Shin Mina and Lee Jun-ki headline new drama
by girlfriday
Looks like fusion sageuks are going to be all the rage this summer. And this one’s even got an added summer-horror kick to it, to liven up the landscape. Shin Mina (My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho) and Lee Jun-ki (Iljimae, Hero) will be making their drama comeback together this year in a fusion retelling of the folklore ghost tale Arang Magistrate Story, or Arang for short.
This will be Lee Jun-ki’s first drama back from army duty (aw, they grow up so fast) and Shin Mina’s anticipated return to the small screen since her insanely popular turn as a modern gumiho. It’s a little typecasty to go from mythical nine-tailed fox to vengeance ghost, but I don’t think this supernatural creature’s going to be chowin’ down on meat or playing hoi-hoi anytime soon.
The drama is based on famous folklore, as all ghost stories are: During the Joseon era in the city of Milyang, Arang was the pure, beautiful, good-hearted daughter of a magistrate. (Magistrates figure into a LOT of Korean folklore, as they are the local men of power, and often depicted as abusing said power or meeting some untimely demise.) She grew up without a mother, and was raised by a wicked caretaker who conspired to have her be raped and ruined by a servant. He attacked and she resisted, so he stabbed and killed her, and left her body to rot in the woods.
Her father the magistrate just believed that she eloped with a man (dishonorably, of course) and so resigned his position swathed in shame. Thus the legend goes that every time a new magistrate comes to Milyang to fill the position, Arang’s vengeful ghost shows up to tell him her story and he flees in terror. She just wants you to hear her, ’cause girl was PURE, and her daddy DIDN’T LISTEN. Yunno, ghosts are misunderstood like that.
But one day a new magistrate comes to town — a young man by the name of Lee Sang-sa. Arang appears to him like every other magistrate before him, but this man doesn’t flee, and instead sympathizes with Arang, and promises to find her killer and avenge her death. Cue drama. Not bad for a ghost story, eh?
So Shin Mina will be playing Arang, of course, and Lee Jun-ki the new magistrate Lee Sang-sa who I’m assuming does more than just sympathize with her, making for an epic I-love-a-ghost-but-we-can-never-be-together tragic love affair. Sounds awesome to me, since you can’t get any more epic than Dead Girl Loves Not-So-Dead Boy.
At the helm is PD Kim Sang-ho, of Can You Hear My Heart, Hon, and Fantasy Couple, and writing is Jung Yoon-jung, who has no credits to her name. I’m excited for some spooky summer fun, so hopefully it’ll deliver in epic proportions. Arang will air on MBC in July.
Via Star News
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Tags: Lee Jun-ki, Shin Mina
Interview with Kim Yoo-jung
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51 E-kun
February 24, 2012 at 8:18 PM
YEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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52 red
February 24, 2012 at 8:52 PM
This sounds so awesome, and I have watched everything Lee jun ki so this is definately on my list. But I hope its not too spooky, not a big horror fan, and asian cinema is known to be more scarier than your usual hollywood fare.
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53 Ladymoonstone143
February 24, 2012 at 9:48 PM
Lee Jun Ki is back? Oh my...2 years passes by so quickly..lol Looking forward to this...
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54 niKai
February 25, 2012 at 12:33 AM
you've got to love this kind of forbidden love,eh?
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55 MJay
February 25, 2012 at 12:46 AM
Like Lee Jun ki .Hope it'll be fun to watch.
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56 buttrcup
February 25, 2012 at 12:57 AM
Aw. This looks so freakin' GOOD!
How excited am I to see Lee Jun-Ki all buffed up (courtesy to military service. thank you korea <3). The storyline souns so original so I can't wait for it to start filming.
Hee, I love how Shin Mina's in another supernatural drama AND being the lead for it too. GAH! Can't wait!!
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57 lindyb3ar07
February 25, 2012 at 4:08 AM
Lee Jun Ki!! Whoo Hoo!! Finally i get to see my honey bunny:p
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58 Mei
February 25, 2012 at 5:32 AM
I can just watch her sit all day and be gorgeous. She doesn't have to act or whatever...just be gorgeous. Oh my....did I mention she's so gorgeous?
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59 Aneleh
February 25, 2012 at 5:50 AM
Yay! I love ghost stories and I love dramas, so the two combined is like a dream come true.
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60 ade
February 25, 2012 at 6:59 AM
really...really...really...
excited!!!
wanna see Jun Ki oppa
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61 MsB
February 25, 2012 at 10:04 AM
GASP!! PANT!! My two favorites together!!!! Tell me this is soon!! This is so EXCITING!!
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62 butterbacon
February 25, 2012 at 4:47 PM
She is too pretty.
Did anyone see her on Strong Heart? She seems like the sweetest girl evaaaar.
noona neomu yeppeo!!!
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63 peter
February 25, 2012 at 4:57 PM
Wow!!! Shin Mina is back!!! I hope there will be twist for it to have a happy ending.
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64 phellanph
February 25, 2012 at 5:49 PM
Okay I'm excited for this but at the same time I'm kind of scared because I hate horror movies/shows with a passion. I just can't watch it but I'm so confused in whether or not I should watch it. I mean it's Lee Jun Ki and I missed him so much.
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Bella
March 2, 2012 at 12:09 AM
Ahhaaa..you must watch dis! hehe..it's sounds dark but pretty youthful story actually..in dis drama Shin Min Ah will plays a unique, adorable character and cute side would stand out!
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65 weirdnshort
February 25, 2012 at 6:01 PM
Junki is back! and this seems interesting. Looking forward to it
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66 kyuuumin
February 25, 2012 at 9:15 PM
finally, a drama that gets me excited!
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67 Jaykah
February 26, 2012 at 1:24 AM
Hell yes! This sounds good and different :D
Plus Lee Junki, welcome back. I have missed your sexy smirk *runs away to watch Time before dog and wolf*
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MsB
February 26, 2012 at 4:52 AM
YES! Anoter TBDAW fan!!
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68 noi
February 26, 2012 at 2:10 AM
*gasp* welcome home, junki-oppa!!!!! *hugs*
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69 Atsirk
February 26, 2012 at 5:55 AM
Will watch this :) Super excited!!!
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70 Ciara
February 26, 2012 at 12:20 PM
I'm really excited for this drama. I think Shin Mina is awesome. Although, I haven't seen any of Lee Jun-ki's work, I'm sure he'll do an excellent job as well!
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71 Arpan
February 26, 2012 at 12:25 PM
CANT WAIT :) So many good dramas are coming out :)
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72 Keylye
February 26, 2012 at 11:10 PM
SO EXCITED!
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73 Yeng
February 27, 2012 at 4:19 AM
wow ghost story erh...hope its not the intest scary type cuz I would really love to see both Shin Mina and Lee Junki's comeback..they are both cute and funny! I was hoping to see them in romance comedy, but let see how it goes
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74 Steamy Bun
February 28, 2012 at 9:45 AM
So exciting!! Not only are these two in a drama together but the story sounds amazing! Shin Mina is too pretty, and I loved LJK in The King and the Clown and My Girl.
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75 yezmis
March 2, 2012 at 4:06 AM
ahhhhh! i'm excited ! >,<
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76 PATY
March 2, 2012 at 7:25 AM
Me encanta, me fascina que Lee Jun Ki regrese con toda su hermosura con un nuevo dorama... Lee Jun Ki te amo!!!
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77 zin mar tun
April 5, 2012 at 5:31 AM
i am waiting for your new drama. fighting oppa.
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78 JoonGirl
April 9, 2012 at 9:08 AM
Haha,i wish they end up together... i mean, after the drama ends, hahaha, since the two main leader is the most gorgeous, the cutest and the prettiest couple i've ever seen, and joongi oppa has a plan to marry too... so??? Or he wants to wait for me? #running away asap
*i am really excited of this drama because i have watched over and over again iljimae, hero and TBWAD,i really need something new from joon gi oppa since he is my only bias, kekeke
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79 Cuciswiss
June 6, 2012 at 9:15 AM
Welcome back,hope u give us more and more u have done
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80 MariePhils
June 26, 2012 at 3:36 AM
Shin Mina and Lee Junki = hot chemistry
Thumbs Up! Cant wait for this drama to air! After Queen Imhyun's Man...AMS is a good follow through K-Drama...
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81 sarina
July 6, 2012 at 5:16 AM
i m so excitedly waitin ur upcoming drama.....i love ur jodi in this new drama "arang"....i m dying to see both of u ....
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