Lee Yoon-ji joins cast of new weekend family drama

52 July 11, 2013October 17, 2013

by girlfriday

KBS’s next weekender is starting to fill out its cast, and they’ve got a big win in the plus column: Lee Yoon-ji (The Great Seer, The King 2 Hearts) has joined the cast. Love her. The family drama set to follow You’re the Best, Lee Soon-shin is called Royal Family, but it’s a punny title for the family’s last name Wang, to make Wang Family = royal family. It’s another household full of daughters and sounds a lot like Lee Soon-shin minus the birth secret drama, which actually sounds pretty nice.

The family will have a total of one son and four daughters, so the casting process is still ongoing. But so far we’ve got: Oh Hyun-kyung (Shark) playing 1st Daughter Wang Soo-bak, aka “king watermelon.” Oh, we’re just getting started with the puns. She plays the successful sister who has to come back home when she fails spectacularly. Then there’s Lee Tae-ran, who’s currently in the weekend drama Goddess of Marriage (apparently she’ll be pulling double duty at some point?) playing 2nd Daughter Wang Ho-bak, aka “king pumpkin,” who has troubles because of her layabout husband Heo Se-dal, aka “bombast,” played by Oh Man-seok (Wild Romance).

Lee Yoon-ji will play 3rd Daughter Wang Kwang-bak, given a boy’s name because her parents so desperately hoped to stop having daughters. So I guess that makes her the Lee Soon-shin of this family. She has a secure job as a teacher, but one day out of the blue she decides to quit her job to pursue her dream of becoming a writer, and turns her family upside-down with the news. She’s blunt and outspoken and often acts as the family’s troubleshooter, and is described as a cheery breath of fresh air.

The drama comes from the PD-writer team behind Three Suspicious Brothers (the PD also did Only You and the writer did I’m Going to Live Well), and plans to be a realistic multi-generational family drama about siblings and favoritism. So…lots of fighting to look forward to?

Royal Family premieres in late August on KBS.

Oh Hyun-kyung, Oh Man-seok, Lee Tae-ran

Via Joy News

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1 ck1Oz

July 11, 2013 at 9:08 AM

Ehm... I summon you love is about family and I am burnt by it.

Then LSS has sucky sisters.

Who's going to believe in this cheery drama then?

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2 PeepsLeAwesomePotato

July 11, 2013 at 9:22 AM

OH MY GAH, I LURVE, LURVE, LIKE REALLY LUUUUUUUUURVE LEE YOONJI! *SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEL!!!*

Why's she still in second lead and other small small roles? She's awesome enough to be first lead!

And Oh HyunKyung's in Shark?? What have I been watching if I still don't recognise her there...? I remember her best as She is Wow's Jo Ara. That drama was... WOW. And I meant that in a good way.

"I'm WOW Jo Ara ya!" *snorts*

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Selena

July 11, 2013 at 9:26 AM

Oh Hyun Kyung played as Hae Woo's mother in Shark.

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pogo

July 11, 2013 at 9:41 AM

yeah, she and Kim Jae-wook are two actors who ought to have broken into first lead years ago. I've yet to see a drama I didn't love her in (K2H <3333333)

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pearl3101

July 11, 2013 at 10:20 AM

Exactly.. I loved her in king 2 hearts and in dream high and in cyrano.... XD

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ilikemangos

July 11, 2013 at 11:47 AM

seriously when is someone going to give this girl a week-day show as a lead.
Too many things wrong with the world when idols (not gonna name any names) get cast into the leads when they suck at acting and get blown out of the water by these more talented and deserving actors.
Sooyoung's good though, i like her.

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KDaddict

July 11, 2013 at 5:59 PM

Maybe Spoiler?
She's Wow is Wow until it craps out in the finale! What a weak finish to a wacky show.

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Captain Obvious

July 17, 2013 at 9:50 AM

Agreed. Lee Yoon-ji has been a constant, instantly likable force and major credit to each and every project that she's worked on. I can't imagine anyone having a single negative thing to think about her. I'll be looking forward to seeing her again, and Lee Tae-ran as well. Both of these ladies are "aces" in my book.

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May147

July 11, 2013 at 11:03 PM

OMG YESSSSS!!!! Wasn't she in Dream High too?? She was so adorable^^

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Rovi

July 12, 2013 at 8:31 PM

As the teacher who's prototype of Eunjung. And also in Princess Hours as Shin's elder sister...

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3 Selena

July 11, 2013 at 9:22 AM

Haha I have three sisters and a brother... I can imagine the clutter when the four sisters 'shout' to each other with a brother on the background.

Can't wait for the drama!

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Shiku

July 11, 2013 at 3:59 PM

Me too! I have 3 sisters and a brother! The house usd to be so noisy and lively!

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4 Windsun33

July 11, 2013 at 9:31 AM

I really hope this does not follow the same theme as Your The Best Doormat LSS. I simply cannot take any more evil screaming witch harpy mothers. In fact they should end LSS 10 episodes early - just have all the moms get eaten by a giant squid or something.

I am pinning my hopes that there will be at least one sister here I won't hate on the 3rd one, but if it follows the same type of family self destruction as LSS, I will pass on it.

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pearl3101

July 11, 2013 at 10:14 AM

loved the squid part :D

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5 kumi

July 11, 2013 at 9:49 AM

And how many tens of episodes will it take?

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Rach ^^

July 11, 2013 at 10:09 AM

KBS weekend dramas normally run for 50 episodes.

I don't know why but I don't like Lee Yoon Ji as an actress when I liked her when she was hosting Entertainment Weekly. Weird.

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6 pearl3101

July 11, 2013 at 10:18 AM

The casting is good... But then so it was in YTBLSS... And the drama still is a trianwreck... Why can't they fish something out on the lines of OB... ?!!! Huh.. :( I have yet to watch a family drama since OB that actually has "family" in it......and not just in the genre column....

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Avid

July 11, 2013 at 10:24 AM

You should check out Wonderful Mama. That's been very good so far.

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faramalina

July 11, 2013 at 3:40 PM

Wonderful Mama, yes! :D love it!

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maldita

July 11, 2013 at 7:25 PM

You Who Rolled in Unexpectedly was a really good recent family drama.

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7 myra

July 11, 2013 at 10:21 AM

i wonder why kbs doesn't have two dramas at the weekend anymore

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Rovi

July 13, 2013 at 6:03 AM

The reason why there's only one weekend drama ("You're The Best Doormat, Banshee") these days is because the drama to follow the fail/slash/disaster-palooza that was "The Great King's Dream" will broadcast next year 2014.

Tentative(?) title would be "Jeong Do-jeon", which I guess would be all about Taejo's influential Neo-Confucian minister who practically founded "the works" (and Gyeongbokgung Palace) of Joseon in 1392; like "Tears of the Dragon" & "Feng Shui Master" all over again.

Jeong Do-jeon became Yi Bang-won (Taejong's) enemy when, on the issue of who's gonna be Crown Prince, Jeong Do-jeon suggested Taejo select his favorite son (Yi Bang-seok, thru his 2nd wife) over the one who would be most useful (Yi Bang-won, who did almost all the dirty work).
Furthermore, there were rumours that months before, Queen Shindeok (Taejo's 2nd wife; Bang-won and Jeongjong's birth mother had died before 1392), before she died, requested Jeong Do-jeon to, first and foremost, protect the Crown Prince (Bang-seok), then, kill Bang-won since she foresaw that Bang-won would most likely kill Bang-seok in a fit of brotherly jealousy.
Because of that, Bang-won initiated the First Strife of Princes in 1398, and killed Queen Shindeok (whom he had hated from the start)'s 2 sons Bang-seok and Bang-beon, Princess Gyeongsun (the Queen's only daughter)'s husband, and, most of all, the political clique around Jeong Do-jeon, and Jeong Do-jeon himself. Taejo was disgusted at the bloodshed, and also emotionally weakened by the death of his wife, that he abdicated in disgust, placed Jeongjong on the throne, and retired at his villa in Hamheung.

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8 gaeinalee

July 11, 2013 at 10:24 AM

Oh Man Seok! Lee Yoon Ji!
Been a long time since the last I watch them.. Yayy!

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9 snow__white

July 11, 2013 at 10:37 AM

I like her but the drama is not my cup of tea....
Lessons learnt from following one weekend family drama (YATBLSS) :-)

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Windsun33

July 11, 2013 at 11:34 AM

I will give it a chance, but not going to waste anything like the amount of time I did on LSS. If it looks like it is following the same pattern after 3-4 episodes, I will drop it.

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hoaa

July 11, 2013 at 5:53 PM

honestly, family drama is not my cup of tea too.

YATBLSS is the first family drama i'm watching patiently every weekend BECAUSE i'm hanging on in the JJS-IU storyline.

without JJS-IU i'm absolutely don't wanna watch family drama haha.

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KDaddict

July 11, 2013 at 6:01 PM

Re LSS: If it were not for JJS, most of us would have bailed early, like Very early!

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maldita

July 11, 2013 at 7:27 PM

Weekend family dramas were never my thing until I saw You Wo Rolled In Unexpectedly. Now that was a family drama done pretty well.

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Rach ^^

July 12, 2013 at 6:52 AM

Thoroughly enjoyed every single episode of YWRIU. I wish Kim Nam Joo will do more dramas, she's just so sassy. This and Ojakgyo Brothers were the best KBS weekend dramas of recent times.

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10 Angeliam

July 11, 2013 at 10:54 AM

My sister in law has 4 daughters n 1 son n all the daughters are sharing a room. Outside of their room will always has a sign " no boys are allowed". N the boy is mean to everyone bc they don't let him play w them. Hope the drama would have something like that. Lee yoon ji

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11 Hmm

July 11, 2013 at 11:36 AM

The birth secret will be part of this drama plot, just you wait.

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12 altair

July 11, 2013 at 11:37 AM

Why is she not leading lady yet? She deserves it. She is a wonderful actress and a gorgeous girl. Give have a lead already!

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13 james

July 11, 2013 at 12:42 PM

Sexy sisters

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14 risa

July 11, 2013 at 12:42 PM

Yay for more Lee Yoon Ji! I recently fast-forwarded my way through Dandelion Family because I wanted to see YTBLSS's Breadman (Jung Woo) in another drama, and was delighted to see Lee Yoon Ji in that. (I can't say I recommend DF, but her romance with Kim Dong Wook was sweet enough to make it worth a partial watch.) I thought was great in the cameo role she recently did in DA:Cyrano.

And surprisingly, I like or love everyone else who has been cast so far as well. Lee Tae Ran seems to always play unlucky-in-love characters-- I really want to see her get a HEA.

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Gala

July 11, 2013 at 6:19 PM

All the lee tae ran series I've seen... She's actually lucky in love. Lol. But I've only seen two. Heh.

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15 goldeng

July 11, 2013 at 12:49 PM

yaaaaay i love heeeerrrr!! and oh man seok got me on his pocket after hs brilliant role in Whats Up? :) weekend dramas make me anxious wih teir gazillion episodes but ill waitfor this on :))

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16 Mia

July 11, 2013 at 1:19 PM

I really miss Lee Yoon ji!!!
I'd like to see her more in dramas, movies, variety? Hopefully she'll get a lead role soon.
Fighting Lee Yoon Ji!

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17 Makoto

July 11, 2013 at 1:48 PM

oh hyun kyung... i watch her recent drama, she is wow. bitter yet funny. i watch her in first ep of shark, her character totally opposite.

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18 Waiting

July 11, 2013 at 3:40 PM

Yup! LOVE HER! Glad to see her back in something and hoping it will be a GOOD something.

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19 maimymlt

July 11, 2013 at 4:57 PM

I had to laugh as I read the comments because most of us are thinking the same thing - please, please no birth secrets, no screaming, social climbing mothers, no nasty, ill-tempered grandmothers, no evil, scheming ex-girlfriends, no stupid, clueless employees or (best?!) friends, no wicked step-mothers, no parents that pit their kids against each other, no inept, clueless dads, no hateful, spiteful siblings!!

Note: I'm FFing through YTBLSS AND ISYG because of all the above.

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20 george

July 11, 2013 at 6:13 PM

I think it's worth a try.Thanks!

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21 denise

July 11, 2013 at 6:14 PM

they should make another great weekend drama like "life is beautiful" missed that. hehee loved Lee Yoon Ji. I hope this will do well s she can have a leading role. :)

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22 Gala

July 11, 2013 at 6:15 PM

I actually love kbs weekend family dramas. The only one I skipped is their current one, since I'm not a huge fan of IU (call it illogical dislike...). Ojakgyo is my fave one followed by Sons of Sol Pharmacy.

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Rach ^^

July 12, 2013 at 6:57 AM

Me too! The only KBS weekend drama I didn't watch in recent times was 'Mom's Dead Upset.' That was depressing, I couldn't even watch past the first episode.

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23 bashful

July 11, 2013 at 9:02 PM

Thanks for this wonderful news! Can't wait to watch it!Count me in among Lee Yoon-Ji fans, who also thinks she deserves to be in a lead role by now. I became a fan since K2H, which prompted me to watch Dandelion family, a few episodes of Great Seer, and ep 1-3 of Cyrano, solely because of her. Lee Yoon-Ji, Fighting!!

How about then a new drama on the life, love, and reign of Goong's Queen Hye Myung? Who else's better to play Queen Hye Myung than Lee Yoon-Ji? Right, fellow fans? K-drama producers, are you reading this? It's ok you can have this idea. ;-)

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Rovi

July 13, 2013 at 6:11 AM

Psh, Princess Hyeomyeong plot-line was already done with the train-wreck that was "Goong S". I don't even want to mention that drama and the lead actor, even. DX

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24 Bengbeng

July 11, 2013 at 11:02 PM

lee tae ran will really have a double duty coz goddess of marriage just started some week ago. But I also like her, so who's complaining if she wants to do it. Besides it's KBS which my cable is carrying, happiness!!!

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25 Langit13iru

July 12, 2013 at 12:28 AM

Oh Man Seok in this drama.. Why must 3 daughters? They need someone like oppa maknae in Okjagyo Brothers. Can we have Young In-Soo act in this drama too. I want to see him more...

Chulryong/Young Insoo and KBS is OTP..

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26 Cat

July 12, 2013 at 2:51 AM

Awwww I loved her back when she appeared as the cool sister of the Prince, in Goong!!

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27 KimKas

July 12, 2013 at 6:36 AM

After the rather disastrous "I summon you, Gold!" and the even more hopeless "You're the best Lee Soon Shin", I hope we'll get some actually worthy dramas to watch.

Lee Yoon Ji is the actress I admire most after Shin Min Ah, so I hope the drama isn't a hopeless one like LSS. For now, I'm only watching JTBC dramas, they seem to know how to make good ones.

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Andrea

July 12, 2013 at 8:52 AM

Curious as to why you think "I Summon You Gold" Is a disaster?

Other than following the all the usual tropes, it's utterly addictive! I marathoned 1-12 and am now watching it weekly.

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28 exquisitemelody

July 12, 2013 at 10:14 AM

meh....LSS might have scared me off from weekend family dramas for life. Maybe I need to go watch Smile, You to restore my faith in the genre.

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King’s Family