The Chaser’s good guys go bad for Empire of Gold
by girlfriday
They might as well have called SBS’s new series Empire of Gold Chaser The Chaser: Bizarro Land, because that’s pretty much the secret to the casting — the good guys are bad and the bad guys are good. Here’s a collection of stills from the next installment of the epic ambition wars between the haves and the have-nots, brought to you from the writer-PD combo behind last year’s sleeper hit The Chaser.
Empire of Gold will cover a twenty-year span from 1990 to 2010, and follow the power struggle between three people for control of one chaebol empire. Go Soo stars as the hero who comes from nothing and raises his little sister (Yoon Seung-ah) on his own after their father dies. He’ll rise to the top by his wits alone, and fall in love with Lee Yo-won, chaebol heiress and rival for the group’s top seat.
But his biggest rival will her older brother, played by Sohn Hyun-joo. In a complete turnaround from his role in The Chaser, he’ll be the unscrupulous first son of the family who spends his days lobbying and making backdoor deals. He’s ruthless and cunning, and Sohn Hyun-joo says of his character: “Min-jae is a person with a poker face who doesn’t betray his emotions easily. He has the ambition to become the owner of the group, but also the wisdom to know when to keep that ambition hidden.”
Jang Shin-young has crossed over to the other side as well, though her character seems more of a loose cannon who could go either way. In Empire she plays a woman who uses her looks to get insider information, and sets up a real estate consulting firm to sell what she knows. It’s a rather dangerous line of work (hence the being chased barefoot by gangsters in the stills below), but she’ll go into business with Go Soo and team up with him against the family.
And the other big transformation is Ryu Seung-soo, who’s going from The Chaser’s lone ranger good prosecutor to Empire’s mob boss. He’ll play the antagonist to Go Soo and Jang Shin-young’s startup business, and become a growing threat as he amasses more and more power through dirty money. Well, who’s to say it isn’t all dirty money, but he’ll get his being outwardly dirty. I’m sure with actors this talented, it’ll only take me an episode or two to wrap my head around them all playing for the other side? Bizarro Land, here I come.
Empire of Gold premieres July 1 on SBS.
RELATED POSTS
- Go Soo in Empire of Gold’s first shoots
- Lee Hyun-jin joins cast of Empire of Gold
- Go Soo confirms new drama Empire of Gold
- The Chaser cast and crew reunites for new drama, courts Lee Yo-won and Go Soo
- The Chaser cancels extension due to writer’s collapse
- New ratings battle: The Chaser becomes the chased
Tags: Go Soo, Jang Shin-young, Lee Yo-won, Ryu Seung-soo, Sohn Hyun-joo, Yoon Seung-ah
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1 Javabeans
June 10, 2013 at 12:08 PM
Yoon Seung-ah is thirty. THIRTY! (Okay, she's a few months shy.) She must have found Jang Nara's secret fountain of youth.
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sartorius
June 10, 2013 at 12:45 PM
they really need to share this secret with the rest of us....its unfair!
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fab
June 10, 2013 at 1:35 PM
What?! I had to check which actress it was in Wiki, thought it was the redhead..
But it's the bad-ass girl from the Moon and the Sun! Well good for her.
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Ann
June 10, 2013 at 3:17 PM
For some of us, thirty is still considered "young." :)
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themugen123
June 10, 2013 at 10:20 PM
... I think 31 is young, though I admit to being biased. ?
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annnsow
June 10, 2013 at 4:19 PM
Are you talking about... the high school girl right here?
No freaking way....
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KDaddict
June 10, 2013 at 6:59 PM
I think there is some kind of a fountain of youth in SK. That beauty industry must be one of their largest money maker. With fillers, acupuncture, infra-red rollers treatments, etc. etc. that they get periodically, it must make a difference. Just look at SK actresses in their 50s. 60s, 70s, everyone of them has skin to die for. Amazing, isn't it?
It's kinda like their actors getting their hair done ONCE a day, so they Never have a bad hair day!
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KDaddict
June 10, 2013 at 7:06 PM
Sorry. I thought you were talking abt the pretty woman surrounded by thugs. The high-schooler? That's another dimension altogether.
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Bengbeng
June 10, 2013 at 8:23 PM
come to think of it, she and Nara has the same shape of face and eyes. I think that is the secret, to be born with small face =)
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Perrie
June 11, 2013 at 6:44 AM
I was likev"who's the new child actress, lol"
Cool, but kind of scary at the same time, haha
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sixtyseconds
June 11, 2013 at 8:44 AM
wait..............
WHAT?????????
SHE'S 30?? WHAT IN THE WORLD O.OOOOOO LOL
AND ALL THIS TIME I THOUGHT SHE WAS IN HER 20'S WOW
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Newborn Fanatic
June 11, 2013 at 1:33 PM
SERIOUSLY?! I need to know what these korean actresses are doing to stay so young looking! Besides the fillers and probably weekly skincare appts.. :OALthough this girl doesn't look like she's had anything done.. big wow!
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2 Autumn
June 10, 2013 at 12:30 PM
Yoon Seung-ah could pass as a highschooler! Insane.
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bebeswtz
June 10, 2013 at 12:41 PM
Lol same thoughts!!!!
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Gala
June 10, 2013 at 2:02 PM
Heck, she even looks younger in those stills than she did during playful kiss.
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3 SH
June 10, 2013 at 12:38 PM
Super excited for this show!
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4 snow_white
June 10, 2013 at 12:38 PM
Is she really thirty!!!!! Can't believe it.......
The cast is the only reason right now for me to give this a try.....the plot looks uninteresting.....
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5 Ivoire
June 10, 2013 at 12:50 PM
Thanks for the update, GF!
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6 Hugepuffball
June 10, 2013 at 1:34 PM
1.) I may check this out. Even though chaebol power struggles aren't my style and the romance doesn't really strike me as epic or anything, the fact that it spans twenty years interests me.
2.) Why in the world is a thirty year old woman willing to take the role high schooler? And how does she pull it off??
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Jushi
June 10, 2013 at 10:54 PM
It's because the story is from the 90s to the present. She will eventually play her real age once the story reaches the present.
( this is answering the question about the 'willingness' to take on the role of a high schooler).
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anais
June 10, 2013 at 11:06 PM
Presumably she ages over the course of the drama. It's to span 20 years.
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7 hipployta
June 10, 2013 at 1:51 PM
Man...we are the same age...what magic is she using
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Cheryl
July 3, 2013 at 12:53 AM
I'm 34, so if you find out her secret, please, let me know. ;D I look younger than 34, but not that young.
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8 marinai
June 10, 2013 at 1:53 PM
too bad I can't stand Lee Yo won :(
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jk
June 10, 2013 at 2:22 PM
Fair enough. LYW is the main reason I'm eagerly awaiting this drama and SHJ.
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loveit
June 10, 2013 at 4:35 PM
Same here. It's only Lee Yowon that keeps me in the Korean dramaland.
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Quiet Thought
June 10, 2013 at 4:46 PM
Queen Seon Deok is in this drama? Hot damn! Let me know if they give her something to do other than being a trophy/patsy for for the male leads.
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sister joy
June 10, 2013 at 6:12 PM
LOL again the name Queen Seonduk. It's amazing that it's still hot on facebook. Still could see a lot of pictures popping out often...
sister joy
June 10, 2013 at 6:14 PM
BTW, yes, Queen Seonduk/ Lee Yowon is in this drama & I am happy.
Hellen Le
June 12, 2013 at 8:25 AM
i'll watch this drama only because of Yo Won, she's the main and exclusive reason for me to watch this drama.
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9 snow
June 10, 2013 at 2:17 PM
can Go Soo end up with Jang Shin-young in the drama? pretty please??
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Annie
June 10, 2013 at 2:30 PM
I was just thinking... "wouldn't it be nice if Jang Shin Young and Lee Yo Won switched places".
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Hellen Le
June 12, 2013 at 8:29 AM
you think a top star like yo won can accept this, plz remember that partly because SBS have a good relationship with her, so she accept to join as female lead in this drama
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audrey
June 10, 2013 at 7:05 PM
you know that ain't gonna happen. lee yo won is the lead here.
but I am with you on this. I love Jang Shin Young in the empress and I am legend (although role was again given little screen time). i really like her charismatic acting.
Lee yo won on the other hand is a hit or miss for me.
Either she does great or looks like a dead fish most of the time. hopefully she'll have chemistry with go soo, which brings me to the point where when they originally announced that they were casting han ji min, I was like Yay, and then it went to lee you won, and my interest died a bit, but hey i might tune in just do see jang shin young go evil.
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marinai
June 17, 2013 at 8:16 PM
A miss most of the time ! sadly
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10 Chesquared
June 10, 2013 at 2:55 PM
I smell a strong dose of makjang coming from this already. Definitely gonna watch the first episode to check it out though. Makjang can be amazing when used properly and not just revolving around family secrets.
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11 mk
June 10, 2013 at 3:07 PM
Jang Shin Young and Ryu Seung Soo's characters were my favorites in Chaser; definitely looking forward to seeing them again!
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12 annnsow
June 10, 2013 at 4:21 PM
I might check it out because I absolutely love Ryu Seung Soo.
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annnsow
June 10, 2013 at 4:24 PM
Oh snap there is Lee Yo Won in this, didn't see it I was just attracted to RSS' pic >.<, forget my comment XD I'll watch other things with Ryu Seung Soo then.
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13 jomo143
June 10, 2013 at 4:32 PM
Go Soo in front of my eyes for what, 20 episodes?
Are you kidding?
How could that be anything other than a celebration?
Even if it goes makjang, I am in. He cries pretty. He smiles pretty. He does everything pretty.
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14 belle3005
June 10, 2013 at 5:21 PM
Go Soo looks really young in this haircut of his. It's as if he's aging backwards. O.O
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15 sososo
June 10, 2013 at 5:22 PM
The story is similar to Green Rose.
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16 Jess
June 10, 2013 at 5:39 PM
I think the storyline is interesting.........but I can't see any chemistry between Go Soo and Lee Bo Young. =(
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Nana
June 10, 2013 at 5:47 PM
maybe becos she's not in this drama? but im sure you meant Lee Yo-won
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jk
June 11, 2013 at 1:06 AM
How can you say there's no chemistry between 2 actors when you've yet to see them act together? LYW always manages to have great chemistry with her male co-stars. In 49 Days with JJH, BSB & JIW, KNG & UTW in Queen Seon Deok and who could forget LBS in Surgeon Bong Dal Hee to name but a few.
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17 ck1Oz
June 10, 2013 at 5:44 PM
It's 30 episodes. And oh dear,how did it slip my mind it's Mon and Tuesday. I am watching it for the young guy from Heartstrings and Family's Honor.
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18 sister joy
June 10, 2013 at 6:03 PM
I definitely am watching this drama. I have to watch Lee Yowon build another great chemistry with her new co-star. She always manage to do that... Besides I love this actress, it's already enough reason for me.
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19 Angle2mx
June 10, 2013 at 6:35 PM
Is it sad that I am super excited to yoon seung-ah more than anyone else? Of course I can't forget goo soo and Ryu seung-soo. I'll give it a try
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20 masbulloh(masalah buat lo)
June 10, 2013 at 6:35 PM
i love lee yo won, even all the world not support her
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21 eny
June 10, 2013 at 7:06 PM
most of the cast are from the chaser, i like the chaser, may be i'm gonna watch this
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22 WvR
June 10, 2013 at 7:31 PM
I haven't seen The Chaser yet...would it be too much for my mind to handle if I watched this drama and The Chaser at the same time? haha.
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Bengbeng
June 10, 2013 at 8:27 PM
i wasn't even able to finish the first episode because it's too gripping for me. But i think i will have to eventually watch it, because it was a sleeper drama that became no. 1.
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jk
June 11, 2013 at 1:19 AM
I had stopped watching it after a couple of episodes for the same reason. After a week, I went back to it and had to marathon it cos it was gripping and end of the seat kinda stuff. The Chaser is a great drama and I highly recommend it!
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jk
June 11, 2013 at 8:18 AM
* or rather edge of seat
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23 Lilian
June 11, 2013 at 7:52 AM
I never did watch the Chaser. Maybe I should give it a try. Or maybe I should just give this new drama a try =)
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24 Hellen Le
June 12, 2013 at 8:19 AM
all people remember that Yo Won is a top star for a long time and her talent everyone knows clearly(through pure love, fashion 70s', bong dae hee, Queen seon deok, 49 days...-->all of them are great dramas. it took a long time for her to accept the invitation from SBS for female lead in "golden empire", so plz give her the "thank you" because she agreed when SBS really want her acception :x
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sister joy
June 12, 2013 at 5:19 PM
AMEN.... OK, OK, thank you very much Yowon for accepting the invitation.
I am ready for the show from the moment she accepted it so bring it on!
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kiddo
June 13, 2013 at 12:55 AM
YES, seriously, thank to LYW's acceptance, this is the only Kdrama i watch this year, simply because i think she won't join any other dramas after this!
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kiddo
June 13, 2013 at 12:57 AM
for this year, I meant :P
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25 uttinah
June 13, 2013 at 7:53 AM
the only reason why i wacth this drama is becoz Lee Yo Won in it. i never know any drama of Go Soo before. hope they will built a great chemistry each other like what i always see in another LYW's drama with whoever she paired with. Jo Jin Moo, Lee Bum Soo, Kwon Sang Woo, Kim Seung Soo, Uhm Tae Wong, Kim Nam Gil, Jo Hyun Jae, Jung iL Woo, Jo Seung Woo and any other actors she ever paired with. and i'm ready to see how great the LYW and GS couple will rock us. and yeah thanks to LYW for accepting Golden Empire, please belive to SBS who really want her to join.
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