Are You—School 2015 and Discovery of Romance, Baek Sang-hoon worked on Who Are You—School 2015 and Secret, and writer Kim Min-jung worked with both of them on Who Are You—School 2015. I’ll consider that a good thing, because I really did enjoy Who Are You and its portrayal of youthful angst and friendship. Yup, all fifteen episodes.

Given the fusion sageuk romance genre (and the crossdressing heroine premise), Moonlight Drawn By Clouds is bound to draw comparisons to several other dramas, and PD Kim addressed some of those concerns at the press conference. “It’s different from Sungkyunkwan Scandal,” he said. “You’ll be able to feel [our drama’s] lively, cheerful, charming appeal. In a word, I’d call it a ‘young sageuk.'”

What about its timeslot competitor, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart: Goryeo, which premieres a week later? PD Kim added, “I’ve always enjoyed director Kim Kyu-tae’s work. It’s an honor to be competing with him. We’re focusing the most on being fun. Rather than being a political sageuk, you can think of it as a romantic comedy.”

Perhaps it helps that Moonlight has already existing source material and a wide fanbase, which could help head off direct comparisons. (I wouldn’t bet on it, but maybe it would mitigate them a little?) The drama is based on a popular web novel from writer Yoon Yi-soo, published serially online in 131 chapters and also as a book, which logged a whopping 50 million reads.

The plot of Moonlight Drawn By Clouds centers around a prince, also described as “the flightiest man in the palace,” who meets and falls in love with Joseon’s first-ever dating counselor and only crossdressing eunuch. There’s nothing about that that’s not funny.

Park Bo-gum plays that character, Yi Yeong (also known as Crown Prince Hyomyeong), and explained that he wanted to do the drama right from the start, upon reading the synopsis and script. He said, “Hearing that I would be working with acting sunbae Kim Yoo-jung made me happy. I’d wanted to do a sageuk for a while. If there’s a difficult point, it’s the extreme heat. But even so, I like filming wearing beautiful hanbok.”

She’s his industry sunbae despite being six years younger, since he debuted in 2011, compared to her 2006; moreover, while he has eight drama series to his resumé, Kim has twenty (nine of them historical dramas). Park admitted to finding it difficult to grasp his character at first — the script was entertaining, but it was difficult to portray the character, and he spent some time talking to the director about the role and studying it.

This is Park’s first drama since Answer Me 1988 made him a household name, and he was asked about the so-called “Answer Me curse,” where all the stars of the franchise have faltered in their subsequent projects. He said he finds the term saddening, because to him, “The drama [Answer Me 1988] was like a blessing, which made my name known.”

Meanwhile, Kim Yoo-jung said of her co-star, “At first when I heard the news that Park Bo-gum was cast, I thought it was really well done. When we met on set, he was so handsome I was startled.”

She plays the heroine, Hong Ra-on, and said, “I thought that the character of a woman disguised as a man could be extremely trite. I monitored the sunbaes who had done past crossdressing roles. I watched Yoon Eun-hye sunbae’s acting in Coffee Prince. The setup where she had to work in a cafe where only men worked was a similar situation, so it was very helpful.”

Asked about being part of the “Child Actor Troika” with fellow young rising stars Kim Sae-ron and Kim So-hyun, Kim Yoo-jung said that she’d watched both their recent dramas and enjoyed them both (Mirror of a Witch and Bring It On, Ghost), but also said that there are many more promising young stars in the upcoming ranks, so it’s not just the three of them.

Moonlight Drawn By Clouds promises to be full of laughs and youthful zest, and even incorporates parody-like depictions, such as the portrayal of the job of eunuch as someone who watches the clock waiting for off-hours, whereupon he unwinds from the day with a bowl of makgulli, drawing parallels to the modern salaryman. Well, if the boldly comical teasers are any indication, I’ll be expecting hilarity up the wazoo. I will accept no less!

Moonlight Drawn By Clouds premieres next Monday, August 22, on KBS.








Via Hankyung, BreakNews, IS Plus, Xports News, Mk.co.kr, Sports Chosun

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Heh.. guess I'm too early to read comments posted by others ??.

Kim Yoo Jung and Park Bogum look beautiful together! Love their smilies. MDBC is a must watch!! ❤️❤️❤️

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What a pretty looking cast! Loving Kim Yoo-Jung's outfit - especially that flowy skirt, so elegant and well poised!

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Bo gum: handsome and wearing short white collar, suit and no time. Omg he's pulling off song joong ki post Descendants. Dang they're fine

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"All 15 episodes" LOL jb!

This actually looks fun. The more they describe it, the more I imagine it's just an extended Splish Splash Love.

I sound like a broken record but: I'm glad I don't live in SK and the ratings don't depend on me. I can just watch this and Scarlet both without feeling the pressure to choose one. XD

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Same here. Lol.

Sigh. Bo Gummy. Why are you so adorable? And tall? T_T this noona can't stand it. Lol.

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Yeah, i loled too when i read 15, outright excluding the existence of the slapface ending, lol :p

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Yes, it looks a lot like an extended version of ssl minus the time travelling and that's exactly what's worrying me because that story for two episodes was perfect and I don't know how they will make it up to 16 episodes.

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Well, they don't have the generation leap problem, so there's a significant amount of comedic material and angst from SSL removed from Moonlight.

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Well, the only similarity it has with SSL is a cross-dressing eunuch.

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Actually, I imagine Scarlet Heart would have more in common with SSL. Lol.

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It's like they split Splish Splash into two dramas and sent the time-travelling modern heroine part to one drama and the cross-dressing eunuch part to another.

*jk, I know Bu Bu Jing Xin came first!

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There's another trailer showing the swordsman popping up and scaring the daylights out of KYJ. And also KYJ char answering the Prince back instead of being a meek servant. That's what gave me more SSL vibes.

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I think there was also a trailer involving an ax... If I didn't miss my guess, that's how they turn boys into eunuchs. O.o

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Yes! I recently rewatched SSL and I totally agree! I've said this so many times but I'm so ready for this drama!

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Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung look adorable together.

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Oof. Kim Yoo Jung has grown up to become such a beautiful woman; that the little girl from Iljimae is now a leading lady absolutely blows my mind. I'm only a few years older but I get motherly smiles whenever I see her, there's something about watching a child actor grow with each project that makes you want to protect them as you would a child or sibling.

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mary ~

I hope both shows are awesome.

Kim Yoo-jung & Park Bo-gum; may lead to squee overdose.

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very pretty KYJ, I love her dress too, didn't realize she is so petite. her holding hands with PBG looks so sweet. I will watch both this drama & Scarlet and enjoy all the prettiness galore overloaded with talents... the too-white faces of male actors freak me out, do they have to look so ghostly?

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Bogum's boyish aura is deceiving but he's 5"11".:-)

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Where's the like button when you totally need it with that parade of photos? Bogummy is so cute with Yoo-jung! ?

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Yeah, I was surprised to realise KYJ is shorter than I thought lol.

I mean, she's noticeably quite a bit shorter than Chae Soo-bin, who can't be more than 5'5"-5'6" herself, and they're both wearing heels of what looks like the same height.

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KYJ's even wearing some platform heels, my guess is that she's 5'2-5'3.

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I always thought Yoo Jung was really small in height, but I think she is not that small IMO (at least for my country standards).

Yoo Jung is 160 cm (5' 3")
So Hyun is 164 cm (5' 4½")
Sae Ron is 167 cm (5' 5¾")

They still growing so I'd say they will a bit taller, especially Sae Ron, so young and so tall already!

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They are so cute together I wanna cry!

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Looking forward to this show! But I have to ask the age-old question: Why the Korean male aversion to socks? Just why? And why does it always seem like they ran out of material for the pants length? Huh?

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To answer your questions seriously: 1) cropped slacks are in style (which I like, although everyone else seems to hate it lol) so it seems like a deliberate choice, and 2) visible socks wouldn't look good with aforementioned trend. However, even celebrities get sweaty feet in the summer, so I'd wager a guess that they're wearing those handy invisible socks that are everywhere in Korea.

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Now that you mention it, I can't help to see Bogum's pants also. Yup it looks like the pants is lacking some fabric

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Kwak Dong-yeon is such a stunner, seriously. I just cannot wait for him to headline. Park Bo Gum is no doubt a visual god, but KDY has been giving him a run for his money in all the released stills.

And that was such a lovely answer re: the 'troika'. Yoo Jung is great friends with Seo Shin Ae and Jin Ji Hee so I like that she made it explicit that there are a lot of young, talented actors these days with so much potential, who are all making a name for themselves, regardless of how much the media focus remains on those three.

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I can't wait for all those girls to grow up and lay the scourge of idol casting to dust.

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(by which I mean the crappy/mediocre ones, anyone of the calibre of IU, Jung Eun-ji or Minah can stay)

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Me too! I can't wait but companies like SM who are involved in production/investment will give their idols lead roles.

Nam Ji-Hyun is doing well with lead roles so there is hope for the rest who are not Kim Yoo-jung, Kim So-hyun, Shim Eun-kyung, Kim Sae-ron or Yeo Jin-goo.
David Lee is doing well too but mostly in supporting roles.
We need more Ji Jin-hee, Lee Young-yoo, Seo Shin-ae.
Almost forgot Nam Da-reum who can be scaringly evil in some roles.

The younger ones are easy to miss. Kim Hyang-gi was in "Proof of Innocence" so she does a movie or drama between school.
I haven't seen that little cutie Chun Bo-geun in a new project since "Fatal Encounter."

Korea and their talented child actors <3. I think I've been busy following their career that I fail to notice the new young talents that didn't grow up on tv. I've only seen Park Bo-gum in 3 movies with minor roles.

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They're just so fresh-looking. Aaaah... to be young again! The 10-minute highlights showed the right amount of comedy and drama. It's a perfect summer watch.

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I'm all in for the fun.

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Kim Yoo Jung is soooo pretty!! Hope MDBC will hit it big! Fighting!!

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To be honest, they are really a cute looking couple. But I think it's extremely difficult for this production to compete against the luxurious cast of Scarlet Heart. Also, the premise isn't really too exciting. At the moment, this sounds like a sweet drama and nothing else. However, PBG's popularity will be a plus so premiere numbers should be good (like Lucky Romance). We'll see what happens but from the promos I think SH will be a hit.

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Everybody is expecting Scarlet to be a hit. It has all the advantages, so why wouldn't it? "Moonlight" is a charming underdog that at the very most will find its own audience, like its source material. Whether that will reflect in ratings or not.

I'm not saying that it's like comparing apples and oranges since the dramas do have lots of similarities but it's just too unequal a battlefield to compare.

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I like how they are facing big production dramas head on. Love the no fear attitude.
Make way for the little guys. They might surprise us.

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Yes, but the thing about Lucky Romance's early ratings is that they don't have any heavyweight competition. That's also why they even got the top spot in some of their episodes. "Moonlight" on the other hand is really in a tough spot because it will premiere at the (3-episode) finale week of the very popular Doctors which will be followed by Scarlet, a high-budget, pre-produced drama riddled with stars and idols. Some dramas just get luck in the timeslot lotto, regardless of quality.

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That's fair. I didn't realise it's competing against Doctors.

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To be honest I don't think Scarlet would definetly win. I mean it has too much flower boys/characters, when that is case story is often too hard to follow and Lee Jun Ki's last drama didn't do very well...
On another note, I hope both dramas would have at least 9% ratings.

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I don't care about the ratings as long as it doesn't make KBS cut the drama.
Of course I want it to do well, but I don't think a drama's quality is reflected at all by their local ratings.
I agree that it will be hard because korean ahjummas make up most of the local watching audience I think and they are more likely to like Scarlet then Moonlight I think.

But I swear if KBS cuts this drama because of ratings I will never ever forgive them! (Sorry I'm scarred from Beautiful Mind and KBS is like the evil money hungry chairman from hell)

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I doubt they will cut this because I don't see it flopping like Beautiful Mind or Moorim School (both were cut and averaged at 2%-3% in ratings). Also, it's produced by KBS Media and there's just enough hype and built-in fanbase from the source material to keep it afloat.

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Totally agree! I know that Bo-gum won't care much about the ratings war. As long as KBS don't cut this drama down, i won't care at all.

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Time travel is one of the least popular mixed genre with ahjummas but they might go for SH if they keep the history in tact.

Moonlight is simple and light hearted and easy to follow with adorable leads. I like the fact that it's not geared towards the overseas market.

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Everybody expected Uncontrollably Fond to be DOTS 2.0 for KBS and runaway hit, but look now W becomes more popular with higher ratings. I'm not saying which one deserves better ratings, but I think ratings game is hard to guess.. It depends on several factors.
MDBC could have early lead or it would be SH all the way. It's hard to find definite answers now because we haven't watched both dramas and sometimes previews and early synopsis are misleading.

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Yeah, it can be a little hard to predict though sometimes networks try to tip the balance by pulling out their actor/writer big guns. I mean, no one really expected Doctors to be much more than a modest hit either (no Hallyu star male lead, no star writer)- and look at it now.

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The only people who expected UF to be a hit was KBS itself. It was a huge mistake trying to publicise the drama like that and now it becomes painfully obvious how far it is from DOTS's popularity. I mean, other than publicity there is no way to argue LJS+HHJ > KWB+Suzy, even if you took into account the writers. UF did flopped though, that's for sure.

On the other hand, SH is a legitimate big production with a solid plot (assuming it's sufficiently similar to the original). Sageuks of this scale don't usually do too badly. It's hard to say, but I'm just putting my money on SH.

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Same here. I am putting my money on Scarlet though I am also wishing Moonlight will do well. Like I said, Scarlet can't afford to fail what with the massive gigantic investment and production. I think the casts and production team can feel that it will succeed, it's just that they are waiting for the ratings to eventually validate their gut feelings. Even if Moonlight isn't going to win the rating battle, I doubt that it will hurt Bo Gum and Yoo Jung. They are both still very young and extremely talented actors. They will eventually have their time.

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I mean *argue that LJS + HHJ < KWB + Suzy*. But you guys get the gist.

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I will give this drama a try since I adore Kim Yoo Jung. As I said like a broken record, I was hoping for her to be the female lead of Scarlet, alas she is too young to romance Lee Jun Ki. And I tried not to mention Scarlet here but it isn't fair to compare both dramas since Scarlet has all the luxury. I may be one of the few who knew right off the bat that Uncontrollably Fond won't be a big hit. There's nothing refreshing about that drama, so I don't know how one can come to think it will be DOTS 2.0. But I must say Moonlight is up against stiff competition, premiering on the same week with Doctors' last 3 episodes and then competing with Scarlet which is by far, the most anticipated drama. Good luck, though.

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It's not hard to see why people thought UF would be a guaranteed hit, though - Lee Kyung-hee's track record with young leads and ratings was pretty strong. Too bad the final product turned out underwhelming despite the pre-production, and worse for them that MBC put a drama with a rather more interesting concept+ equal/bigger stars in the competing time slot.

I feel like with Scarlet Heart, people were a lot more circumspect even if the current round of publicity just has everyone focusing on the pretty. It may have the bigger budget but the writer is more important.

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I'll give props to director Kim Kyu-Tae for the breath-taking and gorgeous atmosphere in Scarlet Heart. It's up to the actors to give it life.
Hopefully the NBC and YG ent executives didn't interfere too much with the writing and directing.

Moonlight is a Kang Byung Taek production and if you have seen Jeong Do Jeon you'd know that this is in good and capable hands.

There is more pressure for Scarlet Heart to do well and the expectation is high both domestic and international. I hope it will give us more than just the pretty.

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Look at Moonlight ratings now

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You're just too good to be true, can't take my eyes off you two~ is all I can say seeing their cuteness and sweetness and everything <3

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Yoojung has really grown up to be not only beautiful, but also a worldly and wise young lady. I really like how she answers in interviews.

And LOL at Bogum calling her sunbae! Funny but true.

Here's the 10-minute teaser
http://tvcast.naver.com/v/1058802/list/67096

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Thanks for sharing? For those who can't watch it on Naver here is the youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlXpJzHnCAE

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I noticed that, too. What a respectful thing to do...to call someone younger than you but older in the industry "subnaenim" (did I spell that right?). Bogum never ceases to amaze me!

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Boo at KBS geolocking their vids!

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Oh I really like the instumental OST.
Feels like we'll have good sageuk! I trust the team and the cast!

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I've been an avid fan of Kim Yoo-jung and Yeo Jin-goo from their very first project.
I'm excited to see how she tackles youth comedy and romance. She seems comfortable so far based on the trailer.

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I respect Bogum for calling her sunbae! Even though she is younger she has a bigger resumé and has more experience, especially in sageuk.

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Pretty all around! ?
Woah, Yoo jung has done 20 dramas?? *runs to google land*

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Yoo Jung has done 29 dramas and 18 movies. So Hyun has done 30 dramas and 8 movies. Sae Ron has done 12 dramas and 8 dramas (but she is younger than Yoo Jung and So Hyun). They did mostly childhood parts on dramas but they are in the last year and this year starting to go from child/teen roles to be leading ladies. I'm so happy for them.

Yoo Jung started her acting career in 2004, So Hyun started hers in 2002 and Sae Ron on 2009. I followed many of their works before, even though So Hyun is my favourite of the three, I have special feelings for all of them because I've been seeing them since they were young.

With their big resumé and status is no wonder their called "troika".

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Just to correct you sohyun debuted Around 2008 to 2009 not 2002. She just had her 8th ear debut anniversary. Out of all of the kim actresses yoking has been acting the longest since she was a baby

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Sorry but So Hyun made her acting debut in 2002 at KBS2 drama Children of Heaven. I don't know where do you get 2008/2009, because after her 2002 debut she was in MBC drama Que Sera Sera and KBS2 drama Blissful Woman.

And Yoo Jung debuted in 2004, making her 5 years old at the time and not acting since a baby.

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MBC drama Que Sera Sera and KBS2 drama Blissful Woman in 2007

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If So Hyun debuted in 2002 in a KBS2 drama, then she would have only been 3 years old at that time! But she's supposed to have moved to Korea from Australia in 2003? So, is it the same So Hyun? BTW, there's another drama called Children of Heaven in 2009, and one of the kids in this looks like her.

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I can guarantee you that she did not debut when was that young. Even if you look at her naver profile it says she debuted in 2008 to 2009. And she had an official 8th anniversary debut celebration by her official Korean fansite about a month ago. I think you are thinking of a different drama with the same name

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YooJung's debut acting was in 2004, and entertaiment debut was in 2003 ( on CF )

SOHYUN's debut was around 2008-2009, her debut not was in 2002!! Even Sohyun call to YooJung like 'big sunbae'.

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Aaaaah.... look at Bogum and Yoojung, they really do seem like the leading actors in the years to come. Good luck to both!

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omo how cute are they?she look like she has a little girl crush on him.there photo holding hand is the best how cute can they be.I hope they get good rating but may be hard to beat a saeguk with many flower boys.bogumi seranghye<3.

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So good! Just woke from a pain night, barely awake and checking on Db before getting extra bed time (still on vacation mode) and that picture perfect aka PBG big smile is just what the doctor prescribe and by doctor I mean DramaDoctor. Feeling better already.....still getting extra sleep. Thanks :)

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