Uhm Jung-hwa headlines rom-com about love sex and singledom

59 August 4, 2013August 4, 2013

Uhm Jung-hwa headlines rom-com about love sex and singledom

by girlfriday

And she’s romancing a younger man to do it. Rawr. Uhm Jung-hwa’s next project is a rom-com about the friendships and love lives of three forty-something women, called Laws of Attraction. It promises a bold, frank portrayal of sex and singledom, and co-stars Jo Min-soo (Pieta, Goddess of Marriage) and Moon Sori (Ethics of Wrath, The Housemaid) as part of the trio of girlfriends. Setups like this will always sound like another Sex and the City, but hey, I’ll always welcome more films about women’s friendships and single lives.

Uhm Jung-hwa stars as a cable network executive in charge of variety programming, who breaks up with a long-term boyfriend and begins a relationship with a much younger man. Lee Jae-yoon of Heartless City will be the new love interest, with whom she has a fiery new romance. Jo Min-soo plays a divorcée who runs a bakery cafe, and dreams innocently of the day a new love will wander into her life. Cue Lee Kyung-young (Vampire Prosecutor 2). Aw, I bet their story will be super cute. The actors will be reuniting for the first time in 13 years since the drama Fireworks.

Moon Sori is the only married member of the trio, and she plays a mom who enjoys a second newlywed phase in her relationship the minute her son leaves the nest to go study abroad. Ha. She’ll be paired with Golden Time’s Lee Sung-min. The script, from a newbie writer, won the top prize at Lotte Entertainment’s open screenwriting contest, and directing is PD Kwon Chil-in of Wonderful Radio and Singles (essentially the thirty-something version of this story).

Laws of Attraction has begun shooting and is aiming for a release later this year.

Uhm Jung-hwa, Lee Jae-yoon

Jo Min-soo, Lee Kyung-young

Lee Sung-min, Moon Sori

Via Newsis, E Daily, Sports Hankook

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1 danna

August 4, 2013 at 12:21 PM

Aww, I'm already loving the Moon Sori-Lee Sung Min story

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2 Arhazivory

August 4, 2013 at 12:25 PM

Hmmm...This sounds good.

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3 Mystisith

August 4, 2013 at 12:28 PM

Unconventional couples, fighting!
Had to laugh a bit at the "innocent and idealistic divorcée" description: Not sure those words go together. ^^

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windsun33

August 4, 2013 at 2:00 PM

And for some reason the line "..her son leaves the nest to go study abroad.." struck me as funny. Why? - Well because in K-drama-land apparently the only way that the son ever leaves the house is to go study abroad.

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rainerust

August 4, 2013 at 5:59 PM

Not too surprising in Asian context unless they live in rural areas - then maybe the son will leave the house because he's going to the city to work.

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4 houstontwin

August 4, 2013 at 12:36 PM

It's nice to have a little fun and romance targeted at more "mature" viewers (like me)!

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5 trotwood

August 4, 2013 at 12:40 PM

PLEASE BE GOOD!!!! I need a good drama with people starring people my age.

P.S.--I love Moon Sori in that last pic.

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Ann

August 5, 2013 at 1:15 PM

Yay older people in dramas! Uhm Jung-Hwa is a great example of a female actress who doesn't let age get in the way of working!

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6 bebeswtz

August 4, 2013 at 1:00 PM

Lol what is up with all the recent new and upcoming dramas and movies written by new writers who win writing contests?? This one is, like, the 4th or 5th I've heard buzz about, as of recent n.n Not that I'm complaining n.n I like, and sometimes enjoy, new blood n.n

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Rovi

August 7, 2013 at 2:08 AM

That's what it is they're focusing: New Blood.
The behind-the-scenes team and cast of the good 'ol glory days are either gray and old or have gone on.

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7 Mar

August 4, 2013 at 1:01 PM

This is fabulous news. I also am thrilled to see a movie like this coming out. Maybe it will inspire something to happen in drama land for more mature and/or divorced lead characters. They are few and too far between. Yeah, I am wishing on stars, but I d try to keep a little hope alive.

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bd

August 5, 2013 at 1:19 AM

Uhm Jung-hwa already did a romcom film (generally) along these lines in "Singles" tho it was about a mixed gender group of friends - the excellent Jang Jin-young (who played the lead) and Lee Beom-soo as the male friend and Kim Joo-hyuk as a romantic interest.

Granted, this was about a group of singles entering their 30s, as opposed to 40-somethings, but one of the best Korean romcom films.

For a romcom drama, I would also recommend "The Man/He Who Can't Marry" starring Ji Jin-hee, along w/ UJH, Kim So-eun and Yoo Ah-in.

Not only a great cast, but really solid writing unlike so many Korean romcom dramas.

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Ann

August 5, 2013 at 1:13 PM

Loved He who can't marry!

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soprection

August 5, 2013 at 1:20 PM

Another +1 for The Man Who Can't Marry. That's my favourite drama. It has a very, very different feel from most lighter K-dramas (possibly because it's a remake of a J-drama).

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bd

August 6, 2013 at 3:13 AM

I think it's mostly b/c it actually had a talented writer(s).

I would rate it as the 2nd best romcom next to "Coffee Prince" - which also has a similar feel (in that the everyday dialogue sounds realistic and the storyline isn't filled w/ the usual K-drama cliches and one-note stereotypical characters), w/ "I Need Romance 2013" being the 3rd.

There are numerous K-drama remakes of J-dramas which are the same old, same old - such as "Boys Over Flowers" (which I didn't see, but heard enough about which confirmed my decision not to watch), "To The Beautiful You" and of course, "Dr. Jin," which was so bad, that it was unintentionally funny.

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soprection

August 6, 2013 at 2:33 PM

You're probably right. Even as I wrote my last sentence, I thought that there have been quite a few J-drama remakes that have fallen flat despite having a lot of potential and an existing format to play with. A good writer is definitely key to success.

I've actually never seen Coffee Prince so I can't sound off on that (although I have heard many, many, many good things about it). And both I Need Romances are pretty high up on my list, although I didn't like the second incarnation quite as much as the first. I wanted a little more focus on the female friendships, I didn't like the fact that they went for the serious, hereditary illness route (before the reveal, a friend of mine had speculated that Seok-Hyun's issue was impotence which I think would have been a really different and much more interesting way to go than the typical serious illness route) and I felt like the main love triangle played out a little too similarly to the love triangle in the first incarnation of the series. But as far as rom-coms go, I did like it a lot more than most K-dramas.

soprection

August 6, 2013 at 2:41 PM

Although to be fair, I think I probably would have enjoyed I Need Romance 2 more if I hadn't already seen the first one. I kind of felt like it didn't differentiate enough in terms of character types from the first, although I will admit that they did try.

8 MsB

August 4, 2013 at 1:16 PM

My kind of drama!! Looking forward to it!

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9 p_d

August 4, 2013 at 1:21 PM

sounds like the woman who still wants to marry fast forwarded a decade. not super excited but i really enjoyed TWWSWTM so maybe i'll enjoy this too. i'll reserve my opinion until it airs.

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10 Denali

August 4, 2013 at 1:24 PM

I have a soft spot for Uhm Jung Hwa and am pleased to see her back on our (PC) screen. This drama looks promising, and I agree with all of trotwood's words above!

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11 substratum

August 4, 2013 at 1:39 PM

AGD for women? I'm on board.

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Mystisith

August 4, 2013 at 2:02 PM

A Lady's Dignity, for sure.

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12 Noelle

August 4, 2013 at 1:45 PM

Yay! I like her.

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13 risa

August 4, 2013 at 1:53 PM

Yay for a film that focuses on women in their forties as romantic leads! It seems to me that the ajummafication of women in Korea has lead to the perception that "older" women have lost all their sex appeal (or that they're too old to use it). Why isn't this a drama?! :( Having the lead be a female exec in charge of variety programming on a cable show is a refreshing change and could lead to a lot of great material. I'm excited that Lee Sung Min's character will be getting some action for a change-- he deserves it!

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windsun33

August 4, 2013 at 2:14 PM

Korea is a bit late to the game on the "ajummafication" of programming. Maybe someone finally pulled out a chart and saw that not only are there more 30-40 year olds, than 20-30's, but that they also have more money :)

Interesting YouTube article here - and one that is at odds with many of the portrayals and plots in recent dramas:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3bJVaBM56s

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houstontwin

August 4, 2013 at 10:06 PM

Thank you. An interesting report!

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Ann

August 5, 2013 at 1:26 PM

That is interesting. I also saw an article in the New York Times about the Korean government setting up blind dates because supposedly young Koreans don't want to get set up by their families but also have a hard time approaching strangers. Therefore, that is why they are not getting married.

I don't know enough about Korean culture to comment on which theory is more likely.

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14 Hagar

August 4, 2013 at 1:59 PM

Looking forward to it!!!!

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15 junny

August 4, 2013 at 2:09 PM

Thighs back in action so soon! this should be interesting, hehe. it'd be fun if he's a beta male in this one XD

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Mama J

August 5, 2013 at 3:22 AM

I'm so excited to see Thighs again!

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jomo143

August 5, 2013 at 4:21 AM

Thighs!
I can see how if they would FIX HIS HAIR, that he could be cute.

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16 Angélina Eang

August 4, 2013 at 2:15 PM

Oh gosh', I'm already in :D Can I already ship the main couple just by looking at their pictures next to each other XD.

I only saw Uhm Jung Hwa in Dancing Queen and I was surprised by how good she was so acting wise, I'm sure it is going to rock.

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Angélina Eang

August 4, 2013 at 2:17 PM

I thought it was going to be a drama though. I'm disappointed !

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17 Kdramas

August 4, 2013 at 2:15 PM

I am very interested in this one. Yeaaaa

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18 apple

August 4, 2013 at 2:23 PM

Is it gonna be a movie or a drama?!

Uhm Jung Hwa gets all the yonger hotties, lol.

She had Lee Dong-gun as a love interest in a movie I think.

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19 ricky

August 4, 2013 at 2:40 PM

I know I say this a lot on here, but really, I'm a sucker for these noona romance dramas.

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ricky

August 4, 2013 at 2:45 PM

*movie -- in this case.

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20 Lucille

August 4, 2013 at 3:25 PM

Moon sori is working that red dress.

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21 trixicopper

August 4, 2013 at 3:36 PM

Now this is my kind of noona romance! Older woman younger MAN. And not a teenager in sight! :)

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Ann

August 5, 2013 at 1:26 PM

Amen sister!

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22 Abbie

August 4, 2013 at 4:09 PM

This sounds interesting. I was too young to be interested in Sex in the City, and my mom never watched it, so I only have a vague idea of what it was about. But I like Uhm Jung-hwa. I recently saw her movie Bestseller and was blown away by her acting. She's amazing.

Lee Jae-yoon is okay. I like his character in Heartless City, but he's kinda boring. Maybe he just pales in comparison to Jung Kyung-ho.

I liked Lee Kyung-young in VP2. And I've seen Lee Sung-min in several dramas, and I like him.

The other two ladies I'm not familiar with, so I'll withhold judgment for now. This show should be interesting.

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23 saranga

August 4, 2013 at 4:43 PM

oh i am so up for this one! it sounds perfect for uhm jung-hwa and jo min-soo—the other actress, i don't believe i'm familiar with.

i already like the uhm jung-hwa + lee jae-yoon pairing. i noticed him first in su-ae's recent revenge drama (what was that called? i only watched bits of it) and of course, heartless city. he can definitely do sexy! he's also got a really nice voice, which does a lot for him. a good voice in this business can only do you good things.

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24 snow__white

August 4, 2013 at 5:38 PM

I like Uhm Jung Hwa.....she was really cute in Seducing Mr. Perfect....and yes...Lee Sung Min was great in K2H....the cast is great..

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Perrie

August 4, 2013 at 9:06 PM

oh crap! That was her in that movie?!! I had no idea!

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25 KDaddict

August 4, 2013 at 6:18 PM

So happy it's a film, not a drama, bcos of Moon SR.
Still traumatized by Moon's turn in Legend, where she looked every bit like Bae YJ's mother, and ruined the drama for me. I'm sure she doesn't look that old in real life, or else they wouldn't have cast her. But when the fury erupted, the recent deceased PD explained that they had to get who was 'healthy and available'. Shocking.

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26 makoto

August 4, 2013 at 6:37 PM

Aw... Lee Jae Yoon. Still think of him as papa boy since Ghost and can't even erase that image after watching Heartless City. But hey, he's handsome... Would like to see him headlining new project.

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27 kimheami

August 4, 2013 at 7:29 PM

wait.... is this a movie/film or tv drama? and what broadcasting company?

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Perrie

August 4, 2013 at 9:04 PM

film

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28 Perrie

August 4, 2013 at 9:03 PM

Sounds like how stella got her grove back (can't remember the exact title) except without the cheating boyfriend...that we know of

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29 mysterious

August 4, 2013 at 11:28 PM

Knowing that Lee Kyung-young will be in it makes me want to watch it. I saw him for the first time in Vampire Prosecutor 2 and loved him. He has an older-man-sexiness to him.

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30 Usi

August 5, 2013 at 3:04 AM

Sounds a bit like the Still Marry me drama what I really liked. Surely interesting.

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31 LangitBiru

August 5, 2013 at 6:06 AM

Wow, UhmJungHwa and Lee Jae Yoon. I can ship this. LJY sure get all the hot leading lady either in dramas, movie and magazine spread. First time I saw him in a mag spread with Hyori.

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32 Waiting

August 5, 2013 at 6:28 AM

Amen to a show about 40-something women! Maybe we can dust off a few 40-ish actresses who may have been sitting on the sidelines.

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33 kumi

August 5, 2013 at 8:44 AM

Sounds 'meh' to me.

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34 chickenwing

August 5, 2013 at 11:03 AM

Uhmmmmm...

Looks good

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35 AnotherFan

August 5, 2013 at 11:14 AM

I am getting a Sex and the City vibe here..

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36 soprection

August 5, 2013 at 1:17 PM

Okay, so the plot sounds quite similar to The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry but since I loved that drama and am always on the lookout for more female-centric, career-women shows that spotlight female friendships, it's definitely right up my alley. It helps that I love Uhm Jung Hwa too.

Thanks for the heads-up!