Kim Hee-ae headlines noona romance for cable
by girlfriday
Kim Hee-ae (Noonas Over Flowers) is returning to dramaland this spring and re-teaming with the PD and writer of her last drama, A Wife’s Credentials. The new show for cable network JTBC is called Secret Love Affair, and has been courting Kim Hee-ae for a while; she’s just signed on to play the fortysomething heroine who begins a relationship with a twentysomething man. I’m sure she’ll play the hell out of it, but I’m cracking up because in the last episode of Noonas Over Flowers she was just teasing Seung-gi for having gotten her driver’s license before he was born, and now she’s basically going to romance a Seung-gi-aged man-boy in her new show.
The new melodrama stars Kim Hee-ae as a chic, sophisticated woman in her forties who works for an arts foundation. She’ll meet a man in his early twenties, a geeeenius pianist, and the two will begin a “breathlessly passionate and secret love affair.” I can see how the professional relationship might make the romance scandalous by default (if she’s in a position of power, for instance), though overcoming the twenty-year age gap is the focal point of the story.
It’s described as a thoughtful melodrama that explores the struggle between attraction and social expectation. The romance won’t be an easy sell, that’s for sure, and the big question will be who they cast as her leading man. Hardly anybody bats an eyelash at a ten-year age gap in dramaland anymore, but twenty will definitely be pushing boundaries, which is clearly what the drama is aiming to do. I hope they don’t cast someone too baby-faced, though it’ll have to be the acting that really sells the pairing. The search is on.
Secret Love Affair will air on Mondays and Tuesdays following Can We Love, and premieres in March.
Via TV Report
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Tags: cable programs, Kim Hee-ae
Interview with Kim Yoo-jung
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1 Annie
December 31, 2013 at 9:12 AM
joo won! sells anything
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krytonmj
December 31, 2013 at 11:58 AM
Probably when you are talking about drama. But when it comes to films..my answer is no.
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Cindy
December 31, 2013 at 4:44 PM
Really? Anyway, he does not look like he is in his early twenties to me. Someone fresh faced will be much better.
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hanhan
January 7, 2014 at 8:21 PM
but you know, i think his face just soo flexible lol. in gaksital, just by change his haircut, he can be a high school teenager.
and yeah, many dramas with him have a good rating, even that Level 7 drama
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2 tiny
December 31, 2013 at 9:21 AM
melo? i wanted to see her in a romcom...
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3 Drama Debussie
December 31, 2013 at 9:29 AM
Will this be a musical hero year for us?
There's a genius pianist in this one, Sung Joon is playing a genius composer, and Jang Hyuk just signed onto Mozart Romance where he plays a (guess what?) genius music composer. And that's all in the first half of the year!
I love musically inclined guys, but hell! Oh well. At least they're all geniuses. Why wouldn't they be?
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4 snow_white
December 31, 2013 at 10:10 AM
I just love it when GF says "geeeenius" LOL :D
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5 eunchans
December 31, 2013 at 10:22 AM
OH MY GOD. Writer and PD (Ahn Pan Seok, I love you!!) of A Wife's Credentials (such a fantastic show) AND Kim Hee Ae??? The drama gods must love me!!!!!! *dances*
I honestly do not care who they cast as the male lead bc I trust PD Ahn absolutely, his casting choices are always spot on. I can't think of anyone off the top of my head, but I doubt it will be an A-lister.
I'm really excited for Can We Love as well but I'm gonna need it to be March already, tbqh. This is gonna be sooooooo good.
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azurduyy
December 31, 2013 at 12:35 PM
YES TO ALL THIS.
AHN PAN SEOK <3<3<3
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eunchans
January 6, 2014 at 12:55 PM
HE IS GLORIOUS. I LOVE HIM.
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hanhan
December 31, 2013 at 1:04 PM
yeah, as much i love uhmforce, can't wait for this team again (a wife's credential was just a pure gem in 2012. i glad those people in baeksang awards recognize this amazing drama. this drama made me know kim hee ae, and NOF just made me love her more ;) )
about her leading man (or boy, maybe), i doubt PD Ahn will choose soo famous actors. ah, maybe i need to check Mr. Kitteh/Dramatic/Vaultofdoom's draft in his blog. (anyone know why he hasn't updated anything in his blog lately?)
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eunchans
January 6, 2014 at 1:06 PM
Yes! Me too, I was so happy when I heard Kim Hee Ae won best actress at the Baeksang's. I mean, no award shows in Korea are legit, but she deserved it sooooo much and it was great that the show was recognised for its quality acting. It was a quality drama all round tbh. If it was down to me, I would have nominated it for all the awards :').
Yeah, PD Ahn doesn't generally go for big names (not saying Kim Hee Ae isn't a big name cause she totally is, but still). He definitely prioritises acting skill over star power. Whoever he chooses for the male lead, he'll definitely be the right choice.
Hmm, I'm not entirely sure but I think he's just been busy with work and stuff and didn't have time for crappy 2013 dramas, ha. I know he totally loved A Wife's Credentials and The End of the World so if this show is as good as PD Ahn's previous work (and I don't see why it shouldn't be, as the writer has already proven herself to be great) then maybe it'll lure him back to the blogging sphere and he'll start updating again. I hope so anyway, I miss reading all his insights.
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hanhan
January 7, 2014 at 9:26 PM
you know, that baeksang award brought me to this amazing drama because i didn't know it before (my korean drama's real friend and online friend didn't know this drama, DB bloggers even never write anything about AWC). then i go to AWC's soompi page and it led me to kitteh's blog (yeah, that's the first time i visited his blog) and finally i know the amazing things about this beautiful drama. Directing, storyline, acting, and even music are just totally great!!!
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6 Rossi
December 31, 2013 at 10:31 AM
I adore Noona romance story so bring it on, I say!
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7 Kelly
December 31, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Melo? Aw :/
And don't Yoona and Lee Beom-soo have a 20 year age gap?
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Ethalina
December 31, 2013 at 6:12 PM
Yeah, but you know, the guy's older. Somehow that makes all the difference. :/
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Requiem
December 31, 2013 at 6:30 PM
And people felt "icky" about that also.
I didn't like it because I didn't feel that Yoona could pull her weight next to such a good actor, but Lee Beom-soo and the PD seem to have done wonders.
Also, while their real-life ages are 20 years apart, their drama ages are supposed to be less (she's supposed to be around 27).
I think in this drama, the ages are SUPPOSED to be 20+ years apart.
That's the difference.
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8 kelinci biru
December 31, 2013 at 10:36 AM
Just. Can't. Wait. For. This.
Please cast interesting lead actor. No need to cast someone known cause I was watching A Wife's Credentials not knowing any of the actors but ended up loving everyone.
But maybe chilbongie? Hahaha.
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9 danna
December 31, 2013 at 10:57 AM
I hope they go for someone relatively new (to the leading man territory) and good I have a feeling its going to go that way since all the usual suspects for this age group are kind of already taken or just done with a drama..this could be deliciously good if done well....how about Baek Sang Hyun? really want that guy to get a leading man role....also would like to see Yoo yeon sook try something like this
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danna
December 31, 2013 at 11:01 AM
you know who else would be wonderful....Kim Woo Bin!!now I want to see this happen
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Rossi
December 31, 2013 at 12:07 PM
And Kim Woo Bin is now the reality I want for this drama. Two thumbs up for that choice!
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ravens_nest
December 31, 2013 at 8:33 PM
Kim Woo Bin and Yoo Yeon Sook were both my mental choices too!
They're both young enough to play an early 20 year old but have strong enough performances to stand up next to a veteran actress.
Plus I now trust that they both could really carry the charisma and chemistry of a Spring-Autumn Romance like this.
Perfect.
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Zsa
December 31, 2013 at 8:43 PM
That would be sooooo awesome I could die.........yeahhhhh
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TS
December 31, 2013 at 10:22 PM
Yes, yes, yes!
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10 DDee
December 31, 2013 at 10:59 AM
Thank god for Ahn Pan Seok, Jtbc and Kim Hee Ae
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11 Mar
December 31, 2013 at 11:13 AM
Has someone been reading my 2014 wishlist? (Other than it would be great if it was more rom com less melo)
I'll be waiting to see who is cast as her love interest.
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12 yas
December 31, 2013 at 12:07 PM
Enjoyed watching Kim Hee-ae in Midas and A Wife's Credentials. Good to know she'll be in a drama soon.
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13 Sophia
December 31, 2013 at 12:48 PM
I'm ok with watching dramas with this big of age difference as long as there is no cheating involved (like her being married while in a relationship with a 20 year old)
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14 Quiet Thought
December 31, 2013 at 1:03 PM
Why could this not be more like real life and have her fall in love with a mediocre pianist she picks up at a bar?
They could call it "A Cougar's Credentials."
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15 kanz
December 31, 2013 at 1:06 PM
Kim Woo Bin! It's time for him to step up as leading man. He sure can bring passionate love with his gaze and voice.. I adore Kim Hee Ae in NOF. She's very beautiful
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16 jomo143
December 31, 2013 at 1:46 PM
Of course he's a geeenius.
Let's see...who do we choose?
He doesn't have to be in his mid 20's just act like he is.
I pick Yoon Hyun Min - Jinjeung Soo from Heartless City.
I pick him for anything..
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17 parny
December 31, 2013 at 2:14 PM
If Kim woo bin was cast I'll definitely watch it! Love him!
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18 crazykel
December 31, 2013 at 2:15 PM
I'd like to see either Kim Woo Bin or Yoo Yoon Seok in this role!
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19 Kit
December 31, 2013 at 2:28 PM
We should just get lee min ki again. He's done a million BUT HE SELLS IT SO WELL.
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20 okdubu
December 31, 2013 at 4:05 PM
well now they just have to cast seungki...
jk don't want that.
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Requiem
December 31, 2013 at 6:32 PM
Heh, I was just thinking that the meta would awesome if they did this.
Will never happen :(.
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Requiem
December 31, 2013 at 6:33 PM
would *be* awesome.
Though I think awesome should also be a verb.
Dramabeans awesomes the internet!
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21 Kaleido
December 31, 2013 at 7:57 PM
Can't wait... I would to see Kim jae wook.. He definitely can do music.. May be he is not young enough? Lee min ki wil be perfect.. Daniel cho would be good and how about the full house cast.. park ki woong or ni min woo... They r pretty good in the rite role
I think I would like to see someone can really sell music and have acting chop... I am excited about the one.. A wife credential was one good drama and Kim here ae are wonderful actress.
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22 JenJen
December 31, 2013 at 8:24 PM
I had never heard of Kim HeeAe before Noona Over Flowers and I'm just falling in love with her real life personality (and I think she actually looks more beautiful in the casual clothes she wears on NOF than in the picture above). I may try to tune into this show to see her in action. Wish her the best v^^v
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23 rhinz
January 1, 2014 at 12:24 AM
Heard a lot of good think about a wife's credential, but couldn't find it subbed anywhere? (Any suggests?)
But I've loved her since Midas. Really a badass woman. And like her more after NOF. Coz she had same appetite with me :D
And for her leading man, my mind directs me to Yoon Shi-yoon. He will be a good choice for a romance melo
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ai
January 1, 2014 at 1:38 AM
Try doramax264 for a wife’s credentials.
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kelinci biru
January 1, 2014 at 4:36 AM
Darksmurfsub have complete sub.
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24 rhinz
January 1, 2014 at 1:25 AM
Heard a lot of good think about a wife's credential, but couldn't find it subbed anywhere? (Any suggests?)
But I've loved her since Midas. Really a badass woman. And like her more after NOF. Coz she had same appetite with me :D
And for her leading man, my mind directs me to Yoon Shi-yoon. He will be a good choice for a romance melo .
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25 Neon
January 1, 2014 at 4:19 AM
Sung Joon would be good, but unfortunately he's already romancing some other nuna. Someone already suggested Yoo Yeon-seok, but how about Son Ho-joon (Answer Me 1994's Haitai)?
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26 halden
January 1, 2014 at 5:55 AM
Dramagods, please let the male lead be Lee Hyun Jin.
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27 zepthee
January 1, 2014 at 7:17 AM
Someone mentioned daniel choi? That's perfect choice, he's definetely not a baby face,he's good at playing piano,he's sooo believeable in romance.
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28 Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
January 1, 2014 at 4:37 PM
is it just me or does she look like Dana delany, the american actress that does the show body of proof? I see that face whenever I see a picture of her.
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29 hanhan
January 1, 2014 at 5:09 PM
Yeah, our third noona finally in new drama!! With SW Jung and PD Ahn , i'm sure this drama will become really good.
I hope her leading man acting ability at least not too much below her. She overshadowed all her co-star in many dramas.
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30 denise31
January 1, 2014 at 6:52 PM
My first choice for her leading man is Kim Woo Bin and 2nd would be Yoon Shi Yoon. These two talent hotties would qualify for the role.
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31 Ree
January 5, 2014 at 5:05 PM
I want her leading man to be the adorable 2nd male lead in that rollercoaster awful Unemployed Romance. The same guy who played the dorm leader in Hana Kim :)
i'm always on for rom com but really not so much for melos so i hope i will want to watch it
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32 viie
January 7, 2014 at 6:27 PM
I heard the rumor that Yoo Ah In will be the lead role..
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33 isispersona
January 7, 2014 at 8:45 PM
I heard they are eyeing on Yu Ah In... If this turns out to be true, i gotta upgrade my broadband before march... Ain can call me noona anytime.. Hehehe...
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