News bites: February 6, 2024

19 February 6, 2024February 6, 2024

by tccolb

The first posters have dropped for Wavve’s High School Return of a Gangster (previously I, a Gangster, Became a High School Student), sending mob boss Lee Seo-jin (Behind Every Star) back to school in the body of bullied teenager Yoon Chan-young (Delivery Man). Along with Bong Jae-hyun (Twinkling Watermelon), Won Tae-min (Queenmaker), and Go Dong-ok (Strong Girl Nam-soon), the body-swap will be screening its first two episodes in South Korean theaters as a special event before its wider release later this year. [KBS]

Coupang Play kicked off promos as well with a shadowy first poster of our desperate heroine Lee Bo-young (Agency) in the upcoming mystery-suspense Hide. Also starring missing husband Lee Moo-saeng (Maestra – Strings of Truth), neighbor Lee Chung-ah (My Dearest), and a cryptic Lee Min-jae (Oh! Young-shim), the search for the truth begins on March 23 next month, when the series releases on both Coupang Play and JTBC. [News1]

In a busy month of March, ENA confirmed the air date for the upcoming Midnight Photo Studio (previously translated as Nighttime Photo Studio), which stars Joo-won (Stealer: The Treasure Keeper), Kwon Nara (Bulgasal: Immortal Souls), Yoo In-soo (Death’s Game), and Eum Moon-seok (Good Job). Bridging us between the mortal and spirit realms, the fantasy unfolds on March 11. [Osen]
KBS announced the supporting cast for the next weekender Beauty and the Devoted, lining up experienced mainstays Cha Hwa-yeon (Divorce Attorney Shin), Lee Il-hwa (Eve), and Yoon Yoo-sun (Flex x Cop) among other talents, in addition to a special cameo by Park Geun-hyung (The Good Detective 2). With Im Soo-hyang (Kokdu: Season of Deity) and Ji Hyun-woo (Young Lady and Gentleman) leading the lineup, the family drama launches in March. [Osen]

A dashing Kim Soo-hyun (One Ordinary Day) is suited and ready in the latest stills for tvN’s Queen of Tears, coming to our screens on the arm of wife and CEO Kim Ji-won (My Liberation Notes). Airing weekends following Captivating the King, the rom-com begins on March 9 with scripts by Park Ji-eun (Crash Landing on You) and co-directing by PD Jang Young-woo (Bulgasal – Immortal Souls) and PD Kim Hee-won (Soundtrack #2). [News1]
Over on MBN, a new poster has come out for Missing Crown Prince (previously The Crown Prince Has Disappeared), showcasing the fictional sageuk’s main cast: Suho (Behind Your Touch), Hong Ye-ji (Love Song for Illusion), Myung Se-bin (Doctor Cha), Kim Joo-hun (Castaway Diva), and Minkyu (Maestra – Strings of Truth). Also premiering on March 9, production is led by PD Kim Jin-man (Rebel – Thief Who Stole the People) and the Bossam – Steal the Fate writers, Kim Ji-soo and Park Chul. [Newsen]

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In an effort to be a Responsible Adult, I’ve realized I can honestly only take on two-ish live watches at once. Which means I’ll probably have to dive headfirst into Queen of Tears and hold off on Midnight Photo Studio until Park x Park is over. *sigh*

Can we talk about how great it is to see Kim Soo-hyun’s forehead in these shots? The only dramas I’ve seen him in (that weren’t cameos) he’s got his hair smushed all over it for the vast majority of time, but he looks SO GOOD with it pushed back! I understand this isn’t news, I’m just admiring (and grateful for the styling 😁).

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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️

February 6, 2024 at 10:00 PM

I love that the hair styling was so good that it needed to be commented on😊.

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

February 10, 2024 at 7:17 PM

It is Very Important News ... it's like he's a different man. 😀

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2 Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain

February 6, 2024 at 9:18 PM

Any drama based on providing goods and services to ghosts leaves me scratching my head, but Midnight Photo Studio's cast will probably get me to check it out anyway.

With Im Soo-hyang

Stop right there. That's a big NOPE.

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Unaspirated

February 7, 2024 at 5:09 AM

I'm so glad you share my distrust of any project with ISH. When I heard that this was a weekender I thought "Oh good. I didn't want to watch that anyway" but then felt kind of mean. Nice to have company hahaha!

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

February 10, 2024 at 7:25 PM

I share your distrust too ... but how can I say no to the Skunk. 🕺

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Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain

February 10, 2024 at 8:39 PM

No need to say no! My formatting was confusing but these are two different shows, thank goodness. (3) Midnight Photo Studio features uri Skunk 😍 and (4) some other thing I don't care about has some actor I have sworn never to watch again.

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🌸 Seeker 🌸

February 10, 2024 at 9:30 PM

Okay then!! 😅 Sorry, I didn't go up to read the article to clarify for myself.

3 panshel

February 6, 2024 at 9:24 PM

2. I don't have a clue what Hide is about, but I'll watch it for the cast.

5. Kim Soo-hyun looking like a CEO himself.

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4 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️

February 6, 2024 at 9:57 PM

High school return of a gangster has a lot of similarities with the film The dude in me. That film made me laugh so much so I hope they can pull it off as a drama.
I am eagerly awaiting Queen of tears. I hope the storyline is as good as the visuals.

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5 jerrykuvira

February 6, 2024 at 10:54 PM

I'm not ready to put up with Im Soo-hyang for 25 weeks. I barely survived 8.
Sidenote: her acting style really fits weekender requirements and execution.

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OldLawyer

February 8, 2024 at 6:17 PM

You are right about Im Soo-hyang fitting weekender requirements. This is not her first Weekender: She played a major secondary character in FIVE CHILDREN, which is one of the very best of that genre. She did an excellent job in that role which would probably be more memorable if she had not been in competition against Sung Hoon and Shin Hye-sun as The Golfer Couple. She also has a Daily under her belt as well.

So, given that this actually plays to her strengths, the real issue here is simply whether or not she is up to being the actual FL in a weekender. Here I would point out that the ML will be Ji Hyun-woo, who was the male lead in the last hit weekender YOUNG LADY AND GENTLEMAN. That weekender had an awful script but succeeded on the sheer strength of the acting by the two leads who somehow carried the show to success despite the script (excellent acting by the child actors also helped). I would suggest that if he can develop even half the chemistry with Im Soo-hyang that he had in that weekender you can expect a decent performance out of her.

Of greater concern to me is that KBS has turned to the same screenwriter as penned YOUNG LADY AND GENTLEMAN. Prayer to the Drama Gods: Please no Amnesia Arcs (thats right- we had two of them in that drama which is two too many). That is what has me nervous about the upcoming Weekender.

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6 Nessa (Bebe) 🌹

February 6, 2024 at 11:14 PM

“Captivating the King” only just started, but we’re already talking about the end of it coming up and the drama that will take over the timeslot 😵‍💫

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bbstl 🧹

February 7, 2024 at 9:59 AM

😆 we are greedy that way!

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7 Kurama

February 7, 2024 at 12:29 AM

2) I like the casting.
5) I'm so happy to see KSH back!
6) What is this poster? They made it like it was a serious sageuk when it's a comedic one...

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8 Kafiyah Bello

February 7, 2024 at 7:32 AM

2) Looks interesting
3) Love this cast
5) It is never a no for KSH, never, plus KJW. Absolute yes.

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9 ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

February 7, 2024 at 3:44 PM

1. Wavve and theatrical releases mean nothing to me if it doesn't have an international distributor.

2. Lee Moo-saeng has first dibs on every shady husband role in Korean television.

3. I just hope they don't waste Yoo In-soo in a thankless, irrelevant role like some dramas did.

4. "...with Im Soo-hyang... leading the lineup." PASS!

5. My goodness, he is handsome. I knew that, obviously - Kim Soo-hyun has long been a favourite of mine, but him in those suits and that hairstyle... *swoons*

6. Genuinely confused by what this sageuk is supposed to be. The casting (relatively inexperienced idol actor ML and unknown, newcomer FL) initially led me to think it was a more comedic fusion sageuk, but that PD + writers lineup and the darker aesthetic of the poster suggests otherwise. Having more sageuks like Rebel and Bossam would be great so I'm not really complaining, but can this cast really pull that off?

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jillian

February 7, 2024 at 5:58 PM

#1 same. I don't care about the drama if there is no intl distributor

#6 I hope they can pull it off. I hope it is more saguek-lite and hint of comedy like the trailer.

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ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae

February 7, 2024 at 6:40 PM

1. I adore all the fans who work hard to put out heavily detailed subtitles for international viewers for free, but they shouldn't have to do that in the first place! Korean media is so popular nowadays, why these productions don't invest in translations themselves (and pay their workers properly!!) is beyond me. Well, I kinda do, but that's a whole another conversation....

6. If they can pull it off, I'll shut my big mouth and give them all the flowers.

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