Contract marriage hijinks in store for Prime Minister and I
by girlfriday
So get this: Prime Minister and I turns out to be a contract marriage drama! Why didn’t it lead with its most interesting hook from the start? Here I was expecting some kind of live-in governess/nanny a la Mary Poppins by way of Suspicious Housekeeper, when in fact there’s a premise that makes the whole thing much more interesting. Sometimes all it takes is a scam wedding to go from bland to potential hootenanny.
The new KBS Monday-Tuesday drama comes from the PD of Ad Genius Lee Tae-baek and the writers of My Fair Lady, and stars Lee Beom-soo as the handsome single prime minister who is as much a celebrity as he is a politician. He was widowed eight years ago and raises three kids on his own, though he’s such a workaholic perfectionist and rigid in everything he does that he is by all accounts a terrible father. His character is described as always saying the right thing… but in the most aggravating way possible. Heh.
Yoon-ah plays a young writer who used to dream of writing like Jane Austen someday, but fast came to realize how little it pays to try to be Jane Austen. She’s the only daughter to a father with Alzheimer’s, and to earn the money for him to be cared for at a nursing center, she puts her skills to use for celebrity gossip rags. So she becomes a third-rate paparazzo to pay the bills, and then one day gets the assignment to cover the story every outlet desperately wants: a glimpse into the prime minister’s love life.
What happens instead is that in dogging him so relentlessly, she ends up mistaken as his girlfriend. And once compromising pictures get leaked, they enter into a contract relationship to preserve the prime minister’s image, which escalates into a contract marriage. What’s great about the setup is that even the second leads Yoon Shi-yoon and Chae Jung-ahn are the prime minister’s staffers, which means they have to be complicit in the ruse despite each having a vested interest in the couple not being a real couple. I dunno guys, I might have to watch this…
Prime Minister and I follows Mi-rae’s Choice and premieres December 9.
Via KBS
RELATED POSTS
- Second teaser and more stills for Prime Minister and I
- First teaser and meet-cute for Prime Minister and I
- Ryu Jin signs on as the prime minister’s foil
- Yoon Shi-yoon to play prime minister’s aide
- Chae Jung-ahn joins cast of Prime Minister and I
- Prime Minister and I confirms Yoon-ah and Lee Beom-soo
- Lee Beom-soo and Yoon-ah as potential romantic pairing. What.
Tags: Chae Jung-ahn, Lee Beom-soo, Prime Minister and I, Yoon Shi-yoon, Yoon-ah
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51 doomy
December 1, 2013 at 2:03 PM
man, i think yoona and yoon shi yoon in a proper balls-out swoony romcom would've killed it. nonetheless: contract marriage!! hopefully children utilised to full effect.
i really don't get y'all hating on yoona. she was so delightful in love rain as the daughter. her FACE, my god.
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52 JenJen
December 1, 2013 at 2:37 PM
Hmm I like this latest hook but YoonA looks too young for the role. Although the story appears to have her character written as someone in their late 20s, YoonA definitely still has her young 20s vibe to her. I think someone like Park MinYoung (City Hunter) would be better suited but hopefully YoonA's acting has improved enough to disprove me.
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windsun33
December 1, 2013 at 7:08 PM
Yoona is almost 24, so she is not as out of "age character" as some of those in Heirs.
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JenJen
December 3, 2013 at 7:01 PM
Windsun33, I understand that her actual age is not far off from the character's age but YoonA looks younger than her age. Her image does not have the relatively more mellow, mature vibe of someone in her later 20s.
I'm not watching Heirs so I have no comment on your comparison.
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53 Sunny
December 1, 2013 at 4:17 PM
Okay now this drama is on my must watch list.
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54 Elvira
December 1, 2013 at 4:24 PM
YOON SHI YOON!!!!
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55 dearly
December 1, 2013 at 5:44 PM
One of the reason why I don't watch Taiwanese drama is the cutesy image the female lead always go to. It's boring and dumb. And this aegyo thing is overplayed and dumb. Which is why I'm starting to dislike Kdrama. I'm now switching to American show. Less cute and more serious stuffs. It seems to me that they might change the leads if the audiences are not liking the pair of Lee Beom Soo and Yoonah. I can see Yoonah w/ Yoon Shi Yoon. And why is Yoon Shi Yoon in this? I want him in a separate drama where he's the lead.
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windsun33
December 1, 2013 at 7:20 PM
Odd you should say that. I am in the US, and seldom watch US dramas or shows, with a very few exceptions. I find them too heavy on special effects, constant references to sex for no reason, and far more in love with high tech gadgets than in actually acting. 85% or so of US network shows I can't stand or just find boring. The Blacklist and Sleepy Hollow are about the only dramas I am watching now on US TV.
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Quiet Thought
December 2, 2013 at 7:42 PM
. . . And while Yoona is certainly pretty enough, I'll be controversial and say I"m baffled as to why anyone thinks she's a great beauty. She's too soft-featured for that.
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56 Beth
December 1, 2013 at 6:26 PM
Wow, the Yoona defenders here are pretty nasty. I'm sorry, but her acting skills are sub pare. She's never been an actress, and next to to Lee Beom Soo, Yoon Shi Yoon, and Chae Jung An, she's got a lot to live up to.
I think the real issue with non actor idols like Yoona being cast in dramas heavy on the need for acting ability, is that they bring the whole thing down if they are bad. They are cast, not to make the best show it can be, but for the fans they can get to watch the show and bring in the money.
Now, she may have improved. We will have to see, but I'm not holding my breath.
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windsun33
December 1, 2013 at 7:23 PM
I have not noticed any nastiness from the defenders, I have several not so nice comments from detractors. I don't have a dog in this fight, but I am at least willing to give her a chance.
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Beth
December 2, 2013 at 1:36 PM
Um. If I recall looking at the top of the first page of comments, every time someone says she can't act, someone else tells them to keep their opinions to themselves.
And I said, "we will have to see." If that isn't a chance, well....
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doomy
December 2, 2013 at 12:31 PM
incorrect. love rain's ratings were abysmal. why would they bother doing that again with her.
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Beth
December 2, 2013 at 1:34 PM
Who knows....
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57 jdkk09
December 1, 2013 at 7:50 PM
I'm actually looking forward to this rom com. I like LBS and YSY. And contract marriage is right up my alley. It just needs to be entertaining and fun.
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58 shf
December 1, 2013 at 7:56 PM
I wish they would stop type-casting Chae Jung-ahn. She is much better than her second-rate bad woman/jealous woman characters. Casters need to offer her better roles. I've liked her since my Hmong-dubbed Mina, which I've only seen episode 1 of (if anyone has the whole set, please share it with me!), and I wish she'd get better roles.
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59 whitewire
December 1, 2013 at 8:27 PM
Watching this for Lee Beom-soo! Aja, oppa!
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60 korfan
December 1, 2013 at 8:43 PM
Lee Beom-soo ...... Always fantastic
Yoon Shi-yoon ...... Always delightful
Put them together ...... Always I'll watch them
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61 rhinodino
December 1, 2013 at 9:01 PM
It's quite obvious some are commenting just to be nasty and some truly are just drama fans voicing their opinion. Reality is for even the best actresses and actors, there will be differing opinions. I don't think this drama will do well in ratings not because of the who is on it but realistically it's the last drama to start in its slot. Empress K has already entrenched itself with its plot. So far the drama is ok to me. It's the better of what we have now but nothing that drives me to absolutely chase it. Warm words has veteran actors that appeal but the storyline may also be limited in appeal. PM and I, I doubt will be a high quality script but hopefully decent enough to just watch each week joyfully and have fun. Rightnow, the drama I look forward most is the wed drama with jeon ji hyun. As for the Yoona talk, I think she is decent enough to watch. Will hope that it will be fun. I don't find heirs interesting enough to watch. I must be weird.
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windsun33
December 1, 2013 at 9:38 PM
I have been desperately seeking some actually worth chasing after now since MS and Secrets ended. The current crop - high ratings or not - is not doing anything for me except pass time.
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geekcollage
December 2, 2013 at 12:39 AM
Yeah, I haven't been really interested in any of the current drama's this season.
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62 addict
December 1, 2013 at 11:14 PM
I JUST cannot see yoona in this role! I can feel she can't fit in !! just another same old role.. they should cast someone much older that could match the actor!
even the poster she look like an idol in an advert! it's like uncle n niece !
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63 jess
December 1, 2013 at 11:46 PM
Contract marriage trope is my weakness. And it's more interesting because of the fact that even the second leads have to be complicit since they're the PM's staffers. And it's not /just/ a contract marriage since they also has three kids (with apparently a rebelious pre-teen oldest son!) to deal with while lying to the whole country. Yep, very interesting set up.
Now that the teasers look. very promising, I'm sold. Please dont disappoint, drama!
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64 pace88
December 1, 2013 at 11:47 PM
yeah, I'm going to pass
Lee Bum Soo I love you but please pick a better project with a deserving lead.
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65 Beng
December 2, 2013 at 12:28 AM
Lee Beom-soo is looking so young and spiffy, i hardly noticed the age difference anymore =).
I'm shipping them already =). Will definitely watch!
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66 geekcollage
December 2, 2013 at 12:38 AM
Frankly as long as it doesn't become an emotionally constipated slog, I'll probably watch this (cough, your the best...cough). I don't understand the dislike of Yoona's acting. I thought she was fine in her last show. I didn't see the first one she was in. I think she's adorable for herself, but frankly most Korean idols look really young to me, so I don't think much more then "ooh pretty".
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67 simon
December 2, 2013 at 1:48 AM
A~nd I'm sold. Candy paparazza in contract marriage to handsome (?) rich man. *nods* Sure, that's a familiar story - in fact, I'd just read a novel just like that .... but featuring blond-European-looking (*meh*), American (*yawn*) people and bland writing to boot. So with this I'm expecting lovey-dovey hijinx in an Asian setting _and_ I'll be able to pretend that I'm watching to learn Korean. Sounds like za perfect combo. :3
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68 moonqueen19
December 2, 2013 at 8:32 AM
I haven't seen a KDrama in 2 years but I'm breaking my KDrama hiatus for this!
- Love love love LBS...that guy is uber talented
- No comment about Yoona as I've never seen any of her previous dramas
- Who doesn't love a good 'contract marriage' plot (when done right)?
PMAI, please be a-ma-zing!!
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69 tokio
December 2, 2013 at 11:47 AM
I actually like that idea of hijinks. I wasn't interested in the story at all since watching a very much older actor enter a romantic relationship with a younger counterpart was not my cuppa. My initial thoughts were concerned about how are they going to make this work and believable but with this new reveal of being together due to contract, it gives it a better foundation of seeing this couple work. I might watch the the first episode and see if it pulls me in further.
As for right now, the coupling of Kim Bum Soo and Yoona doesn't do much for me. On a superficial level since the show hasn't started, together, they do not appeal to me. So hopefully the story and acting will win me over.
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70 Lang
December 2, 2013 at 12:12 PM
Finally,
This is now really interesting... I just finished Suspicious Housekeeper, and it was low on the romance.
So this is gonna be really fun, and I'm looking forward to it. ... can't go wrong with contract marriages!
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71 aliya
December 2, 2013 at 12:55 PM
I have to say, I will watch anything with yoon shi yoon in it. That said, this show got a lot more interesting so I'm glad!
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72 cinthy
December 2, 2013 at 5:15 PM
I'm still doubting, yoona... the others are good but her, I have my doubts
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73 kikidee
December 2, 2013 at 5:25 PM
I'll watch anything Lee Beom-Soo is in.
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74 jam
December 2, 2013 at 6:23 PM
wahhh am i just being ruthlessly picky? i know it's just a teaser, but i still cant see the chemistry between them. on the other hand, YSY looks goooooood.
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75 Quiet Thought
December 2, 2013 at 7:36 PM
Yoona's looking spunky and full of energy in these clips. If she can mold that energy into a plausible character, she'll do well with the role. If she just comes off as hyper and erratic, the character will make no sense and she'll ruin the show.
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76 pumpkinattack
December 2, 2013 at 8:10 PM
Looks like fun! Thanks for the update, girlfriday! :D
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77 AJ
December 2, 2013 at 8:26 PM
YSY...I am sold!!! I never thought he would cut his hair this short but it sure looks awesome on him.
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78 Valleydale
December 2, 2013 at 10:31 PM
Beth said: "Um. If I recall looking at the top of the first page of comments, every time someone says she can’t act, someone else tells them to keep their opinions to themselves."
Credibility is important. Hyperbole undermines it. If you go back and read the start of this discussion, you'll see that ONE poster seemed hurt/offended by the fact that someone expressed rather immediately and emphatically the opinion that Yoona is a bad actress. She accused this poster of "forcing"his/her opinion on others, and was challenged by other posters on the validity of that charge. The prevailing sentiment seems to be that everyone is entitled to their own opinion on Yoona's acting abilities, and no one was "forcing" their opinion on anyone else. It can hardly be said that "everytime" someone expressed a negative opinion of Yoona's acting, someone told them to "keep their opinions to themselves." Yoona has both her supporters and detractors well represented here on DB, and it's all good.
As for myself, after having read a number of opinions that Yoona's acting sucks on a previous thread, I went back and rewatched Love Rain, to see if I'd missed the fact that she's really wretched in that category. I'd watched the drama when it first aired, and for the most part enjoyed it. It sort of dragged for me during the episodes that focused on the parent's college years, but picked up considerably once the children met and clashed early on. I started my re-watch from this point, and I have to say, I was rather impressed with Yoona's portrayal of her character. I felt she did a good job bringing the character as it was apparently written to life: a sweet, and occasionally feisty girl whose outlook is optimistic, and whose love for her mother is unwavering. It was not an angsty character, nor one full of motive complexity, so "melo" was never something to expect from her portrayal. JGS's character, on the other hand, was totally jaded when it came to love, and full of hurt and resentment due to the unhappiness he'd witnessed of his parents' union, and his mother's resultant alcoholism. So melo was somewhat built into the character, and JGS was well able to pull that off. Someone said he did all the "heavy lifting" acting-wise in the drama, and I have to agree, but that's only because there really was little in the way of heavy lifting required of Yoona's character. Love Rain is a drama I might be inclined to revisit in the future, and that's in no small part because I really liked the OST. I'd hear that music playing in my ears for the days after the drama aired.
I'm looking forward to checking this one out. Yoona looks "cute" in this one, and I have a high tolerance for cute. I suspect she'll do a good job of cute, and a credible job as the dutiful and loving daughter of an Alzheimer's patient. I like light and fun dramas of the rom-com sort, and this looks like it'll fit the bill.
But of course, all this is merely MY OWN OPINION, and YMMV. It's okay either way.
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79 Rexy
December 3, 2013 at 12:10 AM
Well, damn. My interest has suddenly been piqued.
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80 ZappyR
December 3, 2013 at 3:57 AM
I can't help thinking Yoon Eun Hye would be perfect for this one with her comedic skills. Plus, the age gap wouldn't be all that much, lessening the ick factor.
Also, yay! Yoon Si Yoon!!! Thank heavens i get to see you again. Barefoot friends was a mess!
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Faye
December 3, 2013 at 5:44 AM
That's actually a great casting suggestion. I can really see YEH killing it in this type of role.
The premise is cute; I'll give it a try.
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81 seunghyunlove
December 3, 2013 at 7:21 AM
Shi Yoon oppa looks so handsome with that new haircut ^-^ I'm excited yay.
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82 Quickfire Johson
December 3, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Wonder wht the reaction wil be if they put So Ji SUb and Gong Hyo Jin as leads in THIS drama! LOL.
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83 LangitBiru
December 3, 2013 at 10:16 AM
Contract marriage? I think I can watch this coz I love all the male actors. I just noticed that all Yoona dramas aired on KBS. Is LBS the shortest among them? kkk
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Orion
December 3, 2013 at 11:34 AM
That's why he's called Little Tiger and Little Giant of Chungmuro. He packs a punch in a small volume. Bwahaha.
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84 WM
December 3, 2013 at 2:00 PM
You know, this looks and sounds very light, mostly cute, and exactly what I personally need during the wild holiday season. I never like to start overly emotionally draining dramas during November/December; I'm already emotionally drained enough! lol I'll be watching.
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