Yoo Ah-in to romance Kim Hee-ae in Secret Love Affair
by girlfriday
Humona. YES PLEASE. I wasn’t really expecting a big name for her co-star when Kim Hee-ae’s new drama Secret Love Affair was first announced, but the production has just confirmed that Yoo Ah-in (Jang Ok-jung, Live By Love) will be playing her noona-killer boyfriend. It’s been a while since I’ve been happy with Yoo Ah-in’s dramas, but I think this ought to make up for past crimes against dramaland and then some.
The new melodrama for cable network JTBC comes from the crew behind Kim Hee-ae’s last drama A Wife’s Credentials, and features a boundary-pushing love affair between a fortysomething woman and a twentysomething man. Kim Hee-ae plays the sophisticated director of an arts foundation, while Yoo Ah-in’s character is a geeenius pianist from a poor background. Ha, he’s literally a poor starving artist. They’ll begin a steamy relationship that they have to keep under wraps because it threatens to unravel both their lives.
Between airing on cable and the fact that every description of the show includes the words “passionate” and “hot,” I think it’s safe to say this won’t be your average chaste noona romance. Yoo Ah-in is a great choice for the early twenties hero who can look like a boy but act like a man, and I don’t think I’ll have any trouble buying the pairing as long as they have some onscreen chemistry. From Seung-gi’s noona love to Yoo Ah-in’s, I’d say Kim Hee-ae is off to a happy start for the new year.
Secret Love Affair follows current Monday-Tuesday drama Can We Love and premieres in March.
Via Star News
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Tags: Kim Hee-ae, Yoo Ah-in
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1 Mama J
January 8, 2014 at 9:06 AM
Between Sung Joon very quickly to appear on our screens in a noona romance and Yoo Ah In later...color this noona bright pink with joy!
And really, let's give a shout out to the Rooster, Ba Wool, wooing Kim Yu Mi with ALL his heart and soul in Can We Love? - he gets the awwww factor, but those other two...those are definitely rawwwwr, not awwwww.
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jomo143
January 8, 2014 at 10:58 AM
Fffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
ing great pairing.
Do I smell a Squee-cap?
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Mama J
January 9, 2014 at 3:25 PM
It would be all squee and no snark, though, and where's the fun in THAT?
We're thinking of Age of Feeling/Inspiring Generation.
Squee: Kim Hyung Joon and Kim Jae Wook
Snark: Kim Hyung Joon and that girl
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adette
January 8, 2014 at 12:11 PM
wait, what do park min-woo &kim yu-mi have to do with this post? i'm confuseddd :/
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ravens_nest
January 8, 2014 at 10:56 PM
In Can We Love?, those two are have a noona-love secret affair too. He's also in his 20s while she's in her 40s.
Except IDK if they're going to work out the way Secret Love Affair with likely have Yoo Ah In and Kim Hee Ae work out.
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Enz
January 8, 2014 at 4:16 PM
This noona too!!! This noona tooooooo
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2 I Will Goryeo You
January 8, 2014 at 9:08 AM
YASSSSS!!! Yoo Ah In romancing ahjummmaaa!
PS: Does this remind you Japanese drama Long Vacation?
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jomo143
January 8, 2014 at 11:00 AM
Loved that one.
Reminds me more of Suppli (Fuji TV, 2006)
This has another name: Sapuri, which is the J pronunciation of the word “supply.”
only because I think they work together.
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I Will Goryeo You
January 14, 2014 at 7:06 AM
I guess this story is an adaptation from Japanese movie Tokyo Tower, instead of Long Vacation! Just found out that DB happened to write about this wayyy back http://www.dramabeans.com/2009/04/tokyo-tower-bought-for-korean-remake/
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Leona
January 8, 2014 at 12:25 PM
I loved Long Vacation... Kimura Takuya was young and sweet and she was the same age as me when I watched it...
Piano player ... sounds like Long Vacation... however Minami was a little frivolous being a model isn't something very serious and being a photographer even more... yet when done right these jobs have a big paycheck (very serious aka office job or teacher...yet jdramaland is full of OLs or teachers)
Here our main lady sounds more like a serious and aristocratic woman and maybe they will use some meta of celebrity dating life.... It wasn't once or twice that even YAI posted SNS pics with 2 glasses of wine or other small hints that the alleged celebrity isn't alone in the room. Oh well we have You From Another Star but I love meta when is done right ... mostly with all the buzz around celebrities dating or not...
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3 crab
January 8, 2014 at 9:18 AM
oh mannnnnnnnnnn
I don't think I've been this excited for a drama - Ahn PD is back!
with Kim Hee ae! and Yoo ah In!
and the script writer for a wife's credentials (can't remember her name but gawsh, that was one hell of a drama!)
frickin' hell. It's something to look forward to - especially as the drama landscape was terribly dry (for me! not saying it was for everyone) last year.
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4 peepingthoughts
January 8, 2014 at 9:22 AM
Lawd, have mercy! Yes! Yes! Yesssss!!!
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5 Mandy
January 8, 2014 at 9:24 AM
Oh this just got a lot more interesting with a big enough name as the male lead. It's gonna generate so much online buzz in Korea isn't it?!?
Love Hee-ae, she's so so sweet to Seung-gi in NoF and is probably the world's best noona (as in sister) to him. I can't wait for her to romance a same aged guy. With 'passionate' and 'hot' being a part of the descriptions... I'm totally sold...
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6 Tee
January 8, 2014 at 9:25 AM
Finally a drama of his I can watch yesss
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7 poulpion
January 8, 2014 at 9:26 AM
Oh, I loved A Wife's Credentials and Kim Hee Ae was great in it! And JTBC is becoming my favourite channel, so I'm definitely in!!
definitely in for "hot" and "passionate" too! oh oh oh
..and I like Yoo Ah In too, but Fashion King left some scars... ^^
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8 kelinci biru
January 8, 2014 at 9:46 AM
Totally not expecting that! Loooove it.
I want to fast forward to March! Aaah, I really have high expectation from this team. Hopefully the team includes the music director. I still have warm goofy feelings everytime I hear Daydream Believer or just get a little bit teary when listening to turn turn turn. Anyway, everything was so good in A Wife's Credentials.
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oneclearnight
January 8, 2014 at 9:52 AM
Omg yes, the music in AWC was so wonderful, it perfectly complemented the show. I still listen to the soundtrack all the time. If she's not busy, I'm pretty sure PD Ahn will get the music director back on board :'). Fingers crossed!!!
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hanhan
January 8, 2014 at 5:58 PM
yeah, the music is one of the + point of AWC. i love that this music director didn't choose usually used music in a korean drama (like those "annoying" strings and ballad songs).
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9 oneclearnight
January 8, 2014 at 9:48 AM
Woah. I wasn't expecting a big name either, considering that's not really how PD Ahn rolls. But this is totally a great choice, and I could definitely see them having chemistry (I'm really liking that they're describing the romance as steamy, it's about time these noonas get some more passionate lovin').
I'M SO EXCITED, YOU GUYS. I think he has way more
potential than he's been able to tap into (what with doing one crappy drama after another) and I'm really looking forward to watching him in something, y'know, actually good. He just signed with UAA (same agency as Song Hye Kyo and Kang Dong Won) and already I feel like his career prospects are looking quite promising. Yay!
Also apparently PD Ahn and the writer wanted him for the role after they saw his performance in Jang Ok Jung (I only saw the first few episodes for that show, but I really liked him in it) which makes me think they want someone charismatic. I think he's definitely got what it takes on that front.
Why isn't it March already?!
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skelly
January 8, 2014 at 1:55 PM
SO agree, this better be realistically steamy. One of the things that drove me nuts about A Gentleman's Dignity was having this 30-year-old woman behave like a twelve-year-old around a man. Sorry, but you don't get to 30 - or 40 - without some experience. REALLY ready to watch an "older" female protagonist who's not a nun, a ninny, a dragon, or a basket case. I Hear Your Voice came really close, but then they had to give her boyfriend super powers.
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Tru2u
January 8, 2014 at 2:31 PM
Whyyyyy!!!! You nailed the exact reason why I dropped A Gentleman's Dignity at ep 7 (It was hilarious, but that only won't keep me watching). My gosh did she piss me off. I couldn't do it anymore, it was because I couldn't stand watching a 30 something years old woman acting like a child. She actually started off good just like the female lead did in Secret Garden, but both somehow reverted back to being children when the fell in love. Dropped both in a heartbeat.
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Enz
January 8, 2014 at 4:24 PM
I disagree. She was ALREADY childish and ridiculous even BEFORE falling in love
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jomo143
January 8, 2014 at 4:02 PM
I couldn't stand her unwillingness to seize the opportunity and the beautiful man, either. It was Jang Dong Gun for crickey's sakes!!
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10 Xxvxx
January 8, 2014 at 9:50 AM
Ooh! Am interested! Fashion king wasn't that great and I don't really like Sageuks.. I'm missing out on all the YAI gah.
Sorry off topic, but I just watched the first episode of Can We Love and I think we are off to a great start. I am liking almost all the characters (except the moms.... What is with the PD and moms?!) hoping DB will recap this!
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11 Tru2u
January 8, 2014 at 9:56 AM
This is going to be SOOOOOOO SEXYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!! I could careless about the age difference or what anyone thinks. I'm enjoy the heck out of Prime minister is dating, and I'm sure to enjoy this one. Time for some Noona lovings. Now I'm excited to watch this one.
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12 Aly
January 8, 2014 at 9:57 AM
"Jang Ok Jung" was actually a pretty good drama... until it started getting crazy. Yoo Ah In was good in it, but his performance was eclipsed by Kim Tae Hee's.
But I'm excited about this new project!
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Soley
January 8, 2014 at 2:49 PM
Ah, I thought Kim Tae Hee had improved in JOJ, but she was still a bit OTT in her performance. Definitely didn't eclipse YAH.
By the by, the last great thing I saw YAH in was that movie 'Punch'. :)
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I Will Goryeo You
February 4, 2014 at 7:59 AM
Are you sure? I think it's the other way around. He overshadowed KTH.
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13 Ok
January 8, 2014 at 9:58 AM
I must be the only one not excited for this. I really like yoo ah in but the dramas he has chosen so far since the last drama with song jong ki has been bad. I am also not into noona loving affairs either so definitely not watching. I like how he tries many characters and pushes his acting in many different roles but sometimes i wish he would just stick to a character that is the closest to him, perfect it, and then branch out.
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topper
January 8, 2014 at 10:27 AM
If Ahn Pan Suk says he can do it, he can do it.
And this is not a noona rom com, but some serious fare.
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SuspiciousCommentor
January 9, 2014 at 12:01 AM
Nothing goes wrong with PD Ahn Pan Seok.
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Luhan
February 11, 2014 at 8:27 PM
I wonder what kind of character that is closest to him..Do you mind tell me? A good actor should be able to play a character that's way different than his real self and make people forget that it's him. I see that's what YAI is trying to do.
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14 Ace
January 8, 2014 at 9:59 AM
Oh, yes please!
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15 topper
January 8, 2014 at 10:25 AM
Ahn Pan Suk chose him.
Starring with Kim Hee Ae.
Once he finishes this, he would have leveled up by I do not know how many levels.
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topper
January 8, 2014 at 10:31 AM
Btw any idea after the The End of the World debacle with JTBC, why Ahn Pan Suk is still working with them?
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16 ninji
January 8, 2014 at 10:48 AM
Please (drama gods), let noona romances be the drama trend for 2014.
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17 snow
January 8, 2014 at 10:51 AM
Yoo Ah In....yayyyy
Noona romance......hmm.....not a fan but let's see.....so far the pairing looks good.
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18 Tara
January 8, 2014 at 10:53 AM
"this ought to make up for past crimes against dramaland and then some."
Girlfriday, you couldn't have said it better!!! ;)
With Yoo Ah In joining the cast, I just might put this on my to-watch list after I Need Romance 3...I still love his portrayals in SKKS and SCW.
2014 looks like it's gonna be a great year...the drama gods are indeed keeping us noonas happyyy!! ;P
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19 Limmy
January 8, 2014 at 10:54 AM
I have a question.
What does "humona" mean?
Or rather, where it is it from?
>.<
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PeepsLeAwesomePotato
January 8, 2014 at 11:52 AM
In drama-speak, it's an expression probably derived from "omona" which is a korean expression for something like "oh my god", but the difference to "humona" is that it has that "I am so turned on", "MY DREAMS HAVE COME TRUEEEEEE!!!!" edge over plain ol' "omona".
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thursdaynexxt
January 8, 2014 at 12:36 PM
Is it something like "hubba hubba"? :)
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Quiet Thought
January 8, 2014 at 1:50 PM
I'm told that Jackie Gleason's original spelling back in the fifties was something like ""hummana hummana hummana . . ."
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Jyyjc
January 8, 2014 at 2:58 PM
Exactly :)
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20 Mar
January 8, 2014 at 11:23 AM
Based on what we know, I'm IN. Goodness knows we need our bells rung with a drama that is passionate and exciting and oh, yeah, non-chaste wouldn't hurt lol. I hope this drama delivers.
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21 bbstl
January 8, 2014 at 11:25 AM
looking forward to it and really hope he's good at faking the geeeenius piano playing!
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22 Yanny
January 8, 2014 at 11:58 AM
Someone pinch me. This is too good to believe! Finally a good drama for Yoo Ah In. I was really worried they would cast a guy that looked too young but this is just perfection. 2014 is shaping out to be a great year and it's only January
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topper
January 8, 2014 at 12:11 PM
"They’ll begin a steamy relationship that they have to keep under wraps because it threatens to unravel both their lives."
Wouldn't looking far apart in age be actually more suitable for the story?
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23 Pearl~ai88
January 8, 2014 at 12:22 PM
I don't know either actor so maybe I shouldn't comment but...20 years difference? That isn't creepy to anyone else? A wild fling with someone half your age shouldn't really be glorified by a drama. I guess it all depends on how they handle it and what they want to say about it.
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Tru2u
January 8, 2014 at 1:56 PM
Well, Prime minister and I have the same age difference, and that is doing a killer job. Their chemistry masked the age difference. I'm fine with the age difference.
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Pearl~ai88
January 9, 2014 at 11:47 AM
hmmm, that's true...
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Jenn
January 8, 2014 at 1:57 PM
Perhaps part of the drama is how the serious consequences of their relationship affect others and their lives too-that doesn't mean it's glorified right?
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canxi
January 8, 2014 at 5:39 PM
Eh...both are consenting adults so I see no problem, really. It's always a bit shocking, I guess (which is why they'll be hiding it), but it's not like it neeever happens.
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ravens_nest
January 8, 2014 at 11:04 PM
I don't care about age gaps as long as when the romantic/sexual relationship started, all parties were fully consenting adults.
There's sometimes icky power balance issues, especially if the people involved are in a hierarchical structure like boss/employee or teacher/student.
Still, as long as the drama addresses the issues involved in dating someone with a large age gap, power issues, and both parties are fully willing participants in the romance, it's all good.
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24 Coolrepu
January 8, 2014 at 12:47 PM
This role should have been on the list of most young actors in Korea. The teams seems to know what they are doing. The actress is a an actor's actor. Any young actor in need to sharpen their skill against one if the best should have jumped on that chance.
I am about to commit blasphemy but I thought lee min hi should have jumped not it. He is one of the few actors who got to top not base on skill, but purely aesthetic. He needs as many roles as he can get acting with the best in the business and earn this fame he is getting.
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Enz
January 8, 2014 at 4:26 PM
No please no. Lee min NOOOO
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oneclearnight
January 8, 2014 at 5:15 PM
Well, yeah. I do agree with you and I do think Lee Min Ho would improve if he acted with a PD + writer this good, and opposite such an excellent actress as Kim Hee-Ae. But I think he would never have been offered this role, as PD Ahn does have a certain amount of control over who he casts in his shows. I don't think Lee Min Ho would have ever crossed his mind for the part, precisely because of his lack of skill. This isn't going to be fluffy rom com, they are going to be aiming for something much more realistic + heavy. He's not ready for this sort of role yet imo.
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I Will Goryeo You
February 4, 2014 at 8:12 AM
What makes YAI and LMH stand apart is the way they perceive acting. Maybe you don't know yet, but YAI was also offered to play in BOF in 2008 but he rejected the proposal with reason that the story didn't fit his idealism. YAI could have just received it and could have been a part of the famous pretty boys league. But he chose other "unpopular" projects instead.
LMH will never try to do the same because image (and popularity) is important to him, hence he's back to The Heirs after failing in sageuk Faith. He chooses to live in comfort zone.
YAI perceives "actor" as someone who works solely for art, not for fame/popularity. He doesn't give a damn about his image (that's why he's called by Koreans as The Nation's Rebel). He has a single minded goal: to improve his acting craft. Hence, he picks unusual/challenging roles instead of "fairy tale" and "pretty boy" scripts. So here he is now: landed in Secret Love Affair.
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pastmidnite
February 19, 2014 at 11:48 PM
And why am I suddenly trying to imagine YAI with Gu Jun Pyo's perm...
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25 Dvahn
January 8, 2014 at 1:40 PM
would not be great if Seung-gi cameo in this drama just to support his noona Kim Hee-ae.
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26 Perrie
January 8, 2014 at 2:02 PM
I'll check it out! I've also missed YAI in a well done drama production!
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27 Megan
January 8, 2014 at 2:11 PM
Mmm, it's going to be a good birthday month for me when March rolls around. I'm re-watching SKK Scandal right now and already falling back in love with Yoo Ah-In, so this is pretty fantastic news to me.
I can't wait for this show now!
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28 niKai
January 8, 2014 at 5:31 PM
That was unexpected, but sounds pretty darn tempting. I actually enjoyed yoo ah in's acting in jang ok jung, even if his character turn cold in its later episodes. I must confess I never finish that one yet. It's a devastating drama. I couldnt quite bring myself to go and watch the inevitable doom.
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29 canxi
January 8, 2014 at 5:41 PM
Yoo Ah In + cable + passion??? Yessssss. I also like JTBC's dramas.
I should watch A Wife's Credentials, I always hear nothing but god things about it.
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30 D's handphone
January 8, 2014 at 5:42 PM
i never finished A Wife's Credential for no particular reason. i love YAI ever since SKKS, could never picture YAI as a genius pianist.. it should be intetesting
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31 djeedjes
January 8, 2014 at 6:04 PM
YEAH!! this is a dream cast. I was already interested with the drama, but with YAI casted, it's a must watch one.
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32 pastmidnite
January 8, 2014 at 6:20 PM
YAI! In a noona romance! Yaay! As a geenius pianist? Omg...just imagine him behind the piano...*die* But, I wonder, could he really play? I mean, my kdrama list is not that long, but so far the actors who plays musical instruments in their respective dramas really could play them (thinking of hyun bin, no min woo, or others like khj, yong hwa).
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33 hawoojinruinedme
January 8, 2014 at 6:22 PM
Please be good. YAI starring in a good drama is looooong overdue.
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34 annabanana
January 8, 2014 at 7:01 PM
Ahhh, the wait is sooo going to kill me. I just want Yoo Ah in back into my laptop screen again and enjoy his acting! He is such a versatile actor, together with Song Joongki and Park Yoochun, who I equally love after watching SKKS. I'm just so glad I'll be seeing both YAI (on Mon-Tue) and PYC (Wed-Thurs) this spring, though I'm really missing SJK.. :( Anyhoo, Bring on the sizzling and steamy noona romance! i'm ready for ya!
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35 MooFu Baby
January 8, 2014 at 8:11 PM
Omo! Had to contain my screams of excitement after reading this!! Love Noona romances & Love YAI...ah, Spring can't get here quick enough!!!
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36 Noelle
January 8, 2014 at 8:48 PM
I miss him. I think the last thing I watched him in was a movie.
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37 meiji
January 8, 2014 at 8:54 PM
Oh, not again JTBC! You have produced so many dramas that I loved! I love you, already!
BTW, AWC was superb and I think I'm gonna look forward to see more of Kim Hee-ae.
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38 Kimchi
January 8, 2014 at 9:30 PM
Yes yes love this!
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39 Miky
January 9, 2014 at 6:35 AM
'Em i the only one that wants him to have in the show the look in that picture,he looks so hot like that...he looks better like this than without one
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40 redfox
January 9, 2014 at 10:17 AM
if only a certain bro could sneak out and in for a cameo.... you know of which charismatic guy I speak of.
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41 Furbabr
January 9, 2014 at 5:35 PM
YAI chemistry with KTH in JOJ is off the chart and so believable despite their 6 years age gap. I think he and KHA will pull it off as well.
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