Veteran melodrama writer Lee Kyung-hee back with Chocolate
by javabeans
Melodrama hitmaker Lee Kyung-hee is coming back with another drama, called Chocolate (working title), which would mark her first project in two years, since the Kim Woo-bin (*tear*) and Suzy romance Uncontrollably Fond.
Chocolate seems to follow in Lee Kyung-hee’s mold of sentimental romantic melos, with two characters falling in love while healing pains from the past. One lead is a brain surgeon, the other a renowned Italian chef, and they work together preparing food for hospice patients in a warm-hearted story. I can see this story going uplifting and sweet, as writer Lee did for her 2007 drama Thank You, about a young girl with AIDS, and I can also see it going angsty and sad, as she did for many of her other projects that ended less well for our charcters (list below). I’m going to hope for uplifting.
There was once a time when news of a new projects for writer Lee would have had me bouncing in my seat in excitement, but I have to admit that after her past couple of dramas, I’m a lot warier going in. But I never write anyone off, especially when their resume includes some standouts and classics, even if most of them are over a decade old. See: Sang-doo, Let’s Go to School (Rain’s early acting breakout), I’m Sorry, I Love You (the massive hit starring Im Soo-jung and So Ji-sub), A Love to Kill (Rain again), Thank You (the sentimental melo with Gong Hyo-jin and Jang Hyuk), and Nice Guy (one of Song Joong-ki’s big steps into leading man territory).
I did think her 2014 pondering weekend family drama Wonderful Season was utterly dull despite being nice in spirit, while 2016’s Uncontrollably Fond seemed like it was poised to become an international sensation based on pre-show buzz but then fizzled (because it turned into a masochistic angstfest).
The project has completed synopsis stage and Lee Kyung-hee is currently writing scripts. Casting is underway, and offers have reportedly already been extended to top stars. And if there’s something we can expect from an Lee Kyung-hee drama, it’s top stars (see: So Ji-sub, Rain, Gong Hyo-jin, Im Soo-jung, Kim Hee-sun, Moon Chae-won, Song Joong-ki, Go Soo, Kim Woo-bin, Suzy, Shin Mina, Jang Hyuk).
Chocolate is looking at a January 2019 premiere, although a time slot has not yet been announced.
Via IS Plus
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Tags: Nice Guy, Uncontrollably Fond, Will It Snow For Christmas, Wonderful Season
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1 seoul_searcher
June 11, 2018 at 9:13 PM
I’m probably not going to even watch this considering how much of her tropes I can’t stand. If there’s no terminal Illness or memory loss then count me in
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alasecond
June 13, 2018 at 11:48 PM
i am more worried.. about the script..
i can't fight my superstition.. i don't want anything bad in her script.. last time she did that.. it turned out to be true...
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2 ObsessedMuch
June 11, 2018 at 9:17 PM
I am sorry I am not that interested in melodramas anymore (except that *unpopular opinion* I actually liked Uncontrollably Fond)
But I am commenting here to just welcome JB's 2nd news post! I am just happy to see JB's name! :D
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gulsan
June 11, 2018 at 9:44 PM
Me too XD Javabeans is back for real!
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bbstl 🧹
June 12, 2018 at 7:44 AM
😬 is it okay to get excited yet? I want to be excited! Can we be sure? Ohhhhhh, I hope so!!!! 🤞🏽🤞🏽🤞🏽
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ObsessedMuch
June 12, 2018 at 8:00 AM
Enough reason to be excited but yeah 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
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MapleSilver
June 12, 2018 at 9:31 AM
Not yet for me. This happened before, but very short-lived. Let's see if this time it's actually going somewhere.
gulsan
June 12, 2018 at 1:46 PM
Yep, let’s hope for a third post for tomorrow 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
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laisfrede
June 12, 2018 at 5:18 AM
I also love Uncontrollably Fond. I like stories with flawed characters so close to life.
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YY Chats with Toast Between Bites
June 12, 2018 at 9:29 PM
I'm just commenting here because JB is back, and because my dear friend @obsessedmuch is commenting. Not going to watch it, but I am thinking of cameoing as BRAIN, in one body, or taking on multiple roles as BRAINS in multiple bodies. Any advice?
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ObsessedMuch
June 12, 2018 at 9:53 PM
*feeling all warm and fluffy in the heart at the "dear friend" Hehe*
But YY you can't cameo as a BRAIN!! Pretty sure the brain surgeon himself or the Italian chef would have a brain tumor! And we don't want our resident beanie poet to be all tumor ridden.. How about you cameo as a food item that the chef cooks up for the patients? You will be nourishing the sick and it would be your good deed of the day!
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YY Chats with Toast Between Bites
June 12, 2018 at 9:56 PM
Hm, you could be right. Chocolate? But I'd be drunk alive and have to die multiple deaths 🤤
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ObsessedMuch
June 12, 2018 at 9:59 PM
But to die having made someone incredibly happy and content- tis a noble death(s) I say! ;)
3 blnmom
June 11, 2018 at 9:30 PM
I remember seeing the recaps and despairing comments for Uncontrollably Fond, so I’m not sure... but I’ve never heard of Thank You— that sounds pretty good with Gong Hyojin and Jang Hyuk. I’ll have to look that up!
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ObsessedMuch
June 11, 2018 at 9:50 PM
Thank You is a brilliant show! Jang Hyuk and Gong Hyo Jin doing what they do best!!
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technicat
June 12, 2018 at 1:07 AM
The kid in that show is amazing. It’s possibly my favorite kdrama, I’ve watched it several times already. There’s an appearance by Choi Kang Hee, also. I didn’t realize the same writer wrote so many other shows I’ve seen!
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ObsessedMuch
June 12, 2018 at 8:06 AM
Oh yes that lil girl was brilliant!! Won't call it my fav drama but I was so so impressed by everything except maybe the first episode
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technicat
June 12, 2018 at 9:34 AM
Yeah, I found the first episode offputting at first, but I got used to it on rewatches. I have that problem with a lot of kdramas, where I like everything except the first and last episode. Sometimes I just skip ahead to the second episode and then if I really like it I’ll go back to the first.
ObsessedMuch
June 12, 2018 at 9:48 AM
Same! Many of my fav kdramas have less than satisfying start and end but the basic storyline and the acting wins me over!
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technicat
June 12, 2018 at 11:50 AM
I did like the ending of Thank You. Again, the kid had the best scene, but I think this was the kdrama that got me following Gong Jyo Jin and Jang Hyuk. Love them in everything!
ObsessedMuch
June 12, 2018 at 9:56 PM
I was on a Gong Hyo Jin drama binge when I found this show but it opened my eyes to the brilliance that is Jang Hyuk even though I loved him and his trademark laugh in that 'Fated to.. be a failed second- half show'.
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PYC
June 12, 2018 at 3:50 PM
Thank You is a wonderful little drama that I re-watch every now and then.
A ‘healing’ drama when the term didn’t even exist in those early days. GHJ as the single mum with an HIV daughter and JH is the (super smexy) disgruntled doctor, plus a very green Shin Shun Rok. The superstar is however that little girl (who’s now a grown up appearing on some recent dramas). I cried and smiled with the story flow without exception, no matter how many times I’ve seen it.
This might however be the only LKH drama that I love.
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technicat
June 12, 2018 at 11:38 PM
I love the music, too.
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Carolina
June 12, 2018 at 3:53 PM
Thank you is one of my favorite dramas.
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4 callie
June 11, 2018 at 9:46 PM
😯 It's already been two years since Uncontrollably Fond?
Feels like a fever dream.
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Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 11, 2018 at 11:48 PM
😂😂😂😂
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5 Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)
June 11, 2018 at 9:56 PM
Like Dramabeans when all the Beanies are wondering where JB is.
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6 Izie
June 11, 2018 at 10:05 PM
JB is back!!!
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7 persianrose❤️战哥
June 11, 2018 at 10:20 PM
I would love to watch a good poigant melodrama, but in recent years most of the melos follow the same cliche instruction with exact same ingredients: childhood sweetheart, abusive parents, birth secret, & stage 4 terminal illness... also melodrama needs good actors not eye-candy idols
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8 Kudo Ran
June 11, 2018 at 10:22 PM
"No chocolate for me" never thought I'd say that haha, I dropped Nice Guy and never been interested by Uncontrollably Fond. I won't watch it live for sure, then according to the reviews (and IF it's a happy ending) I'll give it a 2nd thought.
Anyway it's good to read news on DB :)
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9 missjb
June 11, 2018 at 10:42 PM
Who is the director? I hope it will be as good as Kim Jin Won and Park Hyun Suk.
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10 pohonphee
June 11, 2018 at 10:42 PM
I couldn't finish Uncontrollably Fond because of the ehm female ehm lead.... Het aegyo is so cringeworthy I can't even... she is an idol right? Aegyo is supposed to be her bread and butter.
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11 cherry 🍒
June 11, 2018 at 11:22 PM
I remember watching A Love To Kill and being traumatised for a long time. That’s the only drama of this writer that I watched. Depends on who will be cast, I might give it a try.
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12 Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 11, 2018 at 11:46 PM
I miss Kim Woo Bin so much. I wonder if he or th agency posted on the daum cafe or not. It's been too silent on their part.
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신류지
June 12, 2018 at 7:31 AM
Actually back in early April, he was spotted in public in quite awhile, and he's sent out a letter on his fan website in December.
Here's a link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDZ2diqd1x0
:)
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Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 12, 2018 at 8:16 AM
Thanks for the link.
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comebackWoobin
June 13, 2018 at 5:51 PM
The pics were old and were actually taken when he went to Thailand for a fan meeting. The letter is real though. Where he told his fans that he's getting better and not to worry etc.
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Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 13, 2018 at 10:40 PM
I wish Soompi translated the letter. Anyways, thanks for the correct info. I wish him the best.
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13 Kean
June 12, 2018 at 12:01 AM
My favorite is not a top star, so it's impossible for him to get a famous writer/PD like her
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14 Zanna
June 12, 2018 at 12:09 AM
Can we have Lee Sunkyun again?
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MapleSilver
June 12, 2018 at 9:35 AM
Hahaha.. Do you have a death wish on him? Guy just finished the most intense of show (My Ajusshi) and going straight into filming the movie with Song Kang Ho. With this heavy melodrama premiering in January, he'll die for sure if he takes this. But yeah, I would love to see Lee Sun Kyun back in dramaland before too long.
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15 mary
June 12, 2018 at 12:46 AM
Why is it called chocolate when the show is about hospital food? They're not gonna treat the patients using sweets, right? It doesn't sound like a masochistic angsfest.
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Cloggie
June 12, 2018 at 1:22 AM
And the character is an Italian chef, not a pastry chef. I guess Pasta had already been taken as a title?
I think they should call it SpagBol
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mary
June 12, 2018 at 1:34 AM
LOL at SpagBol
But oops I misread. It's set in a hospice, not a hospital! I guess a chocolate pasta isn't too farfetched...
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16 Mimu
June 12, 2018 at 12:49 AM
I'm just so happy that @javabeans is back. Even though the post were decreasing I used to check Dramabeans everday. (I'm lurking around since 2011 I hardly comment :P ) It feels Dramabeans will be back to it's usual active site. Yayyyyy!!!
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17 Namu 🐧
June 12, 2018 at 1:35 AM
The fact that I watch all of those dramas that JB’s listed except uncontrollably fond... and Nice Guy is one of my favorite drama
so I kinda excited with this news but not really too 😅😅
I think I’ll wait until they announce the casting line-up
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18 Dongsaeng
June 12, 2018 at 2:08 AM
No melodrama for me please😳....Sorry bit no thanks
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19 neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
June 12, 2018 at 4:03 AM
And the only drama I finished is Nice Guy. Hiiii JB!
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20 tesshan
June 12, 2018 at 4:35 AM
I’m Sorry, I Love You and A Love to Kill were 2 of my very first dramas that made me cry buckets of tears. Hope this new project is at those levels. Uncontrollably Fond was not good at all for me.
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21 agoodheart
June 12, 2018 at 5:48 AM
I'm Sorry I Love You and Nice Guy are in my list of most favorite Korean dramas of all time. I'm in the minority of favoring Uncontrollably Fond (I actually like Suzy's Noh Eul) and not so fond of Thank You though. Will see who will get cast and decide whether to watch then. Don't want to watch anything that has the like of Park Shi-hoo or Lee Byung-hun.
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22 missjb
June 12, 2018 at 6:05 AM
And ALso, thank you javabeans for including Nice Guy Poster. Miss that drama so damn much.
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bong-soo
June 12, 2018 at 8:48 PM
Interesting. I recently put NICE GUY on my DramaFever watch list.
I am not familiar with this writer's work at all. I have yet to see any of Song Joong-ki's work. SJK as anti-hero sounds interesting. I looked at the Wiki entry for THE INNOCENT MAN/NICE GUY and it drew ratings thattoday's shows would die for. It may be part of my summer rerun viewing.
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Iamelise
June 12, 2018 at 9:01 PM
It’s totally worth watching. Moon Chae-won looks like an angel.
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missjb
June 12, 2018 at 9:02 PM
Back then KBS and broadcast channel in general is still number 1 ahead of cable channel. I don't know since when this trend become the opposite nowadays. One of the reason might be Almost all the talent behind camera off to cable channel.
Glad You plan to watch Nice Guy. It's might be not a masterpiece, but surely , it's become one of my most fav Lee Kyung Hee drama.
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23 Garrdan C
June 12, 2018 at 6:39 AM
Javabeans! Hello there!! ☺️
Very happy to see your posts...two back-to-back too! 🎉
I have not posted a comment in years...content to simply be a “quiet but fervent” supporter of Dramabeans...
Had to comment today to relay my elation to see you posting again.
Please continue...
You have been sorely missed!
Hugs and smiles...😊
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bong-soo
June 12, 2018 at 8:57 PM
Welcome back.
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24 Bellamafia
June 12, 2018 at 7:41 AM
When I read the title, I pronounced Chocolate like Korean (and I'm not korean!). I guess I watch too many kdramas.. lols.
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25 bbstl 🧹
June 12, 2018 at 7:52 AM
i still laugh when I think about So Ji Sub's successful disguise via pornstache in I'm Sorry I Love You. 🤦🏼♀️
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26 Thaisfrede
June 12, 2018 at 8:16 AM
I hated Nice Guy, but I loved UF.
As I always say, I think people were expecting one thing and came another completely different. But it was a good drama, and Woo-bin was perfect on.
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27 V
June 12, 2018 at 9:29 AM
Sounds like a pass for me. But I am happy to see the news back up and running :-)
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28 Ek Ladhki Thi
June 12, 2018 at 11:19 AM
This writer is both a masochist and a sadist, so no thanks.
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sweetsour
June 12, 2018 at 4:06 PM
Comment was deleted
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29 Edith yambao
June 12, 2018 at 2:24 PM
Please cast Moon Chae Won.
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30 sweetsour
June 12, 2018 at 4:05 PM
Comment was deleted
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31 Hwari
June 12, 2018 at 5:50 PM
I thought it will be a remake of a popular manhwa back then with the same title. I guess not.
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32 newgirl
June 12, 2018 at 8:40 PM
Whew! @javabeans Thank god you're back! That was a looooong drought! My kdrama interest was withering without you!
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33 Melos
June 13, 2018 at 7:41 AM
I loved Uncontrollably Fond and liked Nice Guy and Sorry, I Love You...but I'll wait first for reviews before watching it because the writer is known for sad endings, and I can't take another heartache in this lifetime after UF making me cry buckets every episodes.
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34 Islander north
June 13, 2018 at 9:55 AM
Let's see, although becoming a neurosurgeon requires 14 years of higher education, the lead will probably be about 24... yeah, that kills it for me.
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35 chousaurus
June 15, 2018 at 10:19 AM
ugh nice guy was SO GOOD! high expectations for this one
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36 Lilian Dalton
July 3, 2019 at 1:59 AM
Lee Kyung-hee is a really great writer. He has created many memorable scripts for many films. I would not mind if he could do my coursework. But with this can help on the writing service https://uk.papersowl.com/do-my-coursework Many UK students use this service to have more free time. The best professional writers work on this website. In college, all my classmates are constantly buying services here.
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