Jeon Woo-chi recruits its antagonists

45 September 26, 2012October 10, 2012

by javabeans

Aw, my favorite nerdy vampire has a new (drama) home: Hong Jong-hyun (Vampire Idol, White Christmas) is the newest addition to the drama Jeon Woo-chi. (Notice I didn’t say favorite vampire overall; that would be like asking which child do you love more. Some days you’re in the mood for broody, and some days you just want a nerd spouting scientific facts a hundred miles a minute.)

This won’t be Hong’s first time in a sageuk—Hong was in Warrior Baek Dong-soo—though this time he’ll be playing the king’s man, not the king himself. He’ll be on the opposing side of our leading man, though, playing a warrior who pursues Jeon Woo-chi (Cha Tae-hyun). Based on the setup I’d call him an antagonist to the hero, but not an outright villain; we’ve got other characters for that. His conflict with the hero seems pretty clear: Jeon Woo-chi lives in the (fictional) idealist nation of Yuldo established by righteous bandit hero Hong Gil-dong, and comes to Joseon on a revenge mission after losing his mentor and his love. While he’s undercover in Joseon, he’s moved by the plight of the people and becomes a hero to them. Which, naturally, makes him an enemy of the Joseon state.

There’s more info on UEE’s character, which sounds pretty interesting: She’s the granddaughter of Hong Gil-dong and the woman Woo-chi comes to love, who falls prey to dark Taoist magic. The sorcery makes her lose her emotions, and she commits a violent murder. But once a month, the spell weakens its hold on her and she recalls her former self, calling for some anguish and misery. Pretty meaty stuff.

On the villain side, we’ve got Kim Gab-soo joining the previously cast Lee Hee-jun, and they’re on the side of the dark Taoist magic-doers. Lee Hee-jun is Woo-chi’s direct nemesis, but Uncle Kim Gab-soo ought to add some heft to the opposition lineup as a cold-hearted baddie.

Great casting, since Kim Gab-soo is just about the best villain in dramaland. He’s never just a straight guy; he twists evil around, makes it unnerving and charismatic and fascinating to watch. And then he’ll flip a switch and be so warm and sweet and welcoming that you wonder how he can manage to be both the doting father in Cinderella’s Sister and the freaky evil father in Hon.

So we’ve got fictionalized history and revenge and romance and magic—and, since this is Cha Tae-hyun we’re talking about, I’m expecting lots of comedy mixed up in all that fusion sageuky goodness. If the (unrelated-but-based-on-the-same-source-material) movie showed us anything, it’s that this premise is all about the action-comedy thrills.

Jeon Woo-chi premieres on November 21, following Nice Guy.

Via Kuki News, Osen

Required fields are marked *

1 ujsid

September 26, 2012 at 3:10 PM

Kim Gab-soo ahjusshi!!!
wooohooo this is gonna be one kickass drama! i am in..
well i was already in when UEE was confirmed..but now i am IN! :D

Required fields are marked *

D

September 26, 2012 at 9:25 PM

my favourite ahjusshi...

ohhh, i really can't wait now.. so now it's confirmed, fantasy/fusion saeguk is now my fav genre

Required fields are marked *

twentyonebuds

September 27, 2012 at 3:51 AM

I was gonna watch for Cha Tae Hyun but now that Kim Gab Soo is aboard HELL YEAH! Count me innnnn!

Required fields are marked *

2 Arhazivory

September 26, 2012 at 3:12 PM

Ohhhh. The more I hear, the more I can't wait for it. :D

Required fields are marked *

3 kakashi

September 26, 2012 at 3:14 PM

cool! I'm officially excited.

Required fields are marked *

4 Daisy

September 26, 2012 at 3:16 PM

So looking forward to this! I love the cast

Required fields are marked *

5 Maddz

September 26, 2012 at 3:16 PM

UEE's character sounds REALLY interesting! Excited!! :D

Required fields are marked *

danna

September 26, 2012 at 5:15 PM

totally more interesting! it would have been disappointing if she were just CTH's romantic other half

Required fields are marked *

6 Slothus

September 26, 2012 at 3:20 PM

It's disappointing to see Kim Gab-soo dedicate himself to a fantasy sageuk (obviously not the best genre for acting). I thought that his performance in Tazza was one of the best I've seen from any Korean actor in a villain role, and have been wanting him to do more similar to that.

Required fields are marked *

danna

September 26, 2012 at 5:17 PM

but he was really great iJoseon X Files as well, though he was not necessarily a villain there

Required fields are marked *

7 Eye Candy

September 26, 2012 at 3:29 PM

This show sounds pretty interesting! How was Vampire Idol? Part of me wants to watch is simply because of the name, but I haven't heard a lot about it.

Required fields are marked *

Eye Candy

September 26, 2012 at 3:30 PM

Sorry *watch it* not is

Required fields are marked *

8 Jasmine

September 26, 2012 at 3:39 PM

I hope Kim Gab-soo doesn't die this time! Long live!!

Required fields are marked *

9 canxi

September 26, 2012 at 3:51 PM

Sounds so awesome. O: I think I may actually begin to like saeguks if they keep bringing in stuff like this.

Required fields are marked *

10 Pitch

September 26, 2012 at 4:08 PM

Hmmmm, this sounds good. UEE´s character in particular seems very interesting.

Required fields are marked *

11 Noelle

September 26, 2012 at 4:14 PM

So she murders all the time or was it just that one time?

Required fields are marked *

12 VB

September 26, 2012 at 4:16 PM

Wow! I can't wait to catch this. I like everyone in it, the character description, the universe it's in.. everything is aligning (to me having less free around November, that is, if a subber picks it up)!

Also, I'm assuming Hong Jong-hyun's role was the one previously offered to Taecyeon. Much more preferable!

Finally, am I the only one who thinks Kim Gab Soo is rocking the ajusshi 'stache? Because he totally is.

Required fields are marked *

13 crazedlu

September 26, 2012 at 4:34 PM

great. as much as i love Cha Tae-hyun, now i'm kind of wishing Hong Jong-hyun was mr. hero. ha. i just looove him. speaking of hero, i wish he had a greater role in more of tvN's "hero." i was pretty bummed about his short cameo.

anyways, i love the guy. i hope he gets some really great projects in the future.

Required fields are marked *

14 kooriyuki

September 26, 2012 at 5:00 PM

KIM! GAB! SOO! AHJUSSHI!!!!!

Jeon Woo Chi has officially moved up several nobs on my must watch list.

Btw, Hong Jong Hyun is that law school kid in Wild Romance right?

Required fields are marked *

15 Anne

September 26, 2012 at 5:02 PM

Didnt he just wrapped a drama? The one where he was married to that girl ipwho is much older than he is, tried watching it for me. But i disn't like the premise so i stopped.

Required fields are marked *

Ara

September 26, 2012 at 5:26 PM

Beloved, right? That drama was so depressing and he and Park Sol Mi were so mismatched that it wasn't even funny. I can't believe this dude is only 21...

Required fields are marked *

Anne

September 26, 2012 at 7:04 PM

Yup, i find her okay. She's puhretty but woman is soooo old for him and i just couldnt buy it. Mp

Required fields are marked *

Ara

September 26, 2012 at 8:30 PM

I don't think the characters themselves had a huge age gap though. I'm thinking 5 years or less. But somehow Park Sol Mi still managed to look like his aunt.

Required fields are marked *

PT

September 28, 2012 at 12:25 AM

"Love's not Time's fool." William Shakespeare Sonnet 116

I enjoyed "Beloved." What is wrong with loving a person for who they are without regard for their age? He (Hong Jong Hyun) is so sweet in this drama. Love him!!!

16 saranga

September 26, 2012 at 5:13 PM

i love him so much! i think for a long time yet he'll still be (to me) the brainy, socially inept vamp from vampire idol (still furious that it got axed so suddenly, without a proper sendoff).

Required fields are marked *

Mia

November 3, 2012 at 2:30 PM

I adore Hong Jong Hyun too, my favorite vampire in vampire idol. I too was disappointed in that sitcom's sudden cancellation and ending.

Required fields are marked *

17 Sajen

September 26, 2012 at 5:16 PM

woot I love Kim Gab-soo he's just so freaking awesome at what he does, though honestly I prefer him as a good guy

Required fields are marked *

18 danna

September 26, 2012 at 5:19 PM

Whoa...this drama's casting news just keeps getting better and better...and to think that I was really meh about the drama adaptation, when it was first announced many eons ago

Required fields are marked *

19 Annie

September 26, 2012 at 5:28 PM

Omo, so many young actors are making breakthroughs in this industry! I feel like such a perv sometimes but then I look at pics of Jung Woo Sung or Lee Jung Jae and feel better.

Required fields are marked *

20 Julia

September 26, 2012 at 6:04 PM

Getting excited for this drama! The cast seems great, and I have a feeling Taehyun - Uee interactions will be hilariously priceless.

Also still waiting for Taehyun to tease Joowon about stealing his woman haha.

Required fields are marked *

21 Abbie

September 26, 2012 at 7:17 PM

I love Hong Jong-hyun. I became a fan of his in White Christmas, and this show seems like it will be fun, so I'm looking forward to seeing him in this.

UEE's character sounds really interesting, I can't wait to see how she pulls it off. I've only seen her in You're Beautiful and Birdie Buddy, and both those characters were a little mild. This character seems really dark and with a lot of emotional growth. I really hope she pulls it off.

The other actors seem really good, but I'm not too familiar with them. I'm really looking forward to this drama.

Required fields are marked *

22 cutieblue

September 26, 2012 at 7:34 PM

I thought Hong Jong-hyun was super creepy, but super charismatic in Wild Romance. I'm interested to see what his character in this will turn out to be like.
I seriously cannot wait for this one!! It sounds so interesting already!

Required fields are marked *

23 xiaoSxin

September 26, 2012 at 7:36 PM

Hong Jong Hyun was recently in the JTBC drama Beloved. Looking forward to see him again in a new drama

Required fields are marked *

24 Village Mrembo

September 26, 2012 at 8:28 PM

Just what r all these ahjussis on in Hallyu land? They be smokin!!!

Required fields are marked *

25 pohonphee

September 26, 2012 at 8:30 PM

Kim Gab-soo ajussii! Miss you already!

Required fields are marked *

quadra

September 26, 2012 at 10:13 PM

Joining the chant... Kim Gab-soo ahjussii.... totally fall for his eyes in SKKS.. his eyes are so interesting

Required fields are marked *

26 gala

September 26, 2012 at 10:14 PM

I honestly wished that jeonwoochi drama is the comeback vehicle of Kang Dong Won (he's due out of the army soon!). He played that character perfectly. Except... He doesn't want to do any more dramas. But, CHT is the next best thing. Also, it seems the drama version is quite different than the movie one, so that's a plus for CTH.

Required fields are marked *

27 Ella Zala

September 26, 2012 at 10:17 PM

Poor UEE, that character sounds so twisted...but that's what we lub. hahhahahahaha~

Required fields are marked *

28 Rexy

September 27, 2012 at 12:58 AM

Kim Gab-soo! I was pretty much on board at Cha Tae-hyun, but now I am committed! Woot!

Required fields are marked *

29 Farpavilions

September 27, 2012 at 2:58 AM

Equator Man, Gaksital, Third Ward and now this.... the 1N2D leading men clearly have a stranglehold on the Weds/Thurs timeslot!

Required fields are marked *

30 luvyluna

September 27, 2012 at 3:19 AM

The cast makes me in love.. ;)

Required fields are marked *

31 graygirl

September 27, 2012 at 4:14 AM

Hong Jong-hyun!!! Love him a lot!

Required fields are marked *

32 cheekbones

September 27, 2012 at 4:51 AM

I like Hong Jong-hyun since Jungle Fish 2 and then White Christmas. Haven't seen him after that. I wish he'd get bigger roles soon. He and Kim Woo-bin.

Required fields are marked *

33 Luis

September 27, 2012 at 7:45 PM

woahhh, it will be tight competition on wed-thurs drama next november. jeon woo chi has to battle with the great seer and missing you. which the great seer has jisung and missing you has yoochun. but right, in the end drama not only about the actors but script also.
but among those drama, I really excited for jeon woo chi.. I already watched jeon woo chi movie and I really enjoyed. I hope the drama doesnt dissapointing, which is cha tae hyun in it.