An introduction to tvN's Marriage Plot » Dramabeans Korean drama recaps

66 March 31, 2012April 3, 2012

An introduction to tvN’s Marriage Plot

by javabeans

Cable channel tvN is about to premiere a new romantic comedy, so let’s get to know the world of Marriage Plot, or Wedding Scheme, or any other combination of those words. As you can tell from these stills, there’s a huge emphasis on weddings/marriages; it’s a bit of matrimony overload as far as promos go, but effective for the fact that I’m never going to forget what this drama’s about. It won’t let me.

The show stars Kang Hye-jung (Miss Ripley) and is centered around four unmarried sisters in their thirties. Their mother comes from the Mrs. Bennett school of mothering and is determined to send them all down the aisle, and goes to extreme lengths to ensure that happens. She sets her sights on a few bachelors and gets her plot in motion…

If you’ve been watching tvN shows like Shut Up, you’ve probably already seen these teasers, which take the conflict to a metaphorical level. At least, it had better be metaphorical; this drama isn’t aiming to be Myung Wol the Spy Gets Married.

In the first teaser below, Kang and her leading man Lee Kyu-han pull pistols on each other and say sweetly, “I love you.” “I love you too.”

The second teaser gets more symbolic with the whole dragging-the-groom-to-the-altar theme. Gives new meaning to the term shotgun wedding.

So it’s the third trailer that actually gives a glimpse at the story, with Kang Hye-jung labeled as an alpha girl who’s always single, and Lee Kyu-han the “pure macho” chaebol man. The words crossed out read “love,” “dating,” and “marriage” — it must be hate at first sight. But then flashes the word “cohabitation?” That’s the scheme brewing in Mom’s head, who’s determined to reel in a few nice sons-in-laws.

Now, for our characters. Kang Hye-jung plays Gun-hee, a 32-year-old careerwoman with no interest in marrying who’s the second daughter of four, whose mother runs a boarding house. She’s ambitious, selfish, competitive, independent, the epitome of the “gold miss” — single and lovin’ it.

She gets paired with Lee Kyu-han, a 32-year-old chaebol son to a food corporation president who happens to be one of Mom’s lodgers. He’s got some smarts and skills, but he refuses to do anything he doesn’t want to do. So, pampered rich boy, even if he really is a big softie underneath the sly exterior.

Lee Young-eun (OB-GYN, While You Were Sleeping) plays the eldest sister Sun-hee, the sweet and maternal 33-year-old unni who raised her sisters after Dad died and Mom had to work to keep them afloat. Because of that, she has a bit of complex about not having lived her own life.

She gets paired with Lee Min-woo (Princess’s Man), who plays 35-year-old Jang-won, another boarder. Ha, I love that Mom’s dipping into her client base for sons-in-law. Jang-won is a “returned single” (aka divorced or widowed) stunt director, and painful memories are why he keeps love at arm’s length.

Third in line is Kim Se-jung playing 24-year-old Min-jung, a fun-loving, vivacious material girl who loves designer clothes and men with money. At first it’s purely a one-sided attraction that brings Soon-dol closer (Seo Jae-kyung), the 30-year-old club-hopping, rap-loving city man whose looks totally contradict his personality. He likes Min-jung, but she’s pretty picky about looks… until she finds out that he’s the only son to a rich real estate businessman in the States.

On the other hand, there’s good-looking Se-won (Kim Jae-deuk), a 24-year-old playboy partier who spends money freely and gets into accidents left and right. He ends up moving into the boarding home when his troublemaking ways get him kicked out of home.

Last but not least is Park Min-ji playing Min-ji, the 21-year-old maknae daughter who’s a cynical old soul, wise beyond her years. She doesn’t have a romantic partner yet, but she does have a crush on unni’s man Jang-won (Lee Min-woo). I’m less worried about this turning into a huge drama because of the age gap; she’s still a kid compared to Jang-won (35) and her sister Sun-hee (33), and it’s likely her interest in the stunt director stems from her own dream to be a film director. For that reason, she goes around with a camcorder in order to shoot a family movie and sticks her nose into everybody’s business.

Sounds light-hearted and cute. Marriage Plot premieres on April 2 and airs on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Via Star News

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1 jenny

March 31, 2012 at 5:18 AM

KANG HYE JUNG! yay

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KAI

March 31, 2012 at 7:14 AM

KHJ looks cute in this drama.

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ida

March 31, 2012 at 10:01 AM

i tots agree!!

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2 tiffany

March 31, 2012 at 5:30 AM

LYE hehe so cute n pretty! LMW was so dorky and cute in PM! :D excitement!

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3 Hipployta

March 31, 2012 at 5:46 AM

Wait...wait...isn't that M4's Kim Won Jun on the poster...what's his role to be I wonder...

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Pepper Fish

March 31, 2012 at 9:26 AM

Is that who the fifth guy is? I was wondering who he could be.

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Ani

March 31, 2012 at 11:42 AM

I scrolled up real fast when I saw your comment. Hahaha. Looks like Jalba. WGM must have made him addicted to all things wedding related.

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Hipployta

April 1, 2012 at 10:01 AM

Apparently so...but M4 is actually promoting on tv shows right now too so that may explain the WGM drop by SoWon

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Ani

April 1, 2012 at 8:05 PM

Nah. They kicked the Brave Couple to the curb because they weren't as popular as the youngens. Pretty sad since I liked them. But M4 is heating up with their comeback, so it explains the promotions and tv appearances.

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4 ninji

March 31, 2012 at 5:49 AM

Well, another one that I don't have time watching. There's too many interesting dramas airing right now.

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5 Mystisith

March 31, 2012 at 5:53 AM

They HAVE to go comedy all the way with that crazy premise! Mwahaha! A puppeteer mother and cute mismatched couples...
"It's raining men!"
I wonder who will be the victim of the aphrodisiac poured in the wine, or the closet locked from the outside...

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6 jae

March 31, 2012 at 5:54 AM

wow! all brides and grooms are so beautiful ^^
i hope this drama will be success and being recognize, fighting!

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7 niKai

March 31, 2012 at 5:58 AM

well, dunno about the series, but at least the ost by kim hyun joong sounds nice. heard it somewhere.

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8 djeedjes

March 31, 2012 at 6:22 AM

Kang Hyejung! Oh I like her.
Just saw Tablo's interview in Strong Heart about his wife, how KHJ looks sweet but acts like a gangster... this role suits her so well.
Will check this out..and I relatively like Lee Kyuhan, so it's a plus~

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9 dramacafe

March 31, 2012 at 7:13 AM

Love the teasers! Adore the cast! LKH, KHJ & LMW! Can't wait for this one! Looks like one fun drama already! Finally something to keep me ecstatic on Mondays-Tuesdays!

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10 Nika

March 31, 2012 at 7:15 AM

I adore Kang Hye-jung and really really like Lee Kyu-han. the other actors looks good to me too so Im gonna trust TvN and hope it will be a success.
I LOLed on the 3d teaser

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11 ck1Oz

March 31, 2012 at 8:13 AM

Oh, I am so interested in this. Yay... for... what is with all the good dramas this March and April? I don't even moan about lack of sleeping. Just so happy to have 3 couples to ship for. There will be no 2nd lead shipping right?

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12 Titi

March 31, 2012 at 8:24 AM

Kang hyejung <3 <3<3
Words won't be enough to express my love to her.
She looks so youthful here! And also beautiful in ethereal way...
Nobody would believe she's a wife and mother to a child! She certainly doesn't look like it!

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13 Tha

March 31, 2012 at 8:41 AM

I'm so ready for this! Love Kang hey Jung!

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14 SuziQ

March 31, 2012 at 8:46 AM

KHJ was wasted in Miss Ripley so not a big fan. Hopefully, she has a better role in this one, and it's funny? How come there are 5 guys, but only 4 brides? Who is left out in the cold? Best Man?
Seems like a good cast. I like screwball comedies, so I'm going to give it a try.....

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15 Alicia

March 31, 2012 at 8:49 AM

well I personally have not seen Lee Min Woo in a drama since Pure 19, so I'm totally gonna have to check this out!

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Pearl

March 31, 2012 at 9:01 AM

then I think you have to check out Princess' Man first ;p

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16 MissMantin

March 31, 2012 at 8:49 AM

Oh boy! All the couples look fun, but I can already tell that I'm going to adore the LMW/LYE pairing. As long as they don't go all melodramatic about his dead wife, that could be a really sweet love story. Fingers crossed!

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17 Stephanie

March 31, 2012 at 8:51 AM

Mrs. Bennett? Determined to marry off her daughters? Sounds Pride and Prejudice-y to me even if it only means to be a small part of the plot.

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18 jumbalaya

March 31, 2012 at 9:07 AM

will dramabeans be recapping this series?

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19 Ilwad

March 31, 2012 at 9:25 AM

The horrible friend from Full House and the asshole ex-boyfriend from Kim Sam Soon all in one show! Lol I have to watch this!

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20 lala

March 31, 2012 at 10:01 AM

I'm in..I'm in!!
I lost my interest for monday and tues's drama after the end of salaryman..
And then, I found this drama to follow!!Yesssssaaaa...

Fuhhhhhhhhhhhhh, sigh of relief!

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21 Hoover

March 31, 2012 at 10:04 AM

I'm kinda getting The Sons of Sol Pharmacy House vibe on this drama.

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22 canxi

March 31, 2012 at 10:30 AM

My body is so ready for this.

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canxi

March 31, 2012 at 9:32 PM

http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m1s9ja70I91qzjb8ko1_500.jpg

Wanted to share this AWESOME pic of Kang Hye-Jung from the Marriage Plot. Can I go to my wedding as prepared as this? You know...just in case.

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Mystisith

April 1, 2012 at 3:17 AM

Just my kind of girl. One thing: Don't forget the ropes... Ropes are useful. And sedatives too.

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canxi

April 1, 2012 at 8:13 AM

Of course!

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23 girlatsea

March 31, 2012 at 10:37 AM

I kept trying to open this page on my crappy blackberry and it kept closing b/c "page was too large". Now, I know why. There are SO MANY pictures! Not that it's a bad thing, haha.

Anyway, I'm actually really looking forward to this (as if there aren't enough dramas out right now). The plot sounds cute. I also love both Kang Hye-jung and Lee Kyu-han!! And Lee Min-woo won my heart in Princess' Man, so I'm excited to see him too.

I really hope someone decides to recap this. I have no idea how long we'll probably have to wait for subs. All the subbing teams seem a little busy with all the premieres last week. I guess we'll see.

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24 Stephanie

March 31, 2012 at 11:13 AM

I know the oldest and youngest are supposed to be 12 years apart, but the first time I saw the wedding pics I thought they were, at the very most, 5 years apart.

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canxi

March 31, 2012 at 12:46 PM

True!

I don't even think the oldest male and youngest female look too far apart in age either. But looking and being,lol. Two different things hahaha

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25 Ani

March 31, 2012 at 11:36 AM

Kang Hyejung still looks like she's in her 20s. Man, I want her genes. Heh.

On a serious note, can't wait to watch this. X)

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26 Alvina

March 31, 2012 at 12:16 PM

Kim Won Jun, is that you?! O_o

Anyway, I LOVE dramas like this where it's an exploration of family ties but in...sitcom/comedy form instead of the typical hateful style.

And Lee Kyu Han!!!! Man, he deserves it after all the fun performances he's done thus far.

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27 JD

March 31, 2012 at 2:00 PM

Pride and Prejudice all the way!!! I'm going to love the bickering main leads <3

I'm so glad Kang Hye Jung and Lee Kyu Han are finally both having a swing at being the main leads. Yay!

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sleeplessinwgtn

March 31, 2012 at 4:57 PM

I love Pride & Prejudice so a korean version would be great!

Lee Kyu Han deserves a leading role.

I hope this gets subbed so I can watch.

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Hipployta

April 1, 2012 at 10:06 AM

Well Hye Jung did have Flowers of my Life with Cha Concubine/Cha Tae Hyun a few years ago too

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28 kimcheese

March 31, 2012 at 2:11 PM

awww the girls are super cute. not sure if i'll watch this though...

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29 Noelle

March 31, 2012 at 2:19 PM

Huh. Not sold yet so I'm gonna wait for a recap.

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30 Rossi

March 31, 2012 at 5:23 PM

Yeah, I'm sooo in for this. The last trailer looks hecka fun plus I love all the hijinks involved in such a set up.

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31 Cruelsummer

March 31, 2012 at 5:36 PM

I'm in. I need a Monday-Tuesday drama and I've been waiting for this one. I am a little hesitant because one of the previews I watched there was a generous amount of shrieking. I love a bickering couple, but not when it turns into an unintelligible shouting match.

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32 Lisa-Loo-Loo

March 31, 2012 at 6:39 PM

Yay!!! Kang Hye-jung LOVE her! She is such a fun actress to watch. I couldn't watch Miss Ripley because she was so under played. So I am so excited to see her have the lead. Can't wait for 4/2.

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33 Brenda

March 31, 2012 at 8:10 PM

Sounds cute . . . looking forward to it =D

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34 conan

March 31, 2012 at 9:51 PM

I might actually watch this for the sole reason of watching Kang Hye-jung. Man that girl needs to get more leads.

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35 dalia

April 1, 2012 at 12:26 AM

definitely gonna check this out. Lee Kyu Han!

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36 Chintu

April 1, 2012 at 3:36 AM

the gals' characters are also similar to the sisters from Pride & Prejudice, not just the mom's goal...

Lee Young-eun, sweet caring, mother-figure - Jane
Kang Hye-jung, alpha, confident, intelligent - Elizabeth
the materialistic, air-head 3rd sister Kim Sejung- Lydia
the uninterested pseudo-intellectual 4th sister Park Minji- Mary...

i think Kitty is Lydia+Mary, & uninteresting enough not to warrant a separate character like her...

think this is gonna be great fun!!!

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37 Carmen

April 1, 2012 at 5:03 AM

Ohh this looks like great fun! In the mood for something just like this! Any plans for recapping this, JB? :P

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38 Lilian

April 1, 2012 at 5:32 AM

Haha sounds fun and since i've had a good streak with TvN dramas lately, I may try this out...if I have time!

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39 Kaa

April 1, 2012 at 10:36 AM

YAY. My lovely Kang Hye Jung as the lead woman? A korean Pride and Prejudice plus a forced cohabition? I'm so excited!! It's going to be le-gen-dary! (and my nights are going to be soooo short with all the must-see dramas!)

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40 Rovi

April 1, 2012 at 11:01 AM

Already anticipating on downloading it, looks fun. Especially LKH, whom I haven't seen ever since Kim Sam-soon "Smile You"... *sigh*

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41 Shia

April 1, 2012 at 12:37 PM

tvN is currently giving me life with all of the new dramas they are putting out. My favourites from being Manny, I Need Romance, Flower Boy Ramyn Shop and now this which I am so watching! tvN is so full of win!

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42 sleeplessinwgtn

April 1, 2012 at 1:41 PM

I've seen LKH in many dramas but his 2econdary role in MNIKSS is the one that sticks to mind. I loved his acting in that drama. He's unforgettable in that role!

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43 malta

April 1, 2012 at 5:24 PM

T.T
I so don't have any more time to watch another kdrama, but I LOVE both the leads in this drama and I have a thing for tvN....
*sobbing* inventing intravenous caffeine. Patenting it so I can become a billionaire and no longer have to go to work since I will be independently wealthy and then I can watch as many kdramas as I want!

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44 Jossy

April 1, 2012 at 6:33 PM

I'll definitely be checking this out fo sho', yo!
As pretty as the actresses are, man are those dresses awful. Well, except maknaes cute one and the short one isn't so bad either.

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45 mysterious

April 1, 2012 at 10:39 PM

Even though Kang Hye Jung is younger than Lee Han Kyu, he has a baby face so she ends up looking a little older than him. But I'm still looking forward to this; it looks hilarious.

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46 pigtookie

April 2, 2012 at 12:46 AM

don't know the leads well (besides that khj is tablo's wife and was in miss ripley) but both have that wonderfully lively appeal. this looks like a very sweet, fun drama.