Han Ye-seul returns to TV as a spy
by javabeans
Han Ye-seul is back with a new drama, and she’ll play the title role in Myung-wol the Spy, a new KBS series that comes from the director of sageuk dramas Sungkyunkwan Scandal and Iron Empress.
Han will play the heroine, Han Myung-wol, an elite North Korean spy who falls in love with a popular Hallyu actor. (What is it with actor heroes these days? Also: spy dramas?) So…is this Shiri meets Best Love? Despite possessing “perfect skills” as a spy, her one quirk is her curiosity, which tends to get the better of her.
The drama is described as a bright, sweet love story, so I’m guessing it’s a trendy rom-com and not, say, an action-packed blockbuster a la IRIS & Co. That’s a good thing, because Han is one of those actresses who has been dogged by acting criticism her whole career, often for good reason (see: Tazza, Nine-Tailed Fox), but she tends to do better in comedies like Fantasy Couple (where she got to be delightfully bitchy) and Miss Gold Digger (where she was shallow and manipulative). Then again, it’s probably the romance melodrama Will It Snow For Christmas that made me like her better, even if her performance was uneven in it; despite the flaws, her character was likable and you rooted for her and Go Soo to overcome their substantial obstacles.
Her male lead has yet to be cast, but you can bet they’ll do their best to secure an adequately big star to play their big star. That oughta add an extra element of meta fun. I’m not quite sure how the drama will reconcile the two very differing worlds of North Korean espionage and South Korean showbiz, but it could be entertaining in a Level 7 Civil Servant sort of way — brainless but frothy fun.
Myung-wol the Spy is set for a July premiere, airing as a Monday-Tuesday drama after Baby-Faced Beauty.
Via TV Report
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1 pipit
April 14, 2011 at 5:30 AM
I love her since Fantasy Couple. Looking forward to see this one particularly if the big Hallyu Star she'll fall head over heel with is either Kang Ji Hwan, Oh Ji Ho, Kim Rae Won, Song Seung Hun, Rain, or Jo Hyun Jae. Or Kim Hyung Min aka Master Kang!
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YY
April 14, 2011 at 5:34 AM
Geez, pipit, you beat me to it....I want her to fall in love with Han Kanggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg!
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pipit
April 14, 2011 at 7:45 AM
I'm on your side YY. As long as the male lead has 'Kang' in their names e.g. Jo Hankang Yunjae, Kang Ji Hwan, Master Kang Kim Hyunmin.
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mellissa
April 14, 2011 at 9:08 AM
you 2 beat me to it.... KANG ahhhhhhhhh!!!
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jomo143
April 14, 2011 at 10:48 AM
This role sounds perfect for THE HAND TOWEL.
I am not biased. I have other names in mind:
Song Seung Hun Song Seung Hun
Song Seung Hun Song Seung Hun
Song Seung Hun Song Seung Hun
Song Seung Hun Song Seung Hun
Song Seung Hun Song Seung Hun
Song Seung Hun Song Seung Hun
Song Seung Hun Song Seung Hun
(And I loved her and Go Soo in WISFC. I voted them the OTP who deserved to be together in a melodrama. The shizat they put that couple through...)
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pipit
April 14, 2011 at 5:07 PM
Okay, now that Jomo has brought out our beloved man as another contender I feel oblige to give my support. Yes for the lovely Mr. Hand Towel or the devinely lovely Song Seung Hun.
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Beng
April 14, 2011 at 7:23 AM
Pipit, i'm just curious. who is Kim hyung min and what drama was he in? thanks thanks!
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pipit
April 14, 2011 at 7:36 AM
He plays as the male lead Maestro Kang in Bethoveen Virus. His perforfance blew me away. I think he's one of the best actors Korea ever has.
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danna
April 14, 2011 at 8:59 AM
^^Kim. Myung Min
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Dara
April 14, 2011 at 10:31 PM
^^ditto
Dara
April 14, 2011 at 10:31 PM
^^ditto
He was funny in Fake Family.
2 YY
April 14, 2011 at 5:31 AM
Han Kanggggggg! oops I mean Han Ye seul!!!!! I love her!
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mellissa
April 14, 2011 at 9:06 AM
KANG lovers here! Yes, I can see KANG ahhhhh in that role....
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3 swui
April 14, 2011 at 5:58 AM
I'm so-so over her in Fantasy Couple...didn't watch her other dramas...but the plot sounds ok..hope she does well...buut unless I'm uber excited abt the male lead..prolly will give this a miss
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4 E
April 14, 2011 at 6:12 AM
This girl RAN Fantasy Couple. Loved her- the problem is that I expected her to be just as dominating in her subsequent roles, so was disappointed with her performance in WISFC. She was just so... meh.
But this role sounds like it may give her some latitude to teeter between softy/cold hard BI, so I'll keep my feelers up.
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glencorajane
April 14, 2011 at 8:30 AM
I thought she was ok in WISFC. It IS a very difficult role.
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5 ck1Oz
April 14, 2011 at 6:54 AM
Jae Hee?
Or if OMG they get Lee Dong Wook who is due out in June...I would literally scream with happiness.
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mary
April 14, 2011 at 7:09 AM
OMG I second Jae Hee or Lee Dong Wook!!!
*dies of happiness*
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Gork
April 14, 2011 at 8:42 AM
i third this!! i think we should start a petition to get either one of them into the role ^_^
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Cam
April 14, 2011 at 8:58 AM
YESSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I WANT TO SEE JAE HEE AND LEE DONG WOOK BACK SOOO BAAADDDLLLYYY!!!!
Oooh, I think I prefer.....JAE HEE - because I hadn't seen him for a long time! =D =D =D
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danna
April 14, 2011 at 9:05 AM
Jae Hee!...he's been out for almost a year now...if he doesnt pick a project soon., he's getting disowned from my favs club
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girlatsea
April 14, 2011 at 11:57 AM
OMG, Lee Dong Wook?? I would DIE.
*crosses fingers*
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6 chewywon
April 14, 2011 at 7:24 AM
Is the director the same guy as the director from Cinderella Sister?
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7 Ace
April 14, 2011 at 7:33 AM
Oh man! The dramas to watch just keep on piling up....when it rains...
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Arhazivory
April 14, 2011 at 8:30 AM
It bloody pours. I was just thinking the same thing after reading the interesting plot of this new drama. ^_^
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8 Mel
April 14, 2011 at 8:16 AM
Hallyu--not idol right? Not May Dember romance? Just need someone who can stand up to this strong and funny lady!!!
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9 will work for soju
April 14, 2011 at 8:23 AM
Gong Yoo? He needs a new drama
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Soo Ae
April 15, 2011 at 12:00 AM
I'm so with you on this! My thoughts exactly! Gong Yoo as Hallyu Star, it rocks!
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10 sandy80
April 14, 2011 at 9:39 AM
one of the worst kactresses she ruines whatever she is but this one sounds boring anyway
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11 Gia
April 14, 2011 at 9:40 AM
Bring back my sexy beast, gong yoo
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12 Madita
April 14, 2011 at 10:11 AM
Daily great news on Dramabeans !!!
First Chae Seung-Won with Best Love
Now Han Ye-Seul *^^*
I love her, and I agree totally with JB that she is best in ron-coms. But I also loved her in WISFC very much.
For the leading men, hallyustar...I would like to see her playing together with Joo Jin-Mo.
He so what of overdue for a TV drama, and he didnt play for a long time in a romance comedy.
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supah
April 14, 2011 at 11:02 AM
Me too, me too! I found her WISFC character quite likable too, I think she has a lovely screen presence which makes up for some of acting deficiencies but I do agree that she's more competent in comedy.
I would LOVE to see her paired with Joo Jin-mo! *nosebleed*
I'm currently quite excited about Coffee (his upcoming film with another TV-North Korean elite spy; Kim So-yeon).
But then... I read the part about it being frothy, 'fraid I don't do frothy.
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13 annie
April 14, 2011 at 11:33 AM
I agree she's not a great actress, but I have an inexplicable fondness for her... really liked her in Fantasy Couple.
Also, if this is anything like Level 7 Civil Servant, I'm there! That was such a fun movie.
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14 Didi
April 14, 2011 at 12:36 PM
I loved her ever since i saw her fantasy couple i can't wait .... i am going to love this show
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15 jechoi
April 14, 2011 at 2:57 PM
Would LOVE to see her paired with Song Seung Heon on this. Probably only because I want to see Song Seung Heon do another rom-com and the two are already paired together in Cafe Bene ads. Unfortunately, I don't see SSH jumping into another rom-com immediately after My Princess. Sigh.
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jomo143
April 14, 2011 at 3:26 PM
The Hand Towel should listen to you.
You speak the truth.
(except that last part)
He should ONLY do romcoms for the rest of his life.
Romcoms with shower scenes.
Or, he would be so cute if he played a Korean version of Cheaper by the Dozen, or The Brady Bunch, or anything with a lot of kids and a pretty wife.
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Schmazel
April 14, 2011 at 4:50 PM
With so many kids, wouldn't his neck hurt from all that head tilting? Coz you know how kids can be sometimes...adorbs but also exasperating. Hahah. ;)
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16 Didi
April 14, 2011 at 3:35 PM
i will be the happiness girl alive with any of these sexy gorgeous looking men .......Song Seung Hun....Go Soo .... Joo Jin Mo .... Lee Jung Jin .... and Jung Dong Gun
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17 luraaa
April 14, 2011 at 5:00 PM
Not particularly the best and most talented actress in the industry but she is definitely likable. I'll keep myself posted on her new drama and if the male lead compels me enough, then I'll add this on my list. I know this won't happen, but I want the male lead to be Go Soo because their characters in Will it snow was too tragic. And I want to see my Go Soo be happy in dramas, even if he's really happy in real life (still can't get over that he has a girlfriend).
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18 Lina
April 14, 2011 at 6:48 PM
when I think of any drama dealing with spy drama, I can't think of any actress to play those role than the lovely Kim So-yeon cause she is oozing with awesomeness as a spy and she definitely can hit off the rom-com as well ...
She's like my asian Angelina Jolie!
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mary
April 14, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Han Ye Seul can also pull-off the badass look (she was a model before she became an actress, right?)
Some of her outfits in Fantasy Couple (when she was being rich-snob) were O_O but she pulled them off.
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19 weissman
April 15, 2011 at 6:32 AM
This plot has all sorts of possibilities . I am very excited
True Love
Brain washing of north koreans by their goverment
divided loyalties
the heroine having to choose between true love and the truth and loyatly to her county and her family
all sounds good to me
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20 red1
April 15, 2011 at 6:45 AM
was song seung heon confirmed already?
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21 chichaloca
April 15, 2011 at 7:13 AM
she look likes hara(kara) in this picture.agree?
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22 kittylovever
April 16, 2011 at 7:53 AM
I was happy about Ye Seul come back. But I dislike SSH so I wish he don't accept this project. Anyone else is fine, of course, for me.
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