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[Drama chat] Name your dream drama pairing


Everyone has a favorite actor or two or three or twenty, but which pairing have you been dying to see onscreen? You read our responses in our recent Team Dramabeans staff AMA post — and now it’s your turn!

Name your dream drama pairing — and toss in your preferred genre while you’re at it!

 
Let the chatting begin!
 
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Park Bogum and IU in a slice of life drama where they are a married couple with a young family.

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I will remember to skip that show, regretfully 😄 imho Park Bo Gum is very very bland in slice of life. But I love IU in everything.

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Which Park Bo-gum dramas are slice of life? Did you find him bland in Reply 1988?

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Yes, very 😅 I only liked him when he was intensely animated, namely his hotel kiss scene. Apart from that, always bland.

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I know they're both of marriageable age, but I can't picture Park Bo-gum or IU with kids. Like how Kim Yoo-jung and Ahn Hyo-seop made unconvincing parents in Lovers of the Red Sky.

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That’s funny as they could be parents of 12 year olds at their age! If they were not trying to make money while they can I am sure they would have settled down but singers and actors have no down time while filming or touring and as they do both what to do? Such a shame as they may give their prime years to this fleeting lifestyle.

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I can picture IU with a kid because of the movie Broker, but the kid can't be too big (4 years tops?).
Bo Geom... that's another story.

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I just thought of another couple who would be great in a slice of life rom com like Jealousy incarnate or Be melodramatic which has a serious message alongside the humour. Jo Jungsuk and Jeon Mido with the child actor who played his son in Hospital playlist. It would be the show thirty nine could have been with a squad which could be friends or family members.

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I can’t believe I forgot my favourite dad figure Cheon Hojin and one of my favourite mum actor Kim Haesook. I would have them in a slice of life as grandparents who fostered a lot of children over the years and some of those children have had their own children and maintained contact so there is lots of family sticking together through tough times. With flash backs to the early years like my unfamiliar family so you see the foster children as teens and then as parents themselves.

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this already sounds like a good story!

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While I hope that someday IU does have kids this simply would not fit her image. But this is all about using our imagination so why not this pairing? Except I would bring back Yeo Jin-goo who was her costar in HOTEL DEL LUNA.

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After seeing her in My Mister I think she could do any role she put her mind to. I was picturing it being something like Kim Jiyoung Born 1982.

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IU and Yeo Jin-goo had no chemistry in Hotel del Luna.

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I love to see IU and Jingoo together again. In whatever genre. Perhaps sageuk? They were a joy to watch behind the scenes and in variety together. I believe with the right direction, writing and location, the team can bring out the best in both of them, and retry the chemistry. I thought the Hotel Del Luna team failed somewhat to bring out their chemistry onscreen. Love them in Hotel Del Luna nonetheless. I thought it was a successful pairing, albeit the absence of intense chemistry.

On another note, I love IU in any drama. I want her to be paired with a number of actors.

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I saw IU and Jingoo together for a couple of episodes of HOUSE ON WHEELS. They were the highlight of the entire season.

As written Jingoo's character in HOTEL DEL LUNA was little more than a cardboard cutout. That they delivered as much chemistry as they did was a remarkable triumph for both of them as actors and a tribute to the director. Blame the Hong Sisters for there not being more.

IU is so great as an actress that it is almost hard to imagine that she is even greater as a singer- but she is. In fact, she is our very favorite singer: We own 3 of her CDs. She is nothing short of extraordinary.

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Yes House on Wheels! I replayed their scenes so many times they were such a joy to watch. Yes I agree too on the flat character Jingoo had to portray in Hotel Del Luna. The second lead had a deeper character and story arc with IU, resulting in a second lead syndrome, even though I love IU and Jingoo together in that story.

I love IU too, as an actress (she made me cry so much in My Ahjussi and Broker), and as a musician. She is eloquent and relevant. I enjoy her interviews so much.

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Well I already mentioned how much I appreciated the idea of Kim Nam-gil and Kim Jae-wook together.

Genre could be something like The Pretender - KNG on the hunt for master of disguises KJW with all the attendant latent sexual tension!

Or maybe something like Hikaru No Go - two equally brilliant men constantly in opposition but also two parts of a whole.

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oh yes! another good story needing to be made with them in it for sure!

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Yoo Ah In and Jeon Yeo Been in something that will make us cry buckets.
Seo In Guk and Shin Hye Sun would also be awesome together in anything

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@ncrozier: Such a wonderful suggestion. Now I want so badly to see Shin Hyeseon and SIG acting together in a gem of a drama. On this scare, won’t it be fun to imagine that in a just but imaginary KD world, there is a harried functionary whose job is to come up with pairings who have chemistry and are not otherwise problematic. They always nail these but the powers that be occasionally or often don’t take their prescient advice and then the poor audience has to endure the abominations.

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Oooh that last paring is so good 🔥🔥🔥. I would love to see them in a drama together. Really any genre because they're such good actors ❤️❤️❤️

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Han Yeri and Chu Ja-hyun.
Chu Ja-hyun and Go Hyunjung.
Another Seo Hyun-Jin and Heo Jun-ho.
Ji Sung and Park Min-young.
Lee Jun-hyuk and Park Jin-joo in a comedy.
Kim Seo-hyung and Go Hyunjung and Kim Hyesoo.
Yoo Jun-sang and Oh Nara in a older generation rom-com.

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Shin Hye-sun and Lee Jun-hyuk in a comedy.

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Ji Sung and Park Min-young is an interesting choice. What made you think of it? I think has the potential to shake PMY out of her rom com persona and stretch her acting muscles.

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Park Min-young has the Midas touch with her costars, and create chemistry with even a plant. And Ji Sung kind of wows me in his romance aura in not romance themed dramas i.e The Devil's Judge and Adamas (the only two I've seen him in).
So having this two play out together is definitely going to elicit the best of chemistry, romance or not. Even though I want it to be a romance drama.

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Park Min Young and Gong Yu.
Park Min Young and Lee Min Ki.
My laptop would melt.

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"Park Min Young and Lee Min Ki.
My laptop would melt."

Amen! These are two of my very top favorites... would love to see their personalities together. Something would definitely explode... not my tv, hopefully, but there would definitely be some combustion.

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Park Minyoung and Lee Minki in an adult melo please (but not makjangy) ☺️

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Omg! Park Min Young and Lee Min Ki - Two master kissers!

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1. I love how Park Ji-eun (Crash Landing on You, My Love from the Star) and Kim Eun-sook (Descendants of the Sun, Secret Garden) exclusively pair superstars, so my dream pairings are
-Kim Tae-ri with Kim Soo-hyun, Yoo Ah-in, or Song Joong-ki
-Jun Ji-hyun with Gong Yoo, Hyun Bin, or Jo In-sung

2. I want all my favorite actors to be paired with actors their age and not actors ten years older, so I'll take any genre for
-Moon Ga-young with Lee Do-hyun or Lee Jae-wook

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Yes to Kim Tae-ri and Song Joong-ki! They have such a cute friendship offscreen and I'd love to see them together in something where they're the focus (as opposed to 'Space Sweepers').

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It's hard to imagine it without a story behind.

But I really liked Nam JiHyun pairing when she did the young counterpart in dramas and I would like to see her with the same actors but as adult leads :
NJH with Kim Soo-Hyun : I mean they could rewrite Will It Snow for Christmas for them and not the old one. I just remember their scenes and not the rest of the drama 😅
NJH with Kang Ha-Neul : They were super cute in Angel Eyes and I could totally imagine them with her being blind and him around her.

After watching the commentar of The King's Affection where Park Eun-Bin and Rowoon were talking about a second season in the modern world, it would be fun to see them in a rom-com.

In general, I like to be surprised by the actors. Sometimes, I don't think a pair will work but they do and sometimes it's the opposite. I don't think the difference of age is an issue in itself because it depends a lot on the actors.

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NJH and KHN were actually the only good thing about Angel Eyes. I loved the beginning, and really disliked the rest of that drama.

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Me too. It's the same for WISFC, I don't remember the rest of the story.

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Kim Nam-gil and Kim Ah-joong

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Live Up to Your Name Redux?

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Just another rom-com!

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Kim Nam-gil in anything!

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Right now, it's Ji Sung and Seo Ji-hye in a romance!!

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oh.. I have another one.. Gong Yoo and Bae Doona!!

after watching Silent Sea, I am hoping for a drama of them together! oh someone, please make this happen!

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Park Bogum and Kim Dami in a drama or movie about serial killer. Either one or the other as a morally ambiguous character. I want them to try a different role feom their previous.

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We should have a Drama Crossovers Drama Chat where you pair one character from one drama with another character from another drama, so Lee Min (Park Bo-gum) in I Remember You with Goo Ja-yoon (Kim Da-mi) in The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion.

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That would be awesome. But Lee Min need superpowers to survive in JaYoon's world.

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They both are good being a psycho killer too... all yes for dark theme 😁

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- Park Eun-bin and Gong Yoo in a epic periodic melodrama set from 1969 to 1989
- Nana and Lee Do-hyun in an action thriller with a modern-day fictional Bonnie and Clyde-like
- Song Joong-ki and Lee Jung-jae in an one epic adventure that set in the Philippines
- Hyun Bin and Bae Doona in a slasher horror that wanted the female lead to die at the finale
- Song Kang and Oh Nara in a romantic comedy about behind the scenes on what's happening in a fictional Kpop music countdown show
- Park Bo-gum and Lee Chae-young in a survival disaster drama about shipwreck
- Han So-hee and one of my fave veteran actors, Park Seun-geun in a caper comedy that set in Las Vegas

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As you didn't mention romance for any of these pairings besides Song Kang and Oh Na-ra, are they paired together? Or is Song Kang paired with a top K-pop idol and Oh Na-ra with the music show's PD?

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This could be along the lines of The Producers.

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I know Kim Seo-hyung will be playing Han Seok-kyu's cancer-stricken wife in an upcoming Watcha drama, and also the lead role in an adaptation of the Japanese novel Paper Moon in which she has a troubled affair with a younger man. But could someone please put her in a screwball comedy with an ahjusshi as sparky and sophisticated as her - Park Yong-woo, say, or Park Sung-geun - and give them lots of witty repartee and romantic chemistry.

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Oh, and Jung Jae-young and Chun Woo-hee as father and daughter in... well, anything really, as long as their physical resemblance is made good use of.

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Jung So-min and Junho in something combining comedy and angst with no lawyers. I'm terrible at thinking of plots, which is why I'm not a fiction writer.

Moon Ga-young and Lee Jae-wook in an intelligent romcom where no one wears a school uniform.

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‘ Moon Ga-young and Lee Jae-wook in an intelligent romcom where no one wears a school uniform.’ That sounds like the perfect tag line on the drama poster🤣

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Yes for MGY and LJW...my gummy smile couple 😍

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"Moon Ga-young and Lee Jae-wook in an intelligent romcom where no one wears a school uniform."

Yessss.

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@elinor: Huh! Re your first, ye ask and ye shall receive! Well, only a movie and I’m not sure is any good as haven’t managed to find it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRRCMzOvLQY

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@elinor: Trigger warning: Suicide aftermath scene in the clip I posted.

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Oh yeah! I haven't seen Homme Fatale and almost forgot it existed - it doesn't sound like my kind of thing (allergic to sageuks, and specifically to the headgear). It's on Viki, at least in the US. They were also both in Twenty but didn't have much interaction there. I want a full-length drama with lots of conflict and complexity where they have room to show their range, but also with plenty of humorous elements because they're both so awesome at comedy.

For some reason I thought of her as noticeably older but their age difference in real life is less than a year.

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@Elinor: I hear you but there is headgear and then there is “headgear”. The pulled up hair and forehead band does wonders for some like Juhno. Give these a chance! I don’t want you to be deprived of seeing him in a vividly coloured hambok with his hair pulled up.

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Lee Jongsuk and Kim Jiwon (should've happened years ago but failed and now i want this pairing)
Lee Jongsuk and Park Minyoung in a flirty and sexy romcom
Yeo Jingoo and Moon Gayoung in coming of age drama (and much better script!)
Park Hyungsik and Kim Taeri in anything

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Lee Jongsuk and Kang Sora
Lee Sangyi and Kang Hanna
Yoon Shiyoon and Park Boyoung

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You still remember...!
Lee Jung Suk and Kim Ji Won!
Yes all the High Kick 3 pairings that didn't happen!

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I want to be surprised. LOL
But if I have to pick, I say Kim Nam Gil and Kim So Yeon in Jdrama mystery romance remake, Ice World or something similar. LOL I remember they wanted to do the remake (a long time ago) but it did not work out.
Or Kim So yeon and Park Hee Soon in a drama this time to have plenty of screen time. It could be a thriller genre.
A female centric drama with Kim Hee Ae, Kim Seo-hyung and Ko Hyun-Jung (whatever genre except soap opera/crazy makjang).

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‘A female centric drama with Kim Hee Ae, Kim Seo-hyung and Ko Hyun-Jung (whatever genre except soap opera/crazy makjang).’ It sounds like it could be along the lines of Dear my friends without the shouting!

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I wanted to add a mix of strong young cast like Han Yeri and Chu Ja-hyun, and then Eom Ji-Won but that'd be an overload of needed sugar and a ticking bomb recipe for disaster. It takes a whole lot of work on the director to wax in powerhouses so they don't work at outshining the other instead of shining together.

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It is possible if there is a good script. I nominate writer Noh Hee Kyung.

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A good script with Our Blues's Noh Hee Kyung at the helm, whom I already thought of being the only one able pull such a feat ain't the problem, but a clumsy director wouldn't save a star studded casting. I'm sure Noh Hee Kyung would never allow it happen.

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I'd like to see the following again:
Park Bo Gum and Lee Sung Kyung - liked the short cameo in RoY
Song Joong Ki and Park Bo Young - they were adorable in The Werewolf Boy
Kim Min Jae and Kim So Hyun (fantasy romcom) - I loved their tandem in Goblin, even though they were the childhood counterparts!
Kim Min Jae and Moon Ga Young (romcom) - I felt robbed in Tempted, when they didn't have enough scenes together!

And some new couples:
Park Bo Gum and Kim Ji Won (thriller)- Maybe working together to solve cases
Kim Young Dae and Kim Yoo Jung - (best friends to lovers/slice of life)
Park Hyung Sik and Lee Se Young (star-crossed lovers in sageuk would be interesting)

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Adding Kang Ha Neul and Kim Ji Won (as a bickering couple) lol

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Kim seon-ho and Han So-hee in a melodrama
Kim Seon-ho and Han Ye-ri in a slice of life
Kim Seon-ho and Chu Ja-hyun in a Noona romance drama
Kim Seon-ho and Seo Hyun-jin in a feel good rom com
Kim Seon-ho and .. well it can be anyone. I just want him on my screen.

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I think I detect a pattern here…🤔😁

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What? Is there any pattern here? 🤔

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can put up about 10 thumbs up? really miss the guy and want him back again!

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Yes to this!!!

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Hmm, I wonder who your favourite actor is… you’re not being very obvious about it 🤣😂

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I’ll try to be more obvious next time! 🤩

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I can’t believe I missed mentioning this pairing! Kim Seon-Ho and UEE!

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I have SO MANY potential pairings that come up in my head, I don’t even know if I can list them all. Despite my wishes, they tend to skew towards romantic and heterosexual relationships instead of platonic or queer pairings because apparently, even in my day dreams, I cannot imagine a more queered, friendship-focused dramaland. Take from that what you will.

Lee Soo-hyuk + Kim Seul-gi: Idk, I randomly came up with this pairing one day on a fan wall and it hasn’t left my mind since. Him as a stern and serious writer, her as an up-and-coming comedienne. Hmmm, I need this in my life!

Lee Jun-hyuk + Han Ye-ri: I just think they’d be neat together.

Kim Nam-gil + Gong Hyo-jin: Maybe they could be reluctant detective partners paired up for an important case who slowly come to appreciate one another (and maybe kiss).

Gong Yoo + Seo Hyun-jin: One of those pair-ups I’m genuinely surprised hasn’t happened yet.

Junho + Esom: This one’s for us, @dncingemma.

Song Joong-ki + Yoo Ah-in: One of the platonic ones (unless dramaland gets very progressive very quickly), because those two were a delight together in Sungkyunkwan Scandal.

Kim Seo-hyung + Lee Young-ae: This one will NOT be platonic, dramaland homophobia be damned. I need these gorgeous ladies to be lovers. Preferably with some angsty yearning thrown in the mix.

Kim Hye-joon + Lee Joo-young: Another romantic pairing only.

Lee Jong-suk + Park Min-young: Feel weird this noona romance hasn’t happened yet. To switch it up a bit (for PMY’s sake because my god she needs it), let’s make it a sageuk! Maybe one set in Silla

Yoon Eun-hye + Gong Yoo OR Joo Ji-hoon: Just need this queen to be back.

Moon Ga-young + Woo Do-hwan OR Kim Min-jae: Tempted ruined all my hopes and dreams and I want it back.

Kwon Yul + Chu Ja-hyun: I NEED THIS!!!

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Wait, I have even MORE to write down now because all my ideas always come after I press send on a comment.

Kim Woo-bin + Kim Ji-won: Heirs is the worst drama of all time for many reasons, but specifically for teasing me this and not giving it.

Yeo Jin-goo + Kim Yoo-jung: I’ve waited 84 years for this reunion.

Kim Nam-gil + Go Hyun-jung: Must be in a sageuk. Would prefer not to be destroyed emotionally this time around.

Seo In-guk + Park So-dam: WITH A GOOD SCRIPT!! I cannot take another bad drama from either of them.

Uhm Tae-goo + Jeon Yeo-been: They had such good chemistry in Night in Paradise and he always talks about wanting to do a romcom in interviews so let’s make this happen.

Lee Joon-gi + Park Min-young: Another guy who desperately wants a romcom and never gets it. PMY is a no-brainer as a FL. This is overdue.

Wi Ha-joon + Shin Hye-sun: This is a weird one, I know. But they’re both gorgeous and splendid actors so my bored brain randomly thought of it one day.

Ryu Jun-yeol + Kim Tae-ri: Just imagine the excellence.

Shin Sung-rok + Jang Nara: Make it a romcom, cowards.

Lee Je-hoon + Han Ye-ri: Crime-thriller with a side of slow burn romance vibes here.

Lee Do-hyun + IU: This is a popular one and for good reason.

Lee Jae-wook + actress his own age: The impossible dream pairing.

Well, that’s it for now. I know I’ll get more ideas the moment I press send but I have to stop somewhere.

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Lee Jae-wook + actress his own age: The impossible dream pairing.

I'd take an LJW and Kim Hye-yoon reunion (they're only a year apart, they could play peers again) in a rivals-to-lovers rom-com. But yes, please, not another noona mismatch romance for him for a while.

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Lee Jae-wook and Kim Hye-yoon would be PERFECT. They had chemistry in Extraordinary You, even with Baek Kyung being an ass.

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Given how relatively rare the so-called noona pairings are in the western shows, I don’t mind at all seeing such pairings which work in the KDs. I like it in fact. The world by and large doesn’t see older women - even those who are attractive enough to be actors and remain so - as worthy since their fertility and hence desirability is on the wane or has waned. Let’s fly the flag for a different world.

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Oh, I don't mind noona relationships at all! Quite the reverse. I just don't want to see LJW typecast as a noona-killer, plus I disliked Go Ara's character and thought she was mismatched with him in the relatively small parts of Do Do I didn't fast-forward through. I'd prefer to see him (and any other actor I like, male or female) in a greater variety of roles.

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@elinor: I didn’t assume that. I replied to you as I enjoy reading your comments!😊

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@dncingemma: I don’t really mind noona romances either. In fact, it’s actually one of my favourite kdrama “tropes”. I think it’s fantastic that drama audiences are so eager and enthusiastic for stories of older women finding love. Totally disproves the sexist notions among western executives that such pairings would be unpopular and that audiences would not be interested in watching those stories.

That said, I dislike typecasting and I think certain young actors (i.e. Lee Jae-wook, Lee Do-hyun) are pretty much only getting cast alongside much older love interests. My issue is that some of these age-gaps sometimes gets a little…uncomfortable when you think about it. For example, as much as I enjoyed the Lee Jae-wook + Lee Da-hee romance in Search: WWW, I don’t particularly love the fact that he was around 20/21 when filming it. Yes, I know he was legally an adult so most people would probably think I’m pearl-clutching, but wouldn’t people feel a bit more uneasy if it were a 20 year old actress opposite a 30s-something actress? I like my noona romance guys to be YOUNGER, not barely-legal young. I’m not even going into the thorn of issues that was Melancholia, but suffice to say, Lee Do-hyun is also increasingly cast opposite older women (except Go Min-si). His next costar is Song Hye-gyo, so things are not changing. My other reason is that this somewhat deprives us from potentially seeing the many, many up-and-coming talented actresses who might’ve easily acted opposite these actors. After all, in the minds of casting directors and executives, why cast inexperienced/unknown fresh faces when a well-established face is right there? I just would like to see more younger, female talent breaking out into the dramaland scene.

So, those were my (very long) reasons. Your points are absolutely true and I definitely still agree with them. I just wanted to add in another perspective to the topic.

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@ladynightshade: First of all, so weird that I can’t reply directly to your last comment. It is such an irritating feature of this system.
You raise some really interesting points. The inequality of bargaining power at times manifests when there is an age disparity for sure as it also can signify income and status disparity regardless of gender. I have a limited KD viewing knowledge in comparison to you so my sample is small but with the exception of one drama, the few noona ones that I have seen haven’t had predatory women protagonists. Not to say that it is not conceivable.
Re LJW, he is such a widely acknowledged and potent talent that unless he is involved in scandals, his star will rise and rise so am not worried about him even if I acknowledge the point you made.

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@dncingemma: Commenting under a long comments thread is a b*tch. I never got why this is a thing. We should be able to directly reply to any specific comment we want.

You are right in that the vast majority of noona romances aren’t predatory and in fact, many have a more nuanced and complex understanding on issues like gender, power imbalance(s), inequality, etc. What does worry me a little, however, is that many of the ones I’ve seen that do feature predatory women or age-gaps that skew a little too close to the legal age limit, have been more recent releases. I can find many newer dramas with these problems than in older noona romances. The age differences are also increasing rapidly. I remember a time when the male leads in noona romances tended to mostly be in their mid/late 20s (depending on how old they went for the female protagonist). Now, most of the male leads are in their early/mid 20s. At that point, my brain just kind of starts wondering, “why are these accomplished, gorgeous women so deeply attracted to guys barely out of college?”. I hope you understand my concerns. It’s not that I dislike noona romances, I’m just wondering why so many recent noona romances have been actively romanticizing less-than-ethical relationships (i.e. Melancholia, Why Her?).

I also wholly believe that Lee Jae-wook is a star and that his fame and acclaim will only continue to rise. If only there were similarly-aged actresses I could say the same about…

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Well it was really great to get one this year with Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum in the movie 'The Lost City'. Top actresses having their own production companies definitely helps.

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I don't know. I love Kim Hye-Yoon but she's very shy during the romantic scenes. It worked in Extraordinary You because they were both cute and innocent teens. Yet she was the same age with Rowoon and she was very at ease with him but for the kiss scenes, she was super shy. In Royal Inspector and Joy, the romance wasn't the best part...

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@ladynightshade: Your wonderful and funny brain. What else is there to say?🥰

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Can't imagine Lee Jong Suk in a Silla Sageuk AT ALL, but you have some good pairings hahaha
Wi Ha-joon + Shin Hye-sun especially made me go "OOOH", not weird in the SLIGHTEST!

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This is one of the times I really wish we had an edit button. Because I absolutely do not see Lee Jong-suk in the Silla-era either and would’ve edited that part out. I only wrote it because I want to see Park Min-young in more sageuks and will voice that agenda at any given opportunity. I like the pairing but I agree it has to be contemporary.

Lee Joon-gi + Park Min-young in a Silla-era sageuk however….. I would personally sacrifice a child or two to the drama gods’ alter.

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*CRIES LAUGHING* Don't worry I made like three major typos that make me dumb as a fish down below also LMFAO.

I mean I did kind of figure it was an add on but it was unfortunately paired with LJS at the same time pfft
Now your SECOND pairing there on the other hand... as much as I haven't like PMY in anything since Healer... I could do that, I think... yes... mmhmm.

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I search for actress that born later than 1998 (to look upon pairing of LJW)...
All I found was KIM's Yoo Jung, So Hyun, Sae Ron (although they already have cameo in KSS),Jin Ji Hee, Kang Mina and Jo Soo Min.

Never watch Jo Soo Min in Penthouse, wondering how her acting level compared to other actress around her age. Totally agreed with LJW case (I need someone younger than him to be his counterpart 🤞🤞🤞).

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Not even younger, I just want someone his age for once. Heck, I’d even settle for a year or two older, just not someone with a whole decade over him.

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Both of my suggested actresses with LJW are 1-2 years older, because I can't think of anyone except Kim Sae-ron who's his age or younger. They must exist, right? And 100% to all of @ladynightshade 's points above about age gaps and especially about casting directors seeking safety with well-known names.

Her brief turn with him in Kiss Sixth Sense wasn't enough for me to judge that pairing one way or another.

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@Elinor FiyaShady @fydea listed actresses who are younger, but Shin Ye-eun is his age. Her character in Yumi’s Cells 2 was annoying, but I like her acting, and she's pretty and tall (168 cm).

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@elinor as @panshel said Kim Yoo Jung and Kim So Hyun are both '99 line (to LJW's '98) and also technically more famous than LJW - because they're both famous child actors (same with Sae Ron ('00)), and have been leading ladies for years (to fit Lady Nightshade's star power search.)
Personally I want the Kim So Hyun x Lee Jae Wook pairing here and mentioned it in my list below lol, because think they'd act the *hell* off each other and both have this... hmmm mature? demeanor that would work really well together? (I do like your MGY pairing though as well)

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There's also Cho Yi-hyun (1999) from 'All of Us Are Dead'!

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I like a lot of your pairings but I am most interested in Kim Woobin and Kim Ji Won. They had chemistry in the few episodes I saw them together in.

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"Junho + Esom: This one’s for us"

This one I can definitely support - I love her especially!

"Lee Jong-suk + Park Min-young: Feel weird this noona romance hasn’t happened yet. To switch it up a bit (for PMY’s sake because my god she needs it), let’s make it a sageuk! "

Sadly, this one seems impossible - there are no pantsuits in a sageuk :(

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Park Min-young has done sageuks before though. Once upon a time, she wasn’t quite as attached to her pantsuits.

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I always pictured Lee Soohyuk and Kim Seulgi in a fantasy romance, her as an effervescent and no-nonsense employer and him as her elusive supernatural employee.
Yoo Eunhye and Kim Jaewook too! He was a guest on her cooking show, and they showed they could also work as a romantic pair.

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Kim Nam Gil and Ha Ji Won in a sageuk. Has to be a sageuk.

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Kim Yoo Jung * Kim min jae
Kim Yoo Jung * Yeo Jin goo (reunion please)
Kim Yoo Jung * Hwang in yeop

😑

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I don’t want these to be romcom pairings - I’d just like to see these actors that I admire bounce off each other:

Chae Soo Bin and Park Seo Joon

Han Ye Ri and Gong Yoo

Jang Hyuk and Kim Hee Sun

Lee Jong Suk and Choi Won Young (I’d love them to have a Sunbae-Hoobae type relationship in something)

I also love ensemble dramas, but are these actors too big to appear in those?

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Lee Min Ki and Jo Boah. Anyone who has seen Shut Up: Flower boy band, will know what I am talking about *sobs*.

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I wanna see Jang Nara with Jang Hyuk or Shin Sung Rok again in an action romcom, where they play as married NIS agents characters.

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I would watch that!

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I think JNR's upcoming drama with Jang Hyuk is something like that.

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I didn't know they will have new a drama soon. It would be nice to see them reunited 😊

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-Kang Ki Young x Kim Seulg Gi - romcom (coworkers falling in love).
-Kang Ki Young x Lee El - melo (married couple. Or single parent that falls in love with his son's teacher?)
-Baek Jin Hee x Son Woo Hyun - romcom (friends to lovers)
-Moon Chae Won x Song Joon Ki - romcom (from friend of a friend to lovers)
-Go Ah Ra - Seo Kang Joon - romcom (celebrity and bodyguard)
-Bae Doo Na x Jo Seung Woo - melo (Secret Forest spin off. They're married and have kids).
-Yoon Eun Hye x Shin Min Ah x Kim Tae Hee - slice of life about women (something like Search WWW, Be Melodramatic or Work Later, Drink No)

Bonus (movie):
-Moon Chae Won x Han Hyo Joo - Park Chan Wook (a mix between Ahgassi and Sympathy for lady Vengance)

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Absolutely inspired choices here. I particularly love the two Kang Ki-young pairings. Can picture them both and I’m immediately sold!

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Why directors can't see it? The worst part is that it already happened technically.

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Ryu Hye-Young (Bora from 1988) and Kim Hwan-Hee (Hwi from When the Weather is Fine) as sisters in a Vincenzo-esque revenge drama.

The younger cast from Moon Embracing the Sun reunited as adults in a modern melo (seriously that line up of child actors was AMAZING.)

Kim Beom and Chae Soo-bin in a rom com.

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