Park Bo-gum bows out of Hong sisters fantasy rom-com Hwayugi

54 July 22, 2017August 20, 2017

Park Bo-gum bows out of Hong sisters fantasy rom-com Hwayugi

by tipsymocha

Boo, it looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer for Park Bo-gum (Moonlight Drawn By Clouds) to return to our screens. He has officially turned down an offer to star as Sun Wukong the Monkey King in the new Hong sisters drama Hwayugi, which is a modern retelling of the Chinese classic Journey to the West.

On the one hand, a small part of me is relieved that he didn’t take the role, mostly because the Hong sisters have burned me badly before when they did the impossible and made me (briefly) hate Yoo Yeon-seok, and I would’ve been very upset if they had made me dislike Park Bo-gum as well. But on the other, I think he would’ve made a great Monkey King, who is described as a mischievous troublemaker. The minor god also has a bit of a temper, which coupled with his pride gets him sent to the human realm with his deity powers sealed. The character sounds like a potentially great and hilarious mix of Park Bo-gum’s Yeong from Moonlight, and water god Ha-baek when he had lost his powers, so it’s a bit of a shame that we won’t get to see him as Sun Wukong.

Hopefully, we’ll get to hear some more news about Park Bo-gum’s next project soon, as he’s been understandably inundated with casting offers. He’s also been quite busy with his role in the musical Hairspray, which is related to his graduation project. I just hope his next project will be in dramaland, since I’ve only heard of his film projects lately, and two hours is just never enough! I’m greedy that way, don’t judge me.

Cha Seung-won (Hwajeong) is still considering his offer to star in Hwayugi, which will be directed by PD Park Hong-kyun of Best Love and Queen Seon-deok. If Chajumma does confirm, it’ll be one big Best Love reunion-fest. Fantasy, horror rom-com Hwayugi is expected to air this December in tvN’s Saturday-Sunday slot.

Via TV Report, Sports Donga

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1 Jolly

July 22, 2017 at 12:05 PM

I hope Cha Seung-won declines. He's way too good to be relegated to a supporting role. I'm looking forward to another drama from him, but I want to see him in the starring role.

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renebean

July 22, 2017 at 1:34 PM

He was kind of supporting in you're all surrounded too.

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Jolly

July 22, 2017 at 8:53 PM

Precisely why I want to see him in the lead role. His last few dramas, he's taken a supporting role. But he's talented enough that he should be the starring role.

City Hall and Greatest Love are still two of my favorite dramas, and I'd like to see him get the chance to lead a project again.

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Una

July 22, 2017 at 5:46 PM

His last project on public broadcast were flops. And prior to that he was second fiddle to LSG in You're All Surrounded which drew in modest ratings. So, I get that he's teaming up again with the writers who revived his TV career. It's also safer in a cable channel.

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boomboompow

July 22, 2017 at 8:42 PM

He seems to have soft spot for Hong Sisters and the story is quite unique.

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larus

July 22, 2017 at 10:14 PM

I don`t want Cha Seung Won to decline but I was dissapointed to hear that he will have a supporting role. When I heard that he would come back with a rom com I got excited. I even tried to guess who will be his leading lady.

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2 chingu

July 22, 2017 at 12:19 PM

Ha, what an appropriate photo! Love that his shirt says "day off day off day off..." and we're getting news of him not quite coming back just yet. Hope you're actually getting some rest and days off, bud. Come back when you're good and ready. We're patient. Right? Yes, we are. And yes, please come back to dramaland because I'm greedy, too, and I need you on my screen once or twice a week for a few months. Haha.

I share the same sentiments about this news as you, @tipsymocha. While I'm gonna give the Hong sisters another chance, w/ or w/o Bogummy, I'm also not that affected that he's not gonna be in it just because of their inconsistent writing, resulting in Big disappointments. On the other hand, I would've LOVED to see Bogummy take on this role as the mischievous troublemaker, too. He'd be so damn charming, omg.

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Ally

July 22, 2017 at 2:19 PM

I don't know how he does it--his picture would be next to the definitions of charming and adorable in the dictionary. ?

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3 Ek Ladhki Thi

July 22, 2017 at 12:19 PM

Maybe they can wait a little until Lee Seung-gi gets discharged and just give him the role. I want to see a real bromance between Cha Seung-won and Lee Seung-gi. I was mercilessly teased by his cameo in The Greatest Love but You're All Surrounded was all kinds of disappointing.

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chingu

July 22, 2017 at 12:28 PM

Omg, I kinda love this idea!? But unless they send him the offer/script asap while he's still in the army, it might be too close of a call since he gets discharged in September (right?). I'm not gonna rush oppa's comeback, though. I'd rather he take his time coming back when he's good and ready, unless the offer is all sorts of amazing.

I loved Lee Seung-gi's cameo in Best Love and omg, totally forgot he was in You're All Surrounded w/ Cha Seung-won, too! They're both so good, so I really would love to see them together again, but if not in this, then there's always next time.

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lemondoodle

July 22, 2017 at 10:50 PM

He's not discharged until Oct. 31st. I'd rather he pick a good project too instead of being rushed. His last drama was pretty mediocre.

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spazmo

July 22, 2017 at 12:50 PM

i'd be on board with that reunion!!

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ajewell

July 30, 2017 at 1:26 PM

OMG, he would make the BEST Monkey King. They should just delay it until he gets out!

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4 Abbie

July 22, 2017 at 12:22 PM

Now I really want Chajumma in this, sooo badly! Please make it happen, drama gods!

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5 Pickwick12

July 22, 2017 at 12:24 PM

I want to see a PBG project soon, but not if it's not the perfect thing for him. I can wait. (And I'm wary of the Hong Sisters' longtime inconsistency.)

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chingu

July 22, 2017 at 12:51 PM

Exactly! Yes to everything.

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renebean

July 22, 2017 at 1:36 PM

I 100% agree. Though part of me hopes he may play another character like the one in IRY where he was able to show a different side of his acting

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fgb4877

July 22, 2017 at 1:54 PM

Well, sure they are inconsistent. Generally speaking since BIG (mistake), they tend to have an excellent Drama followed by an unwatchable one. In their sequence, this one should be a good one. It also adds that the source material (Journey to the West) is humorous and slapsticky while also being deep. So even with the Mad & Boring experience I had with them back in 2015, I am still crossing my fingers ;) .

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fab

July 23, 2017 at 3:15 AM

I think it's safer for the remake(?) to have better writers. It'd be a shame to ruin such a good source!

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6 fay17

July 22, 2017 at 12:39 PM

In that case I would love to see yook sung jae do the monkey king, he already has the quirky in him!

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frabbycrabsis loves KBS Drama Specials

July 22, 2017 at 1:01 PM

Agreed, that would be so perfect!

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7 silvermists

July 22, 2017 at 12:40 PM

As much as I want to see him in something soon, I am happy he's so choosy with his projects; so far all the dramas he's done seems to be just the right thing at the right time and his rise to fame has been hard earned. On a more shallow note, how adorbs is he in this picture????

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chingu

July 22, 2017 at 12:56 PM

Super adorbs! I actually thought he was tuggin' on his pants/boxers, but then realized it's his shirt. Should've known Bogummy isn't that risqué... yet. Ohohoho~

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8 Ahj ❤ ❥ ♡ ♥ ღ

July 22, 2017 at 12:52 PM

As much as I badly want to see PBG back in the screen I fully respect and will still support his decision. I'll patiently wait for you Bogummy! ♥

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9 dramalatte

July 22, 2017 at 1:05 PM

I want that shirt. It was he isn't going for it cause I think he would have made a awesome Monkey king. I used to love Hong sisters but lately their Dramas been diss. So I am hoping they can turn things around.

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dramalatte

July 22, 2017 at 1:09 PM

Comment was deleted

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10 Irit

July 22, 2017 at 1:25 PM

I never liked the Hong Sisters. I am glad Park Bo-Gum declined; I hope Cha Seung-won declines too.

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ShinRaeMi07

July 22, 2017 at 3:06 PM

I liked Hong sisters before. MGIAG and TMS is both good. I love the two dramas.

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11 Kim

July 22, 2017 at 3:59 PM

This may seem like a good project to some but then the source material is so beloved that it will be torched by the Chinese especially with the current geopolitical climate, Hong sisters is inconsistent, the PD is unimpressive, tvN is in a slump, and this can be seen as another unimpressive Goblin-wannabee.

PBG is indeed choosy in his projects. I remember he also declined Entertainer with Ji Sung prior to accepting Moonlight so yes, I hope he's eye-ing a better drama.

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12 celine

July 22, 2017 at 4:53 PM

Mixed feelings. I was looking forward to Bogum's return. I thought the script is interesting, but then it's a Hong sisters project. Hence, I am slightly sad, but more relieved. Oh well. Gonna wait longer for another offer. Boy sure gets tons of love calls. I am proud.

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13 Jim

July 22, 2017 at 5:27 PM

I personally want PBG to go full melodrama.

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14 Juliesean

July 22, 2017 at 7:17 PM

I'm also worried how this drama will turn out.... if it's good, Sung Jae would be an awesome replacement. He was awesome in Goblin.

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15 ⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐

July 22, 2017 at 8:20 PM

Can we get Yoon Shi Yoon instead? Yes I'm wary about Hong Sisters but actually it's the same with other writers too.

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boomboompow

July 22, 2017 at 8:45 PM

Am thinking the same thing too

He pulls off cheeky so well and we need to see him back on small screen soon!

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16 berryberrymuch

July 22, 2017 at 9:03 PM

Please tell me there is not a Korean Hairspray. Because I highly doubt they cast any actual black people. *sigh*

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Elle

July 23, 2017 at 12:51 AM

It's a school production at Bogum's university and one of his requirements for graduation.

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berryberrymuch

July 23, 2017 at 8:22 AM

Yes but it shouldn't be because you know that they're going to use black face for all the black characters.

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Beegirl20

July 23, 2017 at 12:08 PM

hmm...graduation requirement or not, I think the main concern is black face...

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Mimi4withTheSun

July 23, 2017 at 12:15 PM

Yup thats the first thing that came to my mind when I saw the words Korean Hairspray.

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Jim

July 25, 2017 at 5:42 AM

Yup. And their department should've been better informed to NOT do a musical like Hairspray.

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fab

July 23, 2017 at 3:17 AM

You know what's worse? Giving the actors black face. Let them do it without POC.

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berryberrymuch

July 23, 2017 at 11:48 AM

oh I'm sure they're gonna use black face to cast those parts. That's why this makes me so uncomfortable. Even if they don't use black face, I wonder how they're going to to fully capture the struggle of the civil rights movement, acting or not. But I love Park Bo gum, and I sincerely hope he's trying to do this in as sensible a way as possible.

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satchelcather

July 23, 2017 at 12:01 PM

Agreed. I love Park Bo Gum too and if he has enough sense to pass up what I can only suspect might be a terrible Hong Sister drama, I hope he's got enough sense not to be in a racist Hairspray production.

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Mimi4withTheSun

July 23, 2017 at 12:16 PM

Lol soooo true. Smart enough to dodge the hong sister bullet, hopefully smart enough to dodge the racism bullet.

Lola

July 25, 2017 at 5:37 AM

He's a music director for the production, not a cast member. Personally, I would blame the professors for even choosing Hairspray as their graduation musical. The faculty should be sensible enough to guide their students that doing blackface, even to "accurately" reproduce a show is still inappropriate. (And yes, the students should be informed enough themselves that doing such racist gesture is horrible.)

peichi

July 23, 2017 at 1:07 PM

Yep they will, here's a Korean production from 2012 with a whole lot of blackface: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x21PIHSSrYM

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berryberrymuch

July 23, 2017 at 1:36 PM

Smh. You'd think that in 2017 this wouldn't be going on, that even in Korea people would try to stay at least a little woke. But I guess ignorance exists no matter where you are.

Mina

July 25, 2017 at 5:40 AM

That's also from a professional company. It's really a bad precedent for theater students.

Kim

July 25, 2017 at 5:32 AM

I'm not defending blackface but he's only a music director for that. His professors should be the ones sensible enough to guide his/her students to stay away from productions like Hairspray.

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berryberrymuch

July 25, 2017 at 7:25 PM

Very true. Although he is still complicit, most of the blame def lies with his profs.

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17 kae

July 23, 2017 at 7:49 AM

He made the right choice. I'm still pissed at what the Hong sisters did with Big. Even Gong Yoo couldn't save that train wreck.

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18 lolita

July 25, 2017 at 6:05 PM

Hahaha, @tipsymocha … perfect picture! "Day off day off day off" You nailed the picture + title combo! ?

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19 wackycashew

July 29, 2017 at 6:39 PM

I will patiently wait for Bogummy's return to dramaland!! Meanwhile, I'll be watching his super adorable rice CFs. ??

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20 paula kreinberg

February 5, 2018 at 5:07 PM

not really fierce enough, I think Seunggi is perfect, he's such a good actor now, unlike the days of Gumiho.

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Hwayugi