First script read for medical melo Doctor Stranger

55 April 2, 2014

by awcoconuts

Oooh, I’m starting to get excited about Doctor Stranger, mostly because there is a special place in my heart for Lee Jong-seok (I Hear Your Voice). He and the cast got together for their first script read a few weeks back, and gosh, don’t he and Park Hae-jin (You From Another Star) look pretty? Balancing the good looks on the men’s side, a casually dressed Kang So-ra (Watch Out For Fools, Dream High 2) is effortlessly gorgeous.

On location were PD Jin Hyuk (Master’s Sun, City Hunter), the writers, crew and cast. PD Jin Hyuk gave a brief greeting and went around the room, introducing each actor with demonstrated affection. When he presented Lee Jong-seok, PD Jin Hyuk said, “Lee Jong-seok made his drama debut in one of my shows [Prosecutor Princess] and because of this reunion I’m feeling unusually emotional.” He followed up his intro by turning to Lee Jong-seok and saying, “Let’s do a good job together.”

Lee Jong-seok plays a genius doctor who was born in South Korea but raised in the North. He is said to have affected a Northern accent perfectly, and after the reading was over, he continued to discuss the character with the PD, seemingly intent on fulfilling the director’s wishes of turning out a quality series.

Park Hae-jin plays his rival, a cold and unapproachable doctor who is at the top of his game. All of the cast members (with the exclusion of Jin Se-yeon, who at the time, had not been cast) spent over four hours diving into their characters during the read.

SBS’s Doctor Stranger will air on Mondays and Tuesdays beginning April 28th, after the conclusion of God’s Gift – 14 Days.

Via SBS

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1 petirrojo

April 2, 2014 at 1:53 PM

Oh, the pretty! And thank god that LJS's hair is not that atrocious blonde! But tell me, who's the hottie in the dark blue jacket in the pic next to Kang Sora, middle row, far right? The PD? Now he looks interesting!

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mudaepo

April 2, 2014 at 2:05 PM

It may not be that horrible blonde, but we're not there yet. Park Hae Jin isn't looking that great either.

We can only hope Jin Se Yeon has been cast as a genius hairdresser.

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lovepark

April 2, 2014 at 2:17 PM

That's not definitely not the PD. I think it may be Park Hae-joon. He's relatively new to dramas and films. I remember him from Hwayi which he's pretty good in if you wanted to see something of his; can't say anything about his other projects.

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petirrojo

April 2, 2014 at 4:54 PM

I saw Hwayi (3x) but don't remember him. I'll be watching to see if that is him, for sure!

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Ivoire

April 2, 2014 at 5:54 PM

Thank you Robin for asking that question. I had the same question when I saw the pictures.
Also, if that is him (and it looks like it might be him, based on his resume), he definitely is a cutie: http://asianwiki.com/Park_Hae-Joon

And :
https://www.google.com/search?q=pictures+of+Park+Hae-joon&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb

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Tala

April 2, 2014 at 7:24 PM

He is Park Hae Joon , he will be playing the bad guy in the drama.

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2 mel

April 2, 2014 at 1:55 PM

didn't her p.r. say that she was cast in doctor strange months ago before age of feeling? if that's true her not being cast at the time of reading isn't true but that also might have been a lie just to make her look better but I can also see her not being there because she was filming age of feeling.

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zsa

April 2, 2014 at 5:20 PM

can i just say i dont like her...i wish it was someone else wth better acting and attitude....but thatz just me i guess....

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Mimi

April 3, 2014 at 12:41 AM

Her character died in last night Age of Feeling.. Ooff.

Why she always end up dying in her KBS dramas. First Gaksital and now, AoF. Hah.

I wonder if she is still filming Doctor Stranger and receive another offer for another drama and she accept it, will the Doctor Stranger team kill off her character too..

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pogo

April 3, 2014 at 10:04 AM

considering that the role Jin Se-yeon got was openly being shopped to Park Min-young as late as February, I'm going to go with her agency is lying to make themselves look better.

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3 ilikemangos

April 2, 2014 at 2:11 PM

Aw, PD Jin Hyuk got a bit sentimental. We've already got chemistry among the cast/crew. Lee Jong Suk seems like he's going to really throw himself into this role.
I'm not a big fan of medical dramas, but they are putting a twist on this genre by adding the north korean spy angle and it seems more like a mash up of medical, action,romance,thriller with a critically acclaimed writer behind it (Conspiracy in the Court) and one of my fav directors so i'm looking forward to it.

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4 redfox

April 2, 2014 at 2:25 PM

remember how the martians´heads exploded in Mars Attacks.... well my head is going to explode too Park Hae Jin? Or Lee Jong Seok? I feel like my mind is being crushed.... why both.....why so...

if they had also added Park Ki Woong I´d be dead. just completely 99% dead.

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yuweei

April 3, 2014 at 3:49 AM

That scene in Mars attack gave me nightmares for years as a kid...

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5 kanz

April 2, 2014 at 2:27 PM

I don't know how I'm feeling over this. I'm conflicted because I want to watch LJS and PHJ. but I don't like Jin Se Yeon and the story/genre. I may wait until the recap and review

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Brenda

April 2, 2014 at 3:25 PM

Those are my thoughts exactly. I adore LJS and PHJ but I will end up skipping the drama because I am not a fan of JSY.

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pogo

April 3, 2014 at 10:06 AM

I'm like you - I love the two boys, and also Kang Sora and the PD, but Jin Se-yeon has never been a particular asset to any show she's been on.

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6 Coolrepublica

April 2, 2014 at 2:42 PM

The North Korean doctor better not look like he just came from the cover of teen vogue. LJS looks like he is prepping for a hair commercial not escaping North Korean oppression where only approved hair cuts are tolerated. So they better do something with the hair to make it believable just a touch.

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Tala

April 2, 2014 at 7:30 PM

he change it already, this script reading took place on
Feb 11 (2month ago) he dyed it black once he started filming :D

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7 Mandy

April 2, 2014 at 3:06 PM

Gosh LJS is definitely not pretty here with that god-awful blonde, but since he's dyed them, I'll just ignore this ever happened.

Not a fan of any of the cast members, and really find most of them mediocre in acting. But I'm actually into the really twisted storyline. So I'll be tuning in for the premiere at least.

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mel

April 3, 2014 at 5:06 PM

Knetz are loser behind their screen...

They hit and ruin someones life without thinking what they are saying....

A sociology professor from Kookmin University has pointed out that posting negative comments on the Internet tends to get people instant responses and gives them an inflated sense of self-worth; therefore, they will slander and attack famous people just for a moment of gratification. Moreover, these people will become addicted to this behavior after they receive sudden attention.

cr- hitoritabi

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8 foulou

April 2, 2014 at 3:20 PM

One thing's for sure - no Lee jong seok fans will be visiting the film set with gifts of their own.

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Chi

April 2, 2014 at 3:27 PM

This whole "scandal" was blown out of proportions.

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Coolrepublica

April 2, 2014 at 4:04 PM

Have you ever seen a "scandal" that was blown within proportion in Korea? Out of proportion is korean netizens MO. The word scandal is indicative of how Korean overreact to everything. Scandal for me is serious, but I quickly found that that in Korea that just the rumor that you might be dating is considered a scandal. Overreaction is how they roll.

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windsun33

April 2, 2014 at 6:21 PM

Scandal in the Korean entertainment business seem to be anytime more than 3 netizens are anti-something. We need to send Bieber and Lohan over there for a while to show them what real scandals are.

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Mandy

April 2, 2014 at 4:15 PM

Personally, I felt he deserved some of the backlash since he was rude. But the overreaction was utterly ridiculous. He apologized and it sounded sincere, so that should be enough.

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Kasmar

April 2, 2014 at 5:54 PM

Am with Mandy on this. LJS and his team were rude to the fan and he did deserve the backlash. I do understand that celebrities are human and have their off days especially for a self-proclaimed introvert like him. However, we all have things we have to do in our jobs that we don't like and for celebrities, this is one of them.

From my perspective, Did he deserve the criticism - Yes; should this be held against him, change our perception/image of him - Heck NO. He apologised and should move on. I CANT wait to see him in this drama.

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messy

April 3, 2014 at 5:03 PM

I think he didn't deserve the hatred that he has receiving from knetz wanna know why because its the initial reaction of a person who's be grab forcefully by unknown person. Try it yourself and watch this video to explain to you the reason why he did that....

http://braingames.nationalgeographic.com/episode/8/

Knetz should study before talk its becoming your habit.

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Tala

April 2, 2014 at 7:36 PM

they already did and with a lot more gifts than ever..now we love him even more cz of what happened..he did a lot to his fans b4, he s so warm and kind to them... a small misunderstanding will never change the fact how wonderful , considerate & kind person he is...
we are his fans so we know better....

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vivi

May 20, 2014 at 11:31 PM

OHMIGOD!!! Those malicious rumors sure do have wings and legs to go far and wide in no time. Don't they? Before you spread this rumor half in malice, have you tried to find out whether that was a fact or a fiction?

I am sure you haven't. Most people who are spreading ill-will rumors don't have any interest in finding out the truth but i am writing this for those who would involuntarily read your comment like I did a chance to learn the facts of that incident.

Because it took unusual number of articles (712 to be precise) and maliicous replies covered the internet for two whole days about basically nothing, a grad student who studies Journalsim decided to take it as a case study of his research project.

And traced the origin of the article and the rest of the frenzy to find out what really happened and why & how it became such a hot issue that it practically put a sleep to many serious & bigger even national issues. Then posted his findings on his blog titled: "To Look at the News article abusing through LJS's Airport Incident."

In there we could see how the first article "LJS "Kkam-Chack (=surprised)" by a suddenly appeared fan' 14minutes later changed to "LJS, ignored a fan with a gift" by a 'TVreport' reporter Lee, SunHwa with two edited photos to make them look like he saw the fan and then turn away from her.

When the actual order of the photos were taken in this way:1. a fan grabbed his sleeve and stretch her hand with a gift to LJS whle he was looking in the other direction 2. he turned to look who it was pulling his sleeve. Obviously he had no idea what was going on at the moment.

Because all the fans and reporters were on the other side of the road where he was facing to at the time. (and they all saw the whole thing - the opposite of what those crazy articles claimed had happened)

[It was unfortunate that fan was somehow on that spot away from everyone who are patiently and orderly waiting for their star to arrive with all the reporters.

It was unfortunate also because LJS was late for the check in and the departure area was too congested that his van couldn't drop him off where he supposed to get off so they had to drove further down and wait for many other vehicles to move before he could get out and naturally his managers were rushing him into the airport.

It was unfortunate also he was modeling one of the Hugo Boss' new item for the season that morning. That gorgeous red leather jacket, god knows how expensive that would be, i am sure didn't belong to him.

And if some body grab me off guard like that out of no where especially when i'm holding a hot coffee and wearing an expensive new outfit that doesn't belong to me and late for the airplane, i would take my arm away in reflex before i see who's pulling my sleeve. wouldn't you? anyway,]

About 2 hours later when the flood of spiteful titled articles with the deliberately altered photos started to cover...

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vivi

May 20, 2014 at 11:42 PM

[continue from the above... i didn't know it was this long]

About 2 hours later when the flood of spiteful titled articles with the deliberately altered photos started to cover the internet, 'TVReport reporter Lee, SunHwa the instigator of the frenzy changed the ill title, that opened the hell gate, to something like 'LJS, 'I'll have a safe trip.'" But the time & content of the replies under the new titled article revealed what was the original article.

And that single falsified titled article produced 712 similar or same articles for the next 2 days and what's more shocking is that all of those articles had no reporter names which only proves the theory of article abusing.

And the top 4 most produced players were the major companies who are very aggressive in marketing and clicking (# of people clicking the article = the advertising income) business. There are a lot more shocking truths to this incident if you read that case study.

Bottom line is, it was a completely false accusation and everybody knows it even those who still writes this kind of ugly comments like the person above. But they just won't admit it or stop it. Because there are people who don't use their head to think or reflect what they read or hear.

So to those LJS bashers the truth doesn't matter and it is wonderful weapon to brandish whenever they want to damage LJS's image or hurt his fans.

Fortunately though he has a very strong fan-base because he has always been sincere and genuine with his fans. his fans say LJS has no fans but duk-hoo (=otaku) meaning once you get to know him there is no way out. you will be his fan for a life, they say.

And that incident actually solidified heart of his fans even stronger than before because they were there at the airport and they knew all those hurtful replies of personal attack under the false articles are groundless. More over his fandom has actually grew.

Some just couldn't understand all the frenzy and bashing about what they thing is not even worth mentioned for and felt unjustice for him turn friendly toward him.

And some who visited his fan sites out of curiosity after the incident end up reading collection of testimonials written by various staff members and related paties who had worked with LJS from different tv programs, dramas, & movies over the years state unanimously caring acts that showed his thoughtfullness & kind words he said to small people that showed how genuine person LJS is and afterwards they either became his fans or at least turned favorable.

And I am one of the later who learned all these by visiting different sites (not only LJS fansites) after happens to read some of those nameless reporters ill-manered computer-generated articles that covered internet abnormaly for days.

To conclude the long story short please google it and read if you can the case study of 'LJS abusing' or LJS airport abusing' and know the rediculous truth...

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vivi

May 20, 2014 at 11:59 PM

[continue from above...]

To conclude the long story short please google it and read if you can the case study of 'LJS abusing' or LJS airport abusing' and know the rediculous truth behind that crazy accusation and false articles of internet trash then stop spreading such absurd rumors. Thanks

p/s It is not about him being human and star is also person and he can make mistakes etc. Yes. he is a human and person who can make mistakes obviously. But the issue here is that he wasn't rude to this fan.

He didn't see her and didn't know who grabbed and pulled his sleeve. Honestly, have any of you ever experienced anything like that in your life? somebody suddenly appears out of no where and caught you off guard? And your reaction to it was pure reflex of human nature? I have.

Another thing, His managers shoud have asked & explained the situation to the girl and take the gift for LJS's behalf like all the other managers do in the situation like that. It is shame that w.m. to be so incompetent....

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9 Chi

April 2, 2014 at 3:26 PM

I always feel so excited when I see pictures of script readings! which makes it even more disappointing when the end product is only so-so.

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10 Cynthia

April 2, 2014 at 3:29 PM

This is a terrific assemblage of actors - each has turned in solid performances in recent and past projects. Haven't seen Kang So-ra (Sunny) since WGM when Leetuek kissed her goodbye and took off for his 2 years of service. So-ra's a talented girl and I look forward to seeing her in this new project.

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11 Khule WY

April 2, 2014 at 3:38 PM

Aigoo looking at these pretty people sure does help calm the nerves.here I am on db when I've lost a very important receipt ,6hrs to left till my flight have to arrive 2 hrs early because of extra security measures on the count of terrorism threats... gaaah so that makes 4 hrs of sleep or less depending on when I find the receipt.

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windsun33

April 2, 2014 at 6:32 PM

Too pretty to be believable, I fear, at least for me. And I have to wonder how did someone born in South Korea end up in North Korea? I hope they have a good explanation for that.

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pogo

April 3, 2014 at 10:09 AM

kidnapping? There are quite a few well-known cases of that, and one of them even involved a husband-and-wife team of filmmakers!

(who then had to spend years making propaganda films for the Great Leader before being allowed out to an Eastern Bloc film festival in, I think Vienna? where they made a break for it and escaped)

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12 Nyai

April 2, 2014 at 3:48 PM

It's the Pd from prosecutor princess?? I was gonna watch it for the male line but with that I'm even more excited. PP is one of the my favourite dramas!

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13 Jen

April 2, 2014 at 6:21 PM

OMG Park Hae Jin!!

He'll be the reason for me tuning in!! Love him in YFAS!

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14 windsun33

April 2, 2014 at 6:23 PM

I have to admit that I have not been sitting on pins and needles waiting for another flower-boy filled medical drama.

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pogo

April 3, 2014 at 10:19 AM

I have not been on pins and needles waiting for ANY medical drama, but for the PD and Lee Jong-seok, I might try this.

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15 Nessie

April 2, 2014 at 6:35 PM

Originally pretty hyped for this drama, and after seeing these images. I'm even more hyped!

I have a feeling once the drama starts rolling onscreen, all the knetz will forgive him, and fawn all over him again.

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16 plumseed

April 2, 2014 at 6:55 PM

having mixed feelings about this. I love the three actors, but I've seen so many historical med dramas (cough cough that includes you dr. jin) that became dull/historically inaccurate and downright awful. I seriously hope the plot is different from the multitude of other medical dramas because I'm becoming bored with them. Also, I'm iffy on Jin Sae Yeon's casting- honestly I feel as if her acting needs a lot of work and I was never able to really get into her characters in other dramas, and she seems to make them two dimensional.

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17 amber

April 2, 2014 at 8:45 PM

I'm here for Kang Sora against LJS fans. Wishing she and LJS might be paired. Even JSY is playing twins, having double times with the boys, we might not know LJS thinks she's too annoying and dumps her and decided to date KSR. P-)

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windparis

April 2, 2014 at 11:37 PM

i love kang sora too..i hope she will be the lead and end up with lee jong suk..

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18 Sour Grapes

April 2, 2014 at 9:40 PM

Here hoping Jin Se-yeon's character dies within the first hour of this show.

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19 Sajen

April 3, 2014 at 12:22 AM

On one hand there's Kang So-ra, on the other I've never finished a Korean medical drama.

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pogo

April 3, 2014 at 10:22 AM

I have! It was a North Korean-themed medical drama, too (hero has amnesia and thinks he's North Korean). I'd never have made it through that one if it wasn't for So Ji-sub.

Kang Sora is pretty good, though. Dream High 2 was awful, but I hope this doesn't suck (PD gives me hope it won't)

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20 Ethalina

April 3, 2014 at 2:09 AM

Genius doctor? Rivalry with a cold, seemingly unapproachable fellow doctor? WOW! Such original characters!

(will probably watch anyway haha)

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21 divyrus

April 3, 2014 at 3:07 AM

I didn't like the story at all but Its LJS and I love the PD ! Definitely must see !

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22 Eunyungah

April 3, 2014 at 5:37 AM

OMO beyond thrilled LJS is baaaccck! Bring on Doctor Stranger!!!!

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23 ju

April 3, 2014 at 8:22 AM

Well well even if I start to be kind of sick of medical drama I am certainly going to follow this one because of Lee Jong seok and this puppy combo...

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24 mona

April 3, 2014 at 9:21 AM

It is always find me hard to believe, if such a young man or woman is a professor or genius doctor, who can operate or do complicated surgery. In reality, you'll never be able to do that, before you're in 30s. To be a doctor, even if you're genius, but dont have much experiences, it'll be nothing.

Dont know how the story will goes, as all the casts are very young. They seriously can only be in residents level.

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meme

April 3, 2014 at 4:56 PM

believe me I've seen one..

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25 Nanako

April 4, 2014 at 4:46 AM

I'm already gearing up to get a heart attack when this drama finally airs. Can one die of too much excitement? Lee Jong Suk + Park Hae Jin, goodness! That's lethal! ~~~~