Basketball period drama to air on tvN

45 May 23, 2013May 23, 2013

by javabeans

Wait, there’s a drama coming up from tvN about basketball, and that’s in addition to the potentially-basketball-themed follow-up to Answer Me, 1997? We’ve seen numerous cases of parallel development of certain conceits in dramaland (time travel shows, fashion shows, sports shows), but those aren’t usually from the same channel.

Okay, so it turns out this basketball drama is going to bear absolutely no resemblance to that other one, in that it begins during the years of the Japanese Occupation, includes the winning of independence, and goes up through the division of the two Koreas. Not exactly the image that springs to mind when you hear the words “basketball drama.” Titled Basketball (spelled in hangul in a quirky old way), the story follows young men who struggle to find a bright spot in the darkness of their times, and basketball becomes their “lamplight.”

The drama follows their loves, conflicts, unity, and emotional victory, and includes the first and last time that Korea had a single national basketball team. It was right before the official division between North and South, when the team made history by advancing to the quarterfinals of the 1948 Olympics. Ooh, this sounds awesome so far. Shivers.

Cast in the lead is a relatively new actor, 21-year-old Do Ji-han, who was recently in the drama Incarnation of Money and the films Tower and My Neighbor. He plays the main character who overcomes a life of hardship to make that quarterfinal team. He grows up in the late 1930s in a dirt-poor village, and basketball allows him to find success.

Basketball comes from director Kwak Jung-hwan, who was the man behind all the stylish chase and fight scenes of Chuno (also Runaway Plan B, Conspiracy in the Court, and A Love To Kill). This man knows how to direct cool action scenes with a gorgeous visual flair, that’s for sure. This drama is being planned for 24 episodes and half of it will be pre-produced, which means it’ll be given time to polish and fine-tune rather than being hurried through the process of the live shoot. I know fully pre-produced shows aren’t always an attractive option, but getting half a show in the can in advance seems like a solid compromise.

Basketball will broadcast in September.

Via TV Report

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Tags: cable programs, Do Ji-han

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1 Noelle

May 23, 2013 at 2:49 PM

Preproduced? Fantastic! So for sure the writer or writers will get a solid story. Hopefully it's as good as it sounds.

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2 tonbotomoe

May 23, 2013 at 2:54 PM

This sounds fantastic! I wanna

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Jo

May 24, 2013 at 3:46 PM

watch (finishing the sentence for you ahahaha).

tvn did the "same concept" thing on one channel. I don't really mind because, for example, NINE and QUEEN INHYUN'S MAN were two totally different dramas with similar sounding premises (i.e. time travel). Although there the similarity of basketball in this drama, I know it will be different (and it already sounds super super sad!)

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Lilian

May 25, 2013 at 6:07 AM

I am kinda biased towards tvN dramas. Most of those that I have watched, I've liked. And even though I was sceptical about Nine as well, with the similar time travel plot, it turned out to be very very different =) It helps too that I like the cast and a dose of mystery =D

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3 delicatecloud

May 23, 2013 at 2:57 PM

Will definitely watch this, if it is subbed!! So Hyuk (character from Incarnation of Money) your name is Do Ji-han!! Glad that you are going to be back on the small screen again!!

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avonmarissa

May 23, 2013 at 5:25 PM

Hyuk-a! Count me in! I enjoyed his character in Incarnation of Money, although he had a small role. Never associated basketball with that period of Korean history; you learn something new everyday.

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lovebug

May 24, 2013 at 11:45 AM

Boy definitely has charisma, and did a lot with his few scenes in Incarnation! Also glad to see him again.

*still think it was hilarious when KJW called him sunbae when he is like over 10 years younger (and he looks it)!

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Lilian

May 25, 2013 at 6:08 AM

yeah..that was bad casting. I kept thinking an older guy would have fit the role as the third party in the love triangle....

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4 So Cold

May 23, 2013 at 3:00 PM

Wow. He's grown so much.

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5 dustdevil

May 23, 2013 at 3:03 PM

It sounds great, although now I am also excited by the idea of a "Flower Boy Basketball Team."

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Annie

May 23, 2013 at 5:43 PM

I wouldn't expect anything like that from Kwak Jung Hwan. That's not how he rolls (thank god).

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6 Bebe

May 23, 2013 at 3:07 PM

Sounds like a brialliant drama.

Love the setting, so can we see cameo from Gaksitaaal playing basketball.

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skelly

May 24, 2013 at 9:19 AM

The setting of this sounds really interesting - I had no idea about the combined Korea basketball team at the Olympics...!
That's enough for me to give it a try even though I am not a basketball fan at all (for some reason the sound of shoes squeaking on the wooden floor is like fingernails on a blackboard to me)

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Jo

May 24, 2013 at 3:47 PM

In Korea we had several moments where we combined teams for the 84 olympics

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7 Mystisith

May 23, 2013 at 3:20 PM

Original premise to say the least: We have plenty of music dramas but not many sport & historical dramas.
I also like how cable slowly drifts away from the craziness of liveshooting, baby step by baby step.

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8 crazedlu

May 23, 2013 at 3:28 PM

Hm. Interested.

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9 mj

May 23, 2013 at 3:32 PM

i seem to love tvn shows so ill be watching this

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10 Ivoire

May 23, 2013 at 3:39 PM

Thanks!

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11 the other kay

May 23, 2013 at 4:01 PM

this sounds pretty good. now let me go look up this cutie

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12 bigwink

May 23, 2013 at 4:07 PM

Do Ji Han looks so great in that last photo, im sweating

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13 snow_white

May 23, 2013 at 5:32 PM

Wow....he got the main lead role....he was good in Incarnation of money.....

The story sounds interesting..

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14 canxi

May 23, 2013 at 6:13 PM

This sounds really good and I would love to watch this for real.

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15 Ennayra

May 23, 2013 at 6:45 PM

I have to admit, I'm kind of excited. I hope this drama gets subbed - I'll definitely tune in :-).

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16 gaeinalee

May 23, 2013 at 7:07 PM

DO JI HAN~~!!!
Lovely Hyuk is back! Noona is sooo happy to hear the news, darling... *happy dance on the table*

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17 whilethemusiclasts

May 23, 2013 at 7:09 PM

How curious! That actually sounds like an engaging plot line. Who would've thought to combine historical Japanese occupation drama with sports?! I'm already liking the sound of it.

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18 kfangurl

May 23, 2013 at 7:30 PM

Wow. Ok, this sounds really good!! The concept is very intriguing, and the team sounds solid too! And coming from tvN, which has been pretty consistent in churning out quality fare. I am SO. IN. :D

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19 denise

May 23, 2013 at 7:30 PM

he's a cuteeeeeee

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20 okdubu

May 23, 2013 at 7:48 PM

i just finished watching incarnation and man, was his role really random and sad. glad to see he's been cast in a tvn drama lead!

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21 girlatsea

May 23, 2013 at 8:02 PM

Something different, finally! Not familiar with the lead but great director. Looks promising!

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22 kyleD

May 23, 2013 at 8:17 PM

sports isnt my favorite topic, but that poster design looks interesting. always judging a book by its cover, its mostly working out. mostly.

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23 Mini Roo

May 23, 2013 at 8:24 PM

lol. hot guys playing basketball. yup

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24 Sur

May 23, 2013 at 8:45 PM

Sounds awesome definitely going to keep an eye

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25 austriandramalover

May 23, 2013 at 9:13 PM

Hyuk-ah =) Nice to see him back so soon! And in a lead role that is :)

I guess this will be another addition to my ever so fast growing to-watch-list :D Looking forward to September!

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26 Betsy Hp

May 23, 2013 at 9:37 PM

Ooh, intrigued! I liked him in Incarnation of Money and the concept sounds fascinating. (Also, this is my favorite way to learn history. ;))

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27 jasmin

May 23, 2013 at 10:55 PM

Looking forward to check this out! :D

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28 Angélina Eang

May 24, 2013 at 2:24 AM

I am in too ! It sounds really promising and gosh', tvN, can you be awesomer ? If you keep doing amazing dramas, I don't know what the other stations are going to become lol.

Seriously, so far, I am more addicted cable dramas than the ones in national stations. Still waiting for Dating Agency to air and Queen Office to be subbed but that's all ;O

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29 anna

May 24, 2013 at 2:28 AM

This sounds too serious, can the other Answer Me 1997 basketball theme be more Kuroko no Basuke-ish? LOL That's the only way to get me to watch any sport drama. BOYS. LOTS OF PRETTY BOYS.

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30 Peridot

May 24, 2013 at 4:46 AM

This period-piece sports drama could be very interesting. And I think filming half of it before air time is a very wise idea. Hopefully it will have both solid acting and a solid story line.

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31 pogo

May 24, 2013 at 8:01 AM

This sounds interesting - and they are avoiding the live shoot? I will definitely give this a try!

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32 browncoat_78

May 24, 2013 at 10:35 AM

Reasons I will watch this:
1. It's on TvN.
2. The lead, who I thought did a really nice job in Incarnation.
3. The PD, who KNOWS how to direct!
4. The story, which just sounds fresh and fantastic!
I can't wait. This sounds wonderful!

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33 eunchans

May 24, 2013 at 2:36 PM

This sounds really good. The PD definitely knows his stuff (I'm so glad tvN have him under contract now. He can just produce really awesome shows for cable and there isn't so much pressure surrounding ratings) and the premise sounds incredible. I'm not even into sports dramas (I don't think?), but this sounds like it's going to be about alot more than that. Another good thing is if they've picked a relative newcomer it means that he's likely very suited for the role (also, he looks good in a suit). And partially pre-produced? I'm so in.

Cable is so awesome. I just hope this gets subbed... :(

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34 magnus

May 25, 2013 at 11:46 AM

Can't wait. TvN hasn't let em down yet with their shows and the story for this looks like it'll be an emotional roller coaster of amazing. And it'll be a nice break from all the saeguks.