News bites: January 14, 2025
by tccolb
Lee Jun-young, Jung Eun-ji
- KBS announced a new sports rom-com called 24-Hour Health Club (translated title), pairing personal trainer and gym nut Lee Jun-young (Dreaming of a Freaking Fairy Tale) with new gym member Jung Eun-ji (Miss Night and Day). In a story about their wellness journey and growth, the two will be building muscles and love later this year – all the while I reach for more cookies. [MBC]
- In the meantime, Eom Ji-won (The Trunk) is taking charge of KBS’s For Eagles Brothers in the latest poster, with soon-to-be new beau Ahn Jae-wook (Not Others) by her right hand. Following Iron Family next month with a February 1 premiere, the weekender also stars brothers-in-law: Choi Dae-chul (Love Your Enemy), Kim Dong-wan (No Work), Yoon Park (Cinderella at 2AM), and Lee Seok-ki. [Sports Donga]
- Ji Sung (Connection) is reportedly being courted to become MBC’s Judge Lee Han-young (translated title) in a new legal series featuring a timeslip. Based on a popular webnovel by the same title, our unfairly killed hero will be getting a do-over to right all the wrongs in his world when he’s unexpectedly sent back into his past. Production is still in the early stages. [JTBC]
- Lee Chae-min (Hierarchy) is in talks for tvN’s The Tyrant’s Chef, potentially stepping into the lead role after Park Sung-hoon’s (Squid Game 2) recent bow out. If Lee accepts, he’ll be acting opposite Yoon-ah (King the Land) in the historical fantasy and webnovel adaptation, with PD Jang Tae-yoo (Knight Flower) at the helm. [JTBC]
Nam Da-reum
- Nam Da-reum (The History of Us) confirmed casting for JTBC’s upcoming melo My Youth, taking on the teenage counterpart of our main character played by Song Joong-ki (Reborn Rich). Also headlined by Chun Woo-hee (The 8 Show), Lee Joo-myung (Like Flowers in Sand), and Seo Ji-hoon (My Lovely Liar), the series is expected to release in 2025. [MBC]
- SBS is gearing up for the crime-mystery Buried Hearts, kicking off promos with stills from the script reading stills as well as the first poster. Offering a dark revenge story to shake-up the Valentine mood, Park Hyung-shik’s (Doctor Slump) fierce stand-off against Heo Jun-ho (Bloodhounds) is slated to begin on February 14, following Love Scout in the weekend slot. [SBS (1), (2)]
RELATED POSTS
Tags: Ahn Jae-wook, Chun Woo-hee, Eom Ji-won, Heo Jun-ho, Ji Sung, Jun, Jung Eun-ji, Kim Dong-wan, Lee Chae-min, Lee Joo-myung, Nam Da-reum, news bites, Park Hyung-shik, Seo Ji-hoon, Song Joong-ki, Yoon Park, Yoon-ah
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 Soyesterday
January 14, 2025 at 11:12 PM
"Iron Family" was a step in the right direction for Weekenders, i am hoping "For Eagles Brothers" will build on that, the fact that the cast is lead by veteran actors, and a plot that sound family friendly is a good sign.
I doubt we will ever get classics like "Golden Life" "Once again", "Five Enough", "Father is strange" etc but we can definately get better than what weve gotten recently
Required fields are marked *
2 SP2022
January 14, 2025 at 11:40 PM
I'm looking forward to seeing Lee Jun-young in a romcom, I loved him in May I Help You.
Required fields are marked *
sonai
January 15, 2025 at 12:25 AM
I second this! Plus: I’ve only seen a fraction of episodes of MISS NIGHT AND DAY, but really enjoyed Jung Eun-ji’s performance. Seems like a good pairing! 👏🫰
Required fields are marked *
Isa is always time travelling
January 15, 2025 at 2:02 AM
I'm watching Jung Eun-ji for the first time in Reply 1997 (I think it was her first drama) and I like her!
Required fields are marked *
Midnight
January 15, 2025 at 3:15 AM
I LOVE Jung Eun Ji. She was perfect in the 3 shows I saw her: Reply. Sassy Go Go. Blind. She was also lovely in interviews I saw her in.
Required fields are marked *
Isa is always time travelling
January 15, 2025 at 3:41 AM
I knew her because she is one of the main characters in the famous drama Work Later, drink now (where that smiling man in my profile pic and she are a couple), but I have not watched that series yet. Too many drinking scenes, I guess.
Midnight
January 15, 2025 at 5:20 AM
I dropped WLDN after half an hour. I felt sick... 😶
SP2022
January 15, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Agreed, she was so great in Sassy go go!
And I'm also not a fan of lots of drinking scenes, the title of WLDN was almost enough to put me off giving it a go, I don't think I got through ep1...
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
January 15, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Thirded!! 😊 I'm looking forward to this one for sure.
Required fields are marked *
3 Bunny Sonaki
January 15, 2025 at 12:40 AM
I love watching Ji-sung but this drama is just another Again My Life.
Required fields are marked *
Gikata
January 15, 2025 at 1:32 AM
First they wasted my boy LJG on this self-insert into Marty Stu web-novel nonsense, and now they're gonna do the same to Ji Sung(((
Required fields are marked *
Bunny Sonaki
January 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM
🥹🥹🥹
Required fields are marked *
4 Kurama
January 15, 2025 at 12:55 AM
1) Not sure about this one... Korean people have a toxic relationship with health, it's never healthy.
2) What's on his head?
3) I would like Ji-sung to choose a normal drama with simple character. He always chooses extrem stories I drop.
4) Could they choose an older actor for this role? Someone with charisma, experience, depth... like Lee Soo-hyuk, Seo In-guk or less busy Kim Kyung-nam!
5) I thought Nam Da-reum was over with playing the young counterpart!
6) It looks promising.
Required fields are marked *
PYC
January 15, 2025 at 4:26 AM
3) Totally agreed - that's the reason I avoid Ji-sung's dramas. Connection is an exception that I watched - it's a great drama but not another extreme case, please.
Required fields are marked *
Bunny Sonaki
January 15, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Can't agree more with number 4. I had the same thought
Required fields are marked *
bong-soo
January 15, 2025 at 11:42 AM
No. 5. Ditto. This casting could be another indication of how difficult it is for experienced actors to find decent roles in kdramaland.
Required fields are marked *
LaurenSophie
January 15, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Totally agree with #1. All I could think about while reading was all the fat shaming under the guise of caring about people's health this show's going to feature. Hope I'm wrong because after "Impossible Heir" would love to see Jun in something good.
Required fields are marked *
5 Gikata
January 15, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Ji Sung can do better.
That's one cool poster for BURIED HEARTS. Argh, a month more to wait... Can't we have it NOW?
Required fields are marked *
6 The prolific Adesam
January 15, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Number 4 is a big NOPE for they should get a more matured actor for the role because I just don't picture him in that role
Required fields are marked *
7 Seon-ha
January 15, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Please do not cast Nam Da-reum only as a teen forever. Please do not cast Nam Da-reum ONLY as a teen forever. Please do NOT cast Nam Da-reum only as a teen forever.
Required fields are marked *
bong-soo
January 15, 2025 at 11:47 AM
Lol, sorry @gikata I didn’t see your comment before posting below. I find this casting of Nam Da-reum (now a military veteran for crying out loud) disappointing for him. I know he has to pay the rent but NDR definitely deserves more serious role offers.
Required fields are marked *
8 redfox
January 15, 2025 at 4:53 AM
always love Lee Jun-young on my screen. he is a mood-booster with positive and slightly quirky energy
Required fields are marked *
9 Unaspirated
January 15, 2025 at 5:09 AM
I didn’t realize Park Sung-hoon’s scandal was that extreme, what a bummer. No offense Lee Chae-min, but this just became a drama I’m far less interested in.
On the other hand, I’m counting down the days to Buried Hearts!
Required fields are marked *
Midnight
January 15, 2025 at 6:09 AM
What even was the scandal?? What has happened?
Required fields are marked *
December
January 15, 2025 at 6:46 AM
He accidentally posted the cover of a Squid Game themed Japanese AV on his instagram account, he took it down instantly but it was too late.
One side finds it disgusting since it's fetish porn, the other side finds it a laughable reason to get (temporarily?) cancelled for.
The fact that his agency gave two not necessarily convincing excuses (1. someone sent it to him in a DM and he pressed the wrong button, 2. he wanted to forward it to management because he found it problematic) doesn't help his case so it's really better for him to stay back for a while.
Too bad for this drama, he would have been perfect for the 'worst tyrant + best gourmet' role. It's logical that only a rookie actor would take this role on in such short notice but I can't see him fitting as an intimidating tyrant nor as a big foodie, so this did drop from my long list of 2025 dramas to watch out for.
Required fields are marked *
Midnight
January 15, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Oh! Thanks for the explanation.
Required fields are marked *
10 Midnight
January 15, 2025 at 5:24 AM
Lee Chae Min is sixteen years younger that Park Sung Hoon... What does this even mean... 😶
Required fields are marked *
11 HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
January 15, 2025 at 6:13 AM
1) I'm looking forward to this one! I think their energy will be chaotically complementary.
4) With the removal of Park Sung-hoon, this went from my "ABSOLUTELY" list to my "meh" list 😒
5) I thought he had graduated to ML roles 😅
6) Sooo how dark/violent will this be? If it's within my comfort zone, maybe I'll be spending the 14th with Park Hyung-sik 😂
Required fields are marked *
et865
January 15, 2025 at 12:01 PM
4. Same here. I'm not really a fan of Yoona but was looking forward to this because of PSH. And replacing him with someone 16 years younger makes no sense at all!
Required fields are marked *
12 Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
January 15, 2025 at 9:15 AM
1. Yes. I'm impressed from what I have seen of Lee Jun-young so far. So it's a yes.
2. Don't know, does not interest me.
3. Anything with Ji Sung is a yes for me for at least the first four episodes. Then I'll see.
4. Lee Chae-min is not someone I would watch for himself in anything, and to have him on a script like this sounds blasphemous.
5 I was very unimpressed with this young man in Wedding Impossible. So I don't know if I want to give it a try
6. I am the cheerleader. The football fan who only follows their sport hero. I am the BTS army in PHS version. I follow. The kind of game does not matter. Counting days and trying to find out how to watch this while travelling.
Required fields are marked *
Kurama
January 15, 2025 at 9:28 AM
5) Nam Da-reum wasn't in Wedding Impossible... It was Moon Sang-Min (who is 190cm tall when NDR is around 175).
Required fields are marked *
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
January 15, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Yes, you are right. I completely forgot the name.
Required fields are marked *
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
January 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
#5. I don't know what I was reading.
Nam Da-reum is someone to watch out for, so my very bad. But I am allergic to Song Joong Ki. So I don't know.
Required fields are marked *
Koalatown
January 16, 2025 at 5:29 PM
When will one of these other platforms (hopefully that I already belong to) let me know where I will be able to watch #6? Can’t wait!
Required fields are marked *
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
January 16, 2025 at 6:58 PM
It's def not on Netflix, otherwise they would have already promoted it multiple times. I'm hoping Viki.
Required fields are marked *
13 lillamy
January 15, 2025 at 10:48 AM
1: I do like both actors but I recallJung Eun-ji being very skittish in terms of skinship from her earlier drama days so I have a bad premonition in terms of the romance part.
4: I liked this until Park Sung-hoon got cancelled, I don't think this actor can carry the weight.
6: A darker Park Hyung-sik with THAT hair? I couldn't be more on board this.
Required fields are marked *
14 bong-soo
January 15, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Mixed bag here so let’s start with:
No. 4. tvn’s THE TYRANT’s CHEF. Oh how the mighty have fallen! tvN who has brought us great dramas such as PRISON PLAYBOOK (2017) (available on Netflix US until Jan. 31) and HOSPITAL PLAYLIST (2020, 2021) (Netflix) will present us with a foodie drama centered around the worst king according to my sageuk sage @kiara not only in Joseon history but Korean history. Hard pass. Sometimes good things come from bad and I am hoping Park Sung-hoon can eventually come back.
No. 5. MY YOUTH. I am a bit sad about this casting. The wonderful Nam Da-reum (now a military veteran) returns to kdramaland and has to pick up where he left by portraying the younger version of a male lead in a drama. NDR and Tang Jun Sang just recently showed us their acting chops in the first episode of the 2024 KBS DRAMA SPECIAL SEASON 15: THE HISTORY OF US. Don’t walk but run to Viki US and watch. I hope NDR will be getting real ML offers soon.
No. 6. SBS’s BURIED HEARTS. Frankly I haven’t paid too much attention to this because political centered dramas I generally avoid, HOWEVER:
A. SBS can do crime.
B. Park Hyung Sik and Heo Joon-ho as leads is enough of a draw to seriously consider this.
C. What a great picture of PHS and HJH ⬆️ with their fists raised!
Required fields are marked *
Midnight
January 15, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Even less palatable is NDR playing the teen counterpart of SJG who played his own teenage years only two years ago. That one didn't sit well either of course, but it makes the 22-year-old NDR back from the army suddenly being his teen version a lot weirder.
Required fields are marked *
15 zindigo
January 15, 2025 at 12:14 PM
1 -- So... the new working title appears to be Pump Up the Healthy Love, which may take the cake for absolute worse English title EVAH. I'll still be checking this out for LJY 😉
2 -- Have I finally shed my fear of weekenders after The Real Has Come? Idk, idk. It's tempting.
4 -- I read a RUMOR that Lee Joon Gi may have been offered this role. No idea what that means vis-a-vis the news about Lee Chae Min, as I've seen both names bandied about now. My guess is the leaked rumor mills are working overtime to get us to "look over there, not over here". So sad for Park Sung Hoon.
5 -- Joining the beanie calls for Nam Da Reum to be given some better roles now. I'll take him playing a high school student in a lead role before these younger version of other leads roles. But please, not that either, lol.
6 -- I'll be watching.
Required fields are marked *
zindigo
January 15, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I mean "worst" English title. Sheesh. How can I complain about English titling if I don't even mind my own spelling? 🙃
Required fields are marked *
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
January 15, 2025 at 12:48 PM
😂 No worries!!
Required fields are marked *
bong-soo
January 15, 2025 at 12:58 PM
I appreciate Nam Da-reum’s DB aunties and uncles (me) (maybe that is more cdramaland lol) expressing concern for their ‘nephew’.
Required fields are marked *
16 loveblossom🌸
January 16, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Ji Sung in a new drama! I'll give it a try despite it being a fantasy timeslip drama and judge/law one.
UGHHHH. I hope Nam Da Reum gets more lead roles soon instead of these teenage roles. /sighs/ I still have The History of Us on my to-watch list.
Required fields are marked *
17 🌸 Seeker 🌸
February 8, 2025 at 11:14 AM
1. I like gym as much as I liked high school, which is not at all. But then there is Lee Jun-young!! 😍 Ottokhaji. 🤷♀️😂
2. Seems like an engaging weekender.
3. Oppa in a timeslip. Well at least he won't timeslip back to high school, right.
4. Whoops!! I hope the mis-timed post didn't cost Park Sung-hoon the role. Tut, tut. Guess we will have to sit this one out now.
5. Mwoya, where are Nam Da-reum's older ML roles. Shouldn't he now have other people playing the younger version of his characters now that he is back from the military.
6. Oh ho!! February 14th. Hmm. And how come Park Hyung-sik look so perfect. 😍
And just check out that mile wide smile of Heo Jun-ho. 🤣
Required fields are marked *