Go Ara romances… Kim Myung-min?!?
by javabeans
Go Ara has been cast as the female lead in a movie, which I was generally pleased to hear…until I saw who her co-stars are: Kim Myung-min and Ahn Sung-ki. Eeeeee. Oh man, is she gonna be crushed.
It’s not that she’s a bad actress (although, erm, she kind of is — she’s gorgeous and she can cry on cue, but she has no connection with the camera and therefore feels very flat), but that those two men are just about the two best actors in Korea today. (Or, at least, two of the best in a very select group of A-listers.) Ara’s a lightweight on her own terms, but against those two, she’ll all but flutter away.
The movie is titled Pacemaker and helmed by a director with no prior credits, Kim Dal-joong. It tells the story of a runner in his first and last time running a marathon. Ara plays a pole vaulter whose friendship with another athlete (Kim Myung-min) develops into a romance.
Criiiiiiinge. Anyone else shuddering at the idea? To reiterate, it’s not a slam on Ara herself (heck, I actually like her despite her wooden acting), but rather a case of bizarro casting. I mean, could you picture Vanessa Hudgens romancing Colin Firth? It’s weird, right?
Ara has acted in two films abroad (the Japanese-Mongolia collaboration The Blue Wolf and an Asian joint production Subaru), but this is her debut film role at home. Her last drama was the much-maligned Heading To the Ground, while Kim Myung-min’s last film was the mystery-comedy period movie Joseon’s Great Detective, his last drama Beethoven Virus, for which he won a Daesang (and started a nationwide sensation as Kang-mae, the brilliant but incredibly rude conductor with the rapid-fire insults). The film is produced by Dream Capture.
…maybe it’ll work???
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Via E Daily
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1 Leona
February 23, 2011 at 5:18 AM
she made me cringe in Who are you but there the main male lead wasn't too good either
aawwwwwwww
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birdscout
February 23, 2011 at 6:27 AM
whaddya mean?!?! Yoon Kye-sang was wonderful in "Who Are You?" :)
Hard to imagine Go Ara and Kim Myung-min acting together.
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pipit
February 23, 2011 at 4:03 PM
Confession:
I didn't even remember who she is when I saw her picture despite the fact that I love Who Are You.
Does it mean her acting was that bad that I couldn't even remember her pretty face? Probably. Because I always remember the faces of the leads from my favourite Dramas.
Her (the forgetable) and Kim Myung Min (the unforgettable)?
Master Kang, I LOVE YOU!!
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LL
February 23, 2011 at 7:42 AM
Agreed, she ruined Who Are You for me, although it was at least in part the way her character was written. I didn't buy the romance because of her character, which was pretty problematic. I couldn't for a second understand why the male lead would love her aside from the fact that she was beautiful, which just made him seem shallow to me despite all his personal growth.
(I thought Yoon Kye-Sang was still pretty good though.)
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rk
February 23, 2011 at 8:26 AM
Yes, Who Are You was so strong and interesting for me in the beginning but then it got worse, the story line went no where. Go Ara's character was the biggest problem for me: all she did was CRY (I know this is a common criticism of female characters in kdramas but not all are so frustrating). And ultimately, I couldn't watch it anymore because she had no back bone (but I think the best example of the spineless, crying, inconsistent character would have to be Jan Di from BBF. Her character really killed it for me even.
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LOL
February 23, 2011 at 6:14 PM
HAHA I got to agree with you on Jan Di character in BBF.. it was terrible, they were trying to make her act all cute and stuff and it just wasn't, her character in all was just freaking annoying.. what kept me on was the 4 hot eye candy and the love line between the best friend.
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momosa
February 23, 2011 at 4:25 PM
Yoon Kye Sang was carrying the show though the script was meh meh. I watched because of YKS, it was his comeback drama after national service (did you see the abs!!) and along the way, I just pulled my hair & wished & wished it was a better female lead!!
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a-a-a
February 23, 2011 at 10:44 AM
No way ;)!!! Are we talking about the same drama?? YKS was amazing in his role.. and as JB, although I like her despite acting not being her forte (yet), she was definitely an obvious weak(er) point precisely because YKS was so good! Anyhow, Who are you is still one of my favorite feel good dramas and one of the best body-soul-exchange drama yet.. :) But I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder...
On this movie: I will admit the casting is off... and hopefully beside KMM she will survive... on the flipside, YAY another movie with KMM! love him! And who knows... maybe he will draw out her acting chop with his awesomeness (or crush her further, I guess)..
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sleeplessinwgtn
February 23, 2011 at 12:14 PM
I actually really, really liked 'Who Are You'. It sends me to tears everytime I watch it. I'm a cry-baby :)
And Yoon Kye Sang was awesome there. That was my first drama starring YKS and that made me seek for his other older dramas.
I guess it's a case of to each his own.
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kay
February 23, 2011 at 1:55 PM
wahhhhhh? i thought YKS was amazing in that. when he cried, dang it, he was so awesome. didn't really care much for go ara's character but at least she was really pretty to look at(heh) and i enjoyed the fact that she pursued her love interest. one of my most favorite dramas of all time.
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fiona
February 23, 2011 at 6:26 PM
hell nawwww, YKS outshined everybody else in Who Are You :/ well, excluding the father, i guess...
Go Ah Ra was doing fine but nothing impressive IMO
and let's act like Heading to the ground never exists
i wish her luck for the movie, tho, i suppose she's gonna need it?
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MIA
February 24, 2011 at 12:27 AM
agree with leona. "who are you" was a snoozefest for me. tried to watch it, i really tried but by ep 5 i just couldn't stand the boring acting from all actors - go ara, yoon kye sang and the dad.
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Sooshi Meo
February 24, 2011 at 10:37 AM
...I love YKS. But what makes the drama are the actors/actresses but more importantly what makes an actor/actress is the drama and their management. If they take on crap scripts then they will have a crap image. And if it is a continual cycle of bad dramas then it is the actor/actress not the drama. So I try not to judge on the first drama of that actor/actress or writer.
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2 nynaeve
February 23, 2011 at 5:24 AM
I agree... This is really weird casting.
I think Go Ara's too young for Kim Myung-min.
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nynaeve
February 23, 2011 at 5:47 AM
Sorry for making this random, off-topic post here,
but I have a question for my Korean homework.
How do you translate the ff sentence in Korean:
Whose birthday is it on February 2?
I've tried google translator, but I think the translation is too literal. It says:
누구의 생일을 그것은 2월 2일에 인가?
Is this correct? T_T
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Dafné
February 23, 2011 at 9:41 AM
Not sure for that, but I believe "whose birthday" should be the subject, with particle 은/는
Maybe something like:
이월 이일에 누구 생일이에요?
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Dafné
February 23, 2011 at 9:42 AM
Sorry, hadn't seen the answers below... ^^
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Laeah
February 23, 2011 at 6:58 PM
2월 2일은 누구 생일이에요? Is how I'd word it.
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nynaeve
February 23, 2011 at 5:55 AM
Sorry for making this random, off-topic post here,
but I have a question for my Korean homework.
How do you translate the ff sentence in Korean:
Whose birthday is it on February 2?
I've tried google translator, but I think the translation is too literal. It says:
누구의 생일을 그것은 2월 2일에 인가?
Is this correct? T_T
Or will this suffice?
2월 2일에 누구의 생일?
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nynaeve
February 23, 2011 at 5:56 AM
Sorry for making this random, off-topic post here,
but I have a question for my Korean homework.
How do you translate the ff sentence in Korean:
Whose birthday is it on February 2?
I've tried google translator, but I think the translation is too literal. It says:
누구의 생일을 그것은 2월 2일에 인가?
Is this correct? T_T
Or will this suffice?
2월 2일에 누구의 생일이에요?
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hans
February 23, 2011 at 9:23 AM
2월 2일에 누구의 생일이예요?
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nynaeve
February 24, 2011 at 12:52 AM
Thank you so much! I'm so sorry for the multiple posts, my internet connection was quite shitty last night.
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Carina
February 23, 2011 at 9:24 AM
2월 2일에 누구의 생일이에요?
Should be correct.
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3 stars4u
February 23, 2011 at 5:25 AM
Now that's just not right....
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4 pearberrie
February 23, 2011 at 5:31 AM
wow. 2 points for sm town power.
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danna
February 23, 2011 at 10:12 AM
word
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soysauce
February 23, 2011 at 12:07 PM
trufax right here.
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5 michi
February 23, 2011 at 5:36 AM
She's too young for our KMM!
But it will be a good experience for her!
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anais
February 23, 2011 at 8:00 AM
The age difference...!!! Wowza. 18 years!!!!
I realize Korean dramas do push the age difference of May-December romances, but really, this is more like March-December. She's barely legal.
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6 tokai
February 23, 2011 at 5:42 AM
Sometimes weak actors/actresses start to shine when paired with strong actors/actresses. Wouldn't be the first time. You're always as strong as your opponent (or co-actor/actress in this case). In worst case the strong actors/actresses make a poor performance. ;)
Anyway... is this some remake of the Japanese movie "Ekiden"? AFAIR it had a similar story line.
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saraha
February 23, 2011 at 6:38 AM
Can you give an example?
I think I've seen more works where the weak actors were crushed on-screen with the acting heavyweights, so I would like to know a case/cases where the casting worked.
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ar
February 23, 2011 at 6:54 PM
not the best example, but in SKKS, I always thought Micky Yoochun did a better job acting when opposite Kim Gab Soo (who played his father) than in any of his other scenes with other people.
Not that it means Go Ara will definitely hold her own against KMM, but I think she will push to outdo her previous work in order to try to match up to KMM's level. It's going to hard since she hasn't done any acting this past year and her last drama was with Yunho.
but yeah casting is weird and not because of the Go Ara factor and more because of the age.
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Annie
February 23, 2011 at 9:32 PM
I don't really know about the "shining" part but weaker actors definitely gain a lot of insight and experience when paired with stronger, more experienced actors. Take Jang Geun Suk's terrible acting in Hong Gil Dong, and yet he's improved tremendously since then because he's acted with Kang Ji Hwan and Kim Myung Min.
Although she's not up to par with KMM, I find Go Ara to be a really likable actress. It does help that she's very pleasant on the eyes. Hopefully she takes this opportunity to improve her acting.
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7 vic
February 23, 2011 at 6:41 AM
kim myung min is a genius but choi min shik is definetely better
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8 Sere
February 23, 2011 at 7:04 AM
My first reaction after the initial bafflement and surprise, was "OMG LOL" Er, she's soooo going to crash and burn.
I don't think I'll ever buy them as a believable pairing and that has nothing to do with the age gap.
In conclusion: weird cast is weird.
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9 orbiter
February 23, 2011 at 7:05 AM
He's born in the early 70s (1972) and she's a 90-er (1990). And I thought the Uhm-Ki-Joon Moon Geun Young pairing was a stretch.
Shudder.
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yeah
February 23, 2011 at 8:00 AM
I was thinking the same thing.
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Annie
February 23, 2011 at 9:35 PM
Moon Geun Young costarred with Park Shin Yang, who happens to be a 1968er, but it worked... at least for that story line.
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10 ditdut
February 23, 2011 at 7:24 AM
Well, Lee Hana could hold her own against Ahn Sungki last year, so maybe miracles will happen with Go Ahra?
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11 giddygirl108
February 23, 2011 at 7:29 AM
I agree...that is really weird casting...
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12 Alvina
February 23, 2011 at 7:56 AM
her eyes, her eyes... they're kind of haunting; like a doll. That said, ugh! Not even "check out" worthy because the storyline doesnt appeal. -__-
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13 queencircles
February 23, 2011 at 8:20 AM
She did cry a little (way) too much in who are you. But I like her regardless.
... maybe it'll work? Maybe having all these awesome actors, she'll pick up some stuff and become better for it. Who knows.
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14 crazedlu
February 23, 2011 at 8:46 AM
bleh. hahahahhahah. she's make this a comedy for sure.
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crazedlu
February 23, 2011 at 8:47 AM
i meant *she'll.
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15 bluebunny
February 23, 2011 at 9:12 AM
Couldn't they have gotten a older actress-like in the late 20's??!!
I wonder how she got the role in a movie with good actors???
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nell123
February 23, 2011 at 10:28 AM
Her agency is SM Entertainment. They are notorious for pushing their idol stars where they don't belong.
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16 sandy80
February 23, 2011 at 9:12 AM
you know casting in kland sucks big time in movies and dramas they dont pic someone cause they are right for the project just cause they are young trendy pretty or popular at the moment
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keyt
February 23, 2011 at 10:25 PM
...and they call it marketability. ㅎㅎㅎ
I read somewhere that SKKS director considered Park Yoochun because of his appeal to the market, and he was right. Athough, PYC did not disappoint with his acting, too.
Go Ara, where to begin... Her projects/characters were either forgettable because she's not that good or unforgettable because of the mere fact that it's too bad. Yikes.
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17 danna
February 23, 2011 at 9:15 AM
I know that she's not a very strong actress but i've always liked her...i still think this a wierd pair
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18 okitokki
February 23, 2011 at 9:44 AM
i like ara but who cast this movie? do they hate her?
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19 Ani
February 23, 2011 at 10:11 AM
Hudgens is going to ruin Beastly for me. Argh. But I need to watch Kim Myung-min's detective movie soon or else it'll just sit in my head and never be acted upon.... Procrastination. Tsk.
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Alvina
February 23, 2011 at 11:08 AM
haha, Mary-Kate Olsen AND Vanessa are going to ruin Beastly for me.
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Ani
February 23, 2011 at 11:38 AM
I think Mary Kate will be alright because: (1) She has years of experience that trumps Hudgens, (2) She's not the main character, and (3) Mary Kate acts kindof off her whacker in the movie, so somehow it fits her current image. XD
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20 jfc
February 23, 2011 at 10:43 AM
I wish it wasn't a romantic pairing. I don't know much about her acting but that photo is absolutely stunning. She's still young and can improve. Go Go Ara!
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21 Artemis
February 23, 2011 at 10:59 AM
Huh?
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22 win
February 23, 2011 at 11:11 AM
I like her...I think she's really pretty. And I LOVE me some YKS as well as I liking the storyline of Who Are You but I just couldn't get past their age difference in that drama. She was a new HS grad and he was suppose to be like 30 or early 30's! I just couldn't get my head around it to find their pairing romantic or heartwarming. It was just icky!
So I'm definitely NOT going to get this movie's pairing either. I agree...that's just...weird!
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23 win
February 23, 2011 at 11:17 AM
I would love to see her paired up with someone closer to her age like Choi Siwon from Super Junior or Song Joong Ki. Ooh...that would be a cute drama! LOL
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24 Barbara Starks
February 23, 2011 at 12:03 PM
She terrible actress, all her drama especially "Heading To The Ground is vindication of that. Model need pretty faces actress need talent.
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25 kellie
February 23, 2011 at 12:51 PM
I'm wondering if actors of KMM's stature in Korea have any say about casting when they agree to do a project? You'd think an actor with his credentials wouldn't sign on to a movie unless he was OK with the other cast members.
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26 KombatPiggie
February 23, 2011 at 1:09 PM
omg COLIN FIRTH!!! are you as in love with him as i am?
The age difference is a bit weird. Wonder what the chemistry would be like on screen. Hope it won't look to pedophilia - ish.
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momosa
February 23, 2011 at 4:18 PM
I am so in love with Colin Firth, just can't get enough of him. In real life, I think he has no air at all. Did you read the part where he went to see his in-laws for the first time. He quoted that they almost fell off their chair when his wife-to-be told them he's most admired in Britain. That's enough to make everyone like him!
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KombatPiggie
February 23, 2011 at 8:42 PM
I didn't read about the in-law meeting. where can i find the article.
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27 Keylye
February 23, 2011 at 1:13 PM
*Sigh* I like her, I really do, but this whole project sounds off to me.
That might be because my favorite Kim Myung Min pairing is with Nam Sang Mi in Bad Family. Sooooooo cute.
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cha
February 25, 2011 at 5:11 AM
I also thought it'd be great if it's Nam Sang Mi.. *sigh*
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28 kay
February 23, 2011 at 1:58 PM
cannot picture this at all. but we'll see.
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29 dae hae
February 23, 2011 at 2:01 PM
although it is a movie, Go Ara was miscast here. She is
a beauty and she does not blend in with the lead actor.
It should be a more of a father and daughter relationship and not romantic relationship. It's a sore to
the eye of the viewers. Let's hope that her next project is rom/com storyline with the lead being more closer to her age and better looking. Waiting for your next series
in the small screen. really disappointed.
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30 Bee
February 23, 2011 at 3:03 PM
Maybe it's worth the wait to find out a bit more about the story line before throwing stones. Just sayin' ;)
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31 Carinne
February 23, 2011 at 3:22 PM
This pic of her resembles Kim Hyun-joong for some reason.
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32 lovepark
February 23, 2011 at 5:29 PM
Go Ara with Kim Myung-min and Ahn Sung-ki sounds dreadful... but I have faith that Kim Myung-min will make this at least watchable, and Ahn Sung-ki will hold his fort down, no problem. Though I'm sure the actors will dominant over Ara, it's a good experience for her in order to get better, and possibly Kim's and Ahn's brilliant performances will help her get more into character and the mood on set. Good luck Go Ara, you'll need it.
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33 Lilly
February 23, 2011 at 5:58 PM
You are right.
Really bad casting can ruin anything.
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34 MIA
February 23, 2011 at 9:39 PM
"Go Ara romances Kim Myung Min"
Yuck! is all I can say....
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35 Saa
February 23, 2011 at 10:24 PM
Idk... Go Ara's the type that makes me think, "Dang, why doesn't she just model..." LOL.
Then again, who's to start judging her in her new series before the drama actually starts going? I mean, if I've ever learned anything in my years of drama watching, it's to never look down on a drama based on its cast (AHEM, Dream High AHEM).
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36 April
February 23, 2011 at 10:47 PM
sm's a good publicist and manipulator. in the future, there will probably a news article that states that go ara is that good enough to be in a movie with kim myung min etcetera
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37 Maya
February 24, 2011 at 4:38 AM
I can't remember her even in a single scene of a movie or CF, she is georgeous, but mediocre acting, eye candy only...and SM is pretty manipulative, SM can change trend just in a one phone call...
It's pretty weird to see the chosen actors and actress...considering the characters and the director, they should find other strong acting actress than just a pretty face, and about what SM is going to say later? well, the audinces r the judges...
Geun Jandi is the worst character ever, to old, too white, squeling like a strangled duck, trying to act tomboy and tough...yaikss..
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38 Steph
February 24, 2011 at 5:37 AM
She is Gor-ge-ous. So beautiful! Like an angel and better looking than Kim Tae hee
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39 pohonphee
February 24, 2011 at 6:12 AM
Kim Myung-min opppa!! (yess!! I finally can say it) I want you back to k drama land soon...
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40 cathy
February 24, 2011 at 7:37 AM
may be her role not important , as background to shine two talented actors .
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41 Fafa
February 24, 2011 at 1:58 PM
What the what now? How can such an actress go with Kim Myung Min? Absolutely impossible. The movie might turn out well enough but it will be because of KMM.
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42 Christy
February 24, 2011 at 7:02 PM
She's absolutely stunning in that photo. Those sad, big eyes are so pretty!
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43 Tha
February 24, 2011 at 9:54 PM
YKS was FANTASTIC in Who are you?!!!!! And if I could look anything like Go Ara....who cares if I can act or not..She's one of the most beatiful korean actresses ever!!!
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sam
February 25, 2011 at 6:54 AM
agree She’s one of the most beatiful korean but actress!*meh*..she is very beatiful but better for her just follow modeling her act is so weak!
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44 Liliana Lopez Gutierrez
February 25, 2011 at 6:44 PM
I actually can imagine Vanessa Hudgens trying to romance Collin Firth. lol Maybe she can do it!
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45 indierocklover
February 23, 2012 at 1:12 AM
man, i`m shocked by most of these comment. ARE YOU KIDDING ME, shocked is an understatement!! Her acting in Who Are you was awesome! She's talented. And working with legendary kim myung min makes it more interesting. PS: he's hot, dunno wut u seeing. Only thing is age.
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