City Hunter confirms its scriptwriter

63 February 16, 2011February 16, 2011

by javabeans

Funny how this drama’s star (hot property Lee Min-ho) was cast first, then the director brought on, and lastly the writer: City Hunter has brought onboard scriptwriter Hwang Eun-kyung…who might inspire more confidence had she not been ejected from the Daemul production last year.

Then again, perhaps Hwang wasn’t the sole problem there; Daemul had a long history of production trouble and her exit was followed by the PD’s departure as well. The episodes for which she was responsible (the first six) performed well in the ratings, kicking the series off to a strong start, but she did complain that she was frequently rewritten by the director, with whom she clashed about the direction in which to take the drama.

Still, she does have a successful drama under her belt: 2008’s hit medical show New Heart. She’ll be working on this series with PD Jin Hyuk, the director behind Brilliant Legacy and Prosecutor Princess. And with the City Hunter, she’s got both an advantage and a liability in its fame and fanbase. The Japanese manga and anime were both hits back in the day, and the lead character known for his distinctive personality — a top private detective with decidedly lecherous proclivities.

A source with the production company said, “We have high expectations of writer Hwang Eun-kyung, who has been recognized for her talent through various projects. We think that PD Jin Hyuk, actor Lee Min-ho, and writer Hwang Eun-kyung will have great synergy together.”

City Hunter is set for a May 25 premiere on SBS. The countdown to seeing adorkable Lee Min-ho transform into a sleazy perv begins…

Via OSEN

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Tags: City Hunter, Lee Min-ho

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1 Ybistop

February 16, 2011 at 1:22 PM

I can't wait! My baby!

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2 luraaa

February 16, 2011 at 1:31 PM

May? And the countdown begins....

I can't wait to see Lee Min Ho on my small screen again. I wonder who his "girlfriday" is. Ack, I just realized, what if Son Ye Jin was cast in this instead in Personal Taste? That would be so awesome, both of them sizzling with onscreen chemistry and sexiness.

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3 Fasiris Fay

February 16, 2011 at 1:45 PM

huh that is so weird, the order they're going in for casting.

but can't wait for some more LMH!!

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4 Birdie

February 16, 2011 at 1:53 PM

This drama has been in the casting and preparation for a long time. Hopefully they get a cool kickass female lead. In the Viki site , it has Kim So Eun rumoured to be the female lead. Hope it is not true,as she give out a demure gentle vibe.

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LaLa

February 16, 2011 at 10:41 PM

I agree that she does give that vibe off. But she's got potential, and she's still new, so we mightn't have seen all her capabilities yet. I, most definitely would be on board were she to be cast. But then i thought, i SO desperately want to see him in a drama with Lee Min Jung. They are simply perfect.

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zoe

February 16, 2011 at 10:48 PM

is this for real? Kim So Eun??? That will be sthg new and fresh and maybe they want a gentle female lead.

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LaLa

February 16, 2011 at 10:52 PM

Yes there have been rumours, and Birdie's right, she is on the Viikii site but it's unconfirmed. I could only think that their presentation at the KBS awards this year only added fuel to the fire, but that could've simply been a coincidence.

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joicy

February 17, 2011 at 1:14 AM

I think there is rumor that it's Park Min Young

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5 Bluefyre

February 16, 2011 at 2:05 PM

Oh...boy here we go... XD

Please let his co-star be brilliant? Please?

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6 Deeliteful

February 16, 2011 at 2:36 PM

yay! my baby!!!

Jb- I just wanted to say I have to go to dictionary.com at least once a week when reading your articles/recaps. I always feel like a total idiot. At least I'm expanding my vocabulary...

lecherous proclivities = pervert lol

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7 mars

February 16, 2011 at 2:42 PM

I want this on my screen already! Does anyone know if there are any casting rumors? I want some casting rumors.

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8 elle loves krama

February 16, 2011 at 2:49 PM

I simply can't wait for this drama! I try not to be crazy about younger actors, but LMH is definitely an exception to the rule. He is such a cutie! :D

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elle loves krama

February 16, 2011 at 3:14 PM

oh wait, he is 23! I don't feel guilty at all anymore- lol

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9 Sylvia

February 16, 2011 at 2:49 PM

You know, I'd totally love to see Park Shi-yeon as the heroine here.

I don't know the sources for this drama, but from the description of the hero, the heroine needs to be a strong, tough, independent and kickass woman who can hand the sleazy perv his balls in a bucket if he gets fresh. ;-)

Park Shi-yeon would SO nail that.

And those two would be damn beautiful together, too.

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blahblahblah

February 16, 2011 at 4:35 PM

Omgsh you're so right! If the lead girl is anything like PSH's character in Coffee House then I can totally picture it!

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Freedom

February 17, 2011 at 8:38 AM

How about Ha Jin-Won? I think she fits in that original City Hunter heroine character a lot especially with her current short hair. Too bad she might have other projects lined up already due to the success of Secret Garden. And then, I'm sure people would say she's too old for LMH as there are indeed a 8 years difference between the two. (Not saying HJW is old at all as I think she's actually red hot for a 31-year-old!) :)

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Freedom

February 17, 2011 at 8:46 AM

Oh, I just found out Park Shi-Yeon is also 31 years old too! How come they all look so young?!

Btw, since I'm a huge fan of the 'manhwa/anime' version of City Hunter when I was a kid, I seriously think Ha Jin-Won is the perfect fit for that heroine role especially seeing her performance in Secret Garden!

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rae

April 17, 2011 at 5:09 PM

me too~ I agree to the both of you. Ha Ji Won's acting in Secret Garden was so awesome and cool, she was even able to handle Kim Ju Won when the guy's memory went back to 21 y/o, and I think they will look very good together... LOL

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rae

April 17, 2011 at 5:11 PM

I mean, Ha Ji Won and Lee Min Ho will look good and hot together....

10 joy

February 16, 2011 at 2:49 PM

omq!!
may 25?!
its going to be the prefect birthday present.
yay!

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11 Heethi

February 16, 2011 at 2:50 PM

wow... it's okay!
so, now this is will become real, right???
I can't wait it...
may still three months again...
oh my God... he will look amazing...
i am sure about it...

I hope, City Hunter will be success and has a interesting story...
please God, make it become true... :) :) :)

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12 namja

February 16, 2011 at 3:41 PM

me to ....LMH...aja aja fighting

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13 Thatgirl

February 16, 2011 at 3:42 PM

xC "sleazy perv" Not really looking forward to that....
But its my Lee Min Ho so I'll try to over look that part as much as possible.
Hrrrrmmmmm They still have the love interest to cast.... I am kinda eager to see you'd it be.....

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Thatgirl

February 16, 2011 at 3:44 PM

I can't wait to find out!!!! I can barely wait for this Drama!!!! I need my Lee Min Ho feed NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Thatgirl

February 16, 2011 at 9:53 PM

Besides, from what I read somewhere, Lee Min Ho was cast because the author of the manga liked him, or something like that.

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14 mary

February 16, 2011 at 3:50 PM

"The countdown to seeing adorkable Lee Min-ho transform into a sleazy perv begins…"

LOL

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15 Ani

February 16, 2011 at 3:51 PM

Anyone else worried that the whites of his eyes look a little less "white"? It looks pinkish-red so I hope he's not: (1) tiring himself out, (2) a smoker, and (3) tiring himself out. Could be just this one occurrence with this picture, but I don't know. Now, I'm not quite familiar with City Hunter, but the character's "character" is pretty similar to Vash the Stampede from the awesome that is TRIGUN, who's a gunslinger who hides behind a facade of absolute pervism (that's not a word I'm guessing) and idiocy and downright cowardice. Oh man, the kid in me who used to absorb cartoons like a human sponge is just giddy about the thought of Lee Min Ho being Vash - although Min Ho would have to look a bit more manly while keeping his youthfulness to pull that off. So here's to hoping Lee Min Ho doesn't decide to pull out of City Hunter any time soon. Holy Cracker KNOCK ON WOOD!

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LMF

February 16, 2011 at 4:26 PM

This picture was taken at the Personal Taste presscon in March last year, when he was suffering from a very bad flu.

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Thatgirl

February 16, 2011 at 9:55 PM

I'm pretty sure he is a smoker.

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Ani

February 16, 2011 at 10:25 PM

*sigh* That would be sad if it is true. One of the things I've learned is that more than 50% of the Korean male population smokes (it was statistics I had to gather for a marketing project). X(

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Uca

February 17, 2011 at 1:25 AM

I think it is true that he is/was a smoker. I had seen a candid picture of him smoking.

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Thatgirl

February 17, 2011 at 9:23 AM

Yes, I've seen those photos too. xC *Sigh*

I wish everyday, every time the clock turns 11:11,
every first star I see, every crane I make,
I wished that if Lee Min Ho really does smoke,
I wish he would stop. xCCCC

16 pumpzz

February 16, 2011 at 3:59 PM

The team up seems greatt. Good drama + Lee Minho = awesomeness! Can't wait to see him! Will it be cool if the female lead is Kim Sun Ah? haha. I know they have a huge age gap but.. whatever.

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17 pumpzz

February 16, 2011 at 4:06 PM

Or Son Ye Jin again. That'd be perfect!

Gah! I miss the pumpkin couple! haha.

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18 Christy

February 16, 2011 at 4:07 PM

Fast forward to May 25!! I can't wait for my LMH fix!!

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19 LMF

February 16, 2011 at 4:27 PM

Can't wait for May debut! Tho I wish they could confirm their female lead soon!

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20 hpn88

February 16, 2011 at 4:27 PM

I just wiki-ed the manga and I sounds amazing as a story. Pretty sure the drama version will be tamer, but I think LMH can really sink his teeth into the character. Looking forward to this. It seems excruciatingly far away.

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21 big man

February 16, 2011 at 4:36 PM

With Runaway and Athena 's ratings going down, I hope City Hunter to be more creative and tell a more interesting story.

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22 Syrena

February 16, 2011 at 4:47 PM

I don't know. I'm not really a LMH follower but let's see.

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23 meenuby

February 16, 2011 at 5:02 PM

Yay May! Can't wait to see LMH. :)

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24 tinysunbl

February 16, 2011 at 6:01 PM

The first episode of Daemul was so over the top that I am weary at the new writer and City Hunter. Let's hope the writer left that ridiculous mess for a good reason (and not for causing it)

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25 Meiko

February 16, 2011 at 6:09 PM

Thanks jb,

Manga making into a drama the risk always a disaster from what I noticed lately , but the japanese - they are the exceptions !.

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26 Nikki

February 16, 2011 at 6:23 PM

I've only watched Lee Min Ho in Boys Before Flowers and he was a lot of things like HOT, passionate, mean, scary, tortured, possessive, and even funny, but not adorkable. Was he a nerd in Personal Taste? Lee Seung Gi is what I call adorkable.

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Thatgirl

February 16, 2011 at 10:01 PM

You didn't think Junpyo was adorkable? I thought he was plenty adorkable! He wasn't really adorkable at all in Personal Taste.

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anais

February 16, 2011 at 10:09 PM

Lee Min Ho the person, the actor, I believe, is a bit adorkable. From what I hear, in real life, he's not in the least bit like Gu Jun Pyo or even his Personal Taste character.

Sweet, a bit innocent, definitively more than a bit dorky in the adorkable way, a bit awkward, super wholesome, especially in his friendship with Jung Il Woo, etc. Just super all around guy whom your mother would love to meet and set you up with on a matseon.

But that's all what I've gathered of his public persona. So who knows.

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27 otchosais

February 16, 2011 at 7:01 PM

waahhh!!! LOVING LMH!!!

fighting!!! I am hoping this project will have a GREAT GREAT leading lady that fits LMH's hotness!!! <3

may 25, RIGHT NOW! :)

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28 AhjumaInJava

February 16, 2011 at 8:12 PM

Is there any chance of them pairing the incredibly yummy LMH with Yoon Eun Hye in this drama?

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azir

February 17, 2011 at 2:51 AM

I agree, I like eun Yoon Eun Hye and Lee Mihho! What an awesome pair will have

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azir

February 17, 2011 at 2:53 AM

sorry for the wrong spelling of their names "Yoon Eun Hye and Lee Minho"

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29 biniBningPunkista

February 16, 2011 at 8:15 PM

just can't imagine lee min ho as pervy. ghaaaa....
i wonder how this drama ends up?

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30 cingdoc

February 16, 2011 at 8:35 PM

*grinning while waiting....hehe...LMHMG(that's Lee Min Ho My God)....YUM
from a proud charter member of ICOMYM

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31 Riri_jkt

February 16, 2011 at 9:38 PM

Pls have go hye sun..please..please...hahaha..

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32 Riri_jkt

February 16, 2011 at 9:39 PM

City hunter, Pls have go hye sun..please..please...hahaha..

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Thatgirl

February 16, 2011 at 9:59 PM

Neeehhhh...... That girl is way too busy to be adding another drama into her schedule. She's already supposedly doing 2 Dramas, The Musical and Absolute Boyfriend (Taiwanese Version). Plus she is shooting trailers for a Film festival, and I hear she is gonna direct another film, I forgot what its called.

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33 lizzyd

February 16, 2011 at 10:52 PM

Park Min Young. I don't know how I feel about this. She's definitely not as pretty as he is, but at least she's age-appropriate. And with the right hair and makeup and clothes... it might be ok.

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Birdie

February 16, 2011 at 11:18 PM

I was hoping for someone older and more experienced like HJW. LMH seem to act better with older actresses(GHS, LMJ,SYJ). They seem to bring out the best from him. His earlier acting roles with younger actresses (before BOF) did not come out as well. Park Min Young is cute and pretty, but she had acted with him in I Am Sam. Didn't think they have onscreen chemistry then. Oh well, anything with LMH is worth watching.

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saraha

February 17, 2011 at 12:17 AM

There are rumors that it's Park Min Young... I wish they aren't true because that will be a major bummer for me despite the solid crew backing this one.

PMY's acting isn't polished yet. She's the same age as LMH, but his acting skill is more developed. I thought PMY was a weak link in Sungkyungkwan and owes much of the fan adoration to her character and not her acting.

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34 toopai

February 17, 2011 at 12:15 AM

Oohh City Hunter. Manga's such a hoot! So cheeky and irreverent. Loved it, and I was totally underage at the time. I want Ryo and Kaori to be older actually. But it'll be interesting to see how this team tries to pull Hojo Tsukasa's genius off.

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35 Jenny

February 17, 2011 at 12:37 AM

I still think the is way to young tp portray Ryo, I mean there is a huge amount of talented actors in their 30's.
And another question will he buff up and will Ryo be as lecherous in the drama as in the manga.
Park Min Young as Kaori, I just don't see it. Ha Ji Won could have been a good choice but I hope they pick an actress who will be as tough as Kaori in the manga.