Sung Joon becomes Eric’s rival in Discovery of Romance
by javabeans
When you’re the the writer of the I Need Romance franchise and have a bevy of talented, attractive stars at your disposal, why look for anyone new when you can just dip into that talent pool? The upcoming KBS rom-com Discovery of Romance cast Jung Yumi (an I Need Romance 2012 alum) as its heroine, and is now poised to add Sung Joon (I Need Romance 3). (He is reportedly wrapping up negotiations, with the casting set to finalize within the week.)
On one hand, Sung Joon yay! On the other hand, he’ll be the second lead (to Eric, who’s got the lead role), in which case, sadface. As the current boyfriend to Jung Yumi’s furniture-designer character at the outset of the drama, he plays a plastic surgeon with a warm and gentle personality. So, the perfect swoonworthy boyfriend, I’m guessing.
However! Enter Eric, Jung Yumi’s ex-boyfriend and the head of a design company, and thus begins the love triangle… and based on the laws of dramaland, rom-com trajectory dictates that Sung Joon get his heart broken along the way. Ack, if ever something were to get in the way of my anticipation over a Jung Yumi-Eric reunion (soooo dysfunctional in Que Sera Sera, but in an intensely compelling way), it would be sacrificing Sung Joon to get there.
Discovery of Romance will be KBS’s next Monday-Tuesday drama after Trot Lovers, which is next on the schedule once Big Man wraps up in another week. It’ll premiere in August.
Via TV Report
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- Eric and Jung Yumi up for possible dramaland reunion
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- I Need Romance 3: Episode 1
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- Sung Joon takes a bubble bath
- Teaser and stills for Scary Story 2
- Gu Family Book: Episode 1
Tags: Discovery of Romance, Jung Yumi, Sung Joon
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1 may20
June 10, 2014 at 8:09 AM
LOL so apparently Jung Yumi's character has a specific taste in men, because Sung Joon and Eric look similar to each other. =P But I'm liking the pairing.
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Windy
June 10, 2014 at 8:59 AM
I also thought the same thing. Eric and Sung Joon's face and feature quite similar. They look like brothers than rival…lol...Can we have bromance too???
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ys
June 10, 2014 at 12:41 PM
mmmmbromance
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Windy
June 10, 2014 at 9:03 AM
I also thought the same thing. Eric and Sung Joon's face quite similar. They may become brothers than rival…lol..can't we have more bromance than rivalry story??
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bd5
June 10, 2014 at 11:50 AM
I don't really see it.
Sung Joon just needs to gain some weight/muscle and he would really become leading man material.
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canxi
June 10, 2014 at 5:05 PM
Lol, he doesn't need to do anything.
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bd5
June 11, 2014 at 10:28 AM
Of course, he doesn't NEED to do anything, but he's a bit of a beanpole - which, however, does allow him to play younger roles.
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2 nova611
June 10, 2014 at 8:11 AM
i dont understand it
i think sj is better actor than eric
forgive me if im wrong, i only watch him in ''spy something'' drama
why cant sj lead the drama?
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houstontwin
June 10, 2014 at 8:40 AM
Spy Myung Wol was a terrible disaster (look at dramabean archives if you would like the backstory). It would be a mistake to judge any of the characters based on their participation in that drama.
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Misa
June 10, 2014 at 8:42 AM
Eric is a great actor. I'm big fan of his acting. Even in a hot mess drama Spy Myong Wol, he was the only actor gave 100% to do his best until the very last. You should check his other dramas such as Super Rookie, Que Sera Sera, Phoenix or Korea Secret Agency. He's one of the actor who's willingly act outside their comfort zone.
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Misa
June 10, 2014 at 8:42 AM
Eric is a great actor. I'm big fan of his acting. Even in a hot mess drama Spy Myong Wol, he was the only actor gave 100% to do his best until the very last. You should check his other dramas such as Super Rookie, Que Sera Sera, Phoenix or Korea Secret Agency. He's one of the actor who's willingly act outside their comfort zone.
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ys
June 10, 2014 at 12:46 PM
Oh I loved Eric in Super Rookie.
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Tracy
June 10, 2014 at 9:19 AM
Now i'm gonna have to watch this because he's in it? I wish he was main lead instead. Like in Spy Myungwool I wanted more or Lee Jin Wook.
Hopefuully this will be good, I tend to really enjoy the INR series...to bad this is not on cable, where sexy times are more realistic.
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Phi
June 10, 2014 at 2:30 PM
Eric is a good actor. Though, with Shinhwa, he couldn't devote his time as much to his solo career. If you only watch 1 drama, it's not fair to judge any one's career on ONE piece. Everyone's taste is different but if you read Dramabeans' final recap of SMW, you know he was the one that did well despite that hot mess. It amused me there was QSS and KSA, SW that ppls either haven't watched or neglected to acknowledge but the hot mess of SMW was.
Eric is very versatile with variety of roles he took on. I hope to see more of him in the coming years.
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megumi
June 11, 2014 at 4:57 PM
No SJ is not definitely a better actor than Eric, what role does SJ has that got critically acclaimed except maybe SUFBB, Eric's dramas such as Super Rookie, Korea Secret Agency, Thorn Birds, Que Sera Sera were all critically acclaimed with high ratings, especially Super Rookie as he had to carry the show by himself as his female lead was none other than Han Ga In, not that i dislike SJ but Eric is ahead of him in terms of acting talent, you should check out the dramas i mentioned to see the real acting of Eric.
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3 mira
June 10, 2014 at 8:19 AM
happy to see sung joon again in dramaland but sad that he is only the second lead, i hope his character is well written though..
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4 Deliane
June 10, 2014 at 8:21 AM
Will watch Sung Joon in anything so hurry up drama and air!
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5 egiaegiaa
June 10, 2014 at 8:23 AM
been waiting for some updates about Discovery of Love and here it is!!!
Sung Joon Hwaiting
i trust you :)
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6 mystisith
June 10, 2014 at 8:33 AM
Story sounds so much like an unofficial installment of INR & they cast one of the actors of the franchise... tvN must be giggling. On another note, I'll have SMLS too since Eric doesn't do anything for me. I guess I'll watch this with the finger on the FF button & just roll my eyes at the end...
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7 redfox
June 10, 2014 at 8:41 AM
Sung Joon, remodelling people? oh.
as to being second lead and getting the heart broken, he is so calm and collected he can take it.
I´d like the role to be challenging, fun and and original. doesn´t matter if it is second lead
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8 Adal
June 10, 2014 at 8:58 AM
I would like to see Sung Joon again, but not in another rom-com. The dude has talent, I was hoping he would stretch himself and go into another genre. I loved him to pieces in Shut Up Flower Boy Band, but could barely tolerate INR3 (it was a good drama, just not that great) and he did fairly well in the Gu Family Book as a second lead. He's already handled one rom-com this year :-( , just hope he won't get type-cast.
Anyway, here's hoping that it's a success - all things considered.
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houstontwin
June 10, 2014 at 9:25 AM
Good point. Maybe he is only receiving offers for rom-coms (because of his good looks).
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Chandler
June 10, 2014 at 10:47 AM
Woah. Are you me? This is exactly how I feel. I think it might be partly that I prefer his characters in Shut Up and White Christmas, as opposed to his turn as Sweet Potato. It was something that always affected my enjoyment of INR3. It's not that I don't love seeing him in things, it's just that I'd rather he get some projects with some more interesting characters.
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skelly
June 10, 2014 at 11:26 AM
I think that they problem with INR3 is that there was really no trajectory for his character. He started out perfect, ended up perfect, and I think he was just as bored with his character as we were.
Nobody likes to be just a pretty face, especially if you are getting typecast as a pretty face; he does better when he has a darker side or some inner struggle, like in White Christmas and SUFBB (my favorite Sung Joon role). I also hope he is not playing Mr. Perfect again. He does it well, but he - and the writers, please - could do so much better.
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Muenchabench
June 10, 2014 at 11:38 AM
Yes completely agree his lovably serious nature are why he can pull off dark, complex characters, I want meat and potatoes, not necessarily sweet
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canxi
June 10, 2014 at 5:07 PM
Watch his movies! I have Pluto on my computer, but I've yet to watch it yet, though.
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9 damianna
June 10, 2014 at 9:03 AM
Oh no...my heart is already bleeding for him like it did for Dr. Yoon pil joo.
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10 coloures
June 10, 2014 at 10:13 AM
Well, this sucks. Now I WILL be torn between Eric and Sung Joon :((
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11 Chandler
June 10, 2014 at 10:42 AM
OOOF. This will be a tough one. They certainly know how to pick second leads that give the leads a run for their money. I would rather see Sung Joon as a lead in something, but I guess I'm just happy to see him back so soon.
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12 ananke
June 10, 2014 at 10:45 AM
I see some fan division here between Eric and SJ most likely based on how long they have been watching dramas. Since I found SJ's character in INR 3 way too smug -to the point where I couldn't finish the drama, I have no problem seeing him as second lead to Eric.
Absolutely cannot see it the other way around. As the facial similarity has been pointed out, there is a seemingly dispositional similarity
that the actors give off (superficial yet nearly tangible??? haha) and I can't see SJ getting the edge over Eric yet.
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esselle
June 10, 2014 at 11:26 AM
I have been watching dramas for over ten years and have somehow not caught a single one of Eric's dramas.. (I was a diehard Shinhwa fan too) So I have no idea how good Eric's acting is. I too did not really like Sung Joon's acting in INR3. The whole drama was meh in general, and the two leads had zero chemistry. I watched the whole thing just for Nam Goong Min! But I do think Sung Joon has acting chops -- he did very well in Can We Get Married? His costar on the other hand was beyond annoying..
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Sarah
June 10, 2014 at 8:28 PM
Different people different taste. No problem if you think Eric's acting isn't that good. But the thing is people already recognized him as one of the great actor. Need proof? He continuously get dramas and movies offered even though he keep rejected them due to his business with Shinhwa company. Like this year, he got three dramas offered (Golden Cross, Trot Lovers and Discovery of Love), or maybe some others that not get publicity. If people didn't consider him as a great actor, how come korean websites put his news on their hot topics just for welcoming him back to drama land and it means people still excited to see him in dramas. Personally I'm so excited to see how this drama will be. Hopefully, rom-com means more just common love story because it will be so boring. Eric-Jung Yoo Mi-Sung Joon, fighting!!!
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megumi
June 11, 2014 at 5:15 PM
This by the way, no matter how people here think Eric's acting is bad he has been recognized as a good actor even though he's an idol, trust me it's hard to please knetz when you're a member of an idol group and no matter how famous the group is you get criticised for your acting, case in point Yoona, Yunho etc. He got recognized for his acting since the Thorn Bird days, he had some memorable lines in that drama that still gets played in variety shows whenever Eric is mentioned, he hasn't won any awards in acting but i don't know if anyone takes those award shows seriously.
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Cindy
June 11, 2014 at 8:58 PM
Sometimes I don't understand what kind of acting could be categorized as great or bad. In my opinion since I saw him as romantic and charming guy in Phoenix then changed to silly character in Super Rookie with natural acting, this is what I called great actor. I was so much impressed when he did asshole character in Que Sera Sera and arrogant hallyu star in Spy Myong Wol. As I remember, he always accept different characters from the previous drama projects. So, I don't understand if someone still calling his acting not good enough. Maybe they think good acting means your character should be always charming and prince-like. Eric won several acting award in MBC, SBS and BaekSang.
13 mekko
June 10, 2014 at 11:05 AM
Aaaaah! I was excited about the Eric/Jung Yumi reunion (they were so good in Que Sera Sera, except I have to admit that it was so intense that I've never finished the last two episodes...shame on me), but now we've added another one of my favorite actors! Yaaaay! This had better be good, or my disappointment will be paramount.
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14 atz
June 10, 2014 at 12:31 PM
I am sure that I am in a very minority group but I think that Soon Joon should play a plastic surgeon who has some flaws, ie a very calculating man( but does not show his flaws to anyone) ,,, He played a guy who was super nice and perfect in INR3 but I also like him play a man who has some dark side. He is young but very talented as an actor and he should play different roles to expand his resume. Besides, I do not want to see his nice heart totally broken due to the appearance of the guy Eric plays. I like both actors!!
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15 soprection
June 10, 2014 at 5:07 PM
Yay! Sung Joon! He's dreamy~~~~~~~~~~
At least being second lead means that he'll be super nice and almost perfect. I almost always preferred the INR second leads anyway.
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16 canxi
June 10, 2014 at 5:08 PM
Oooooh and it just gets better O:
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17 WonkaWonka
June 10, 2014 at 5:21 PM
so our sung joon become second lead and he will broken heart......i can't watch it :"(
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18 Janey
June 10, 2014 at 5:38 PM
Why is he second lead again I'm so upset :( But I love Eric too so I guess it's not really a shame because I'm seeing them both in a drama?! But I don't want to see Sung Joon hurt!!!! Oh the confusion.
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19 hanie
June 10, 2014 at 6:04 PM
Sungjoon's destiny already been sealed.
but that is okay... I prefer Sung Joon as bad ass genius Choi Ji Hoon anyway.
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20 Stephanie
June 10, 2014 at 9:43 PM
LOL sacrificing sung joon. I can imagine you at an altar. Crying that you have to give your son away to become an altar boy.
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21 cheekbones
June 10, 2014 at 10:11 PM
I totally share your sentiment, jb. *sigh*
Sung Joon, I know you have your own solid reason to choose this project, but I'd rather see you in the lead.
This drama has so much eye candy, though. So, yay !?
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22 redfox
June 10, 2014 at 10:29 PM
if he is just wrapping up, someone quickly offer him a lead in something awesome and perhaps there is time to step out of this....
but on the other hand, we dont really know what he wants to do and cant interfere with the choices. if it comes from the heart
or it is just better to work than sit still.
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23 Beng
June 10, 2014 at 11:35 PM
can he get a girl of his own too, even if it's towards the end, or maybe 6 episodes before it ends>
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redfox
June 11, 2014 at 12:48 AM
the plastic surgeons nerdy assistant, who actually disapproves of ps and whom he never pays attention to, but something happens and she becomes a goddess in his eyes when he starts to like her. you know, how love makes people shine etc. and SJ' s character could be cold sarcastic and snappy instead of Mr. Perfect. and then he turns into a helpless puddle
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canxi
June 11, 2014 at 11:43 AM
That'd be cool. Maybe this could be a role that helps him shine in the eyes of those big network casting people. It definitely seems like this writer enjoyed working with him, too.
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redfox
June 11, 2014 at 12:32 PM
correction: not doesnt pay attention but sort of mocks and picks on and always telling her to get plastic surgery but at one point gets too close to her face and *gulp* what the hell is this? I must be insane! her nose is like a beak! her eyes are wayyyy too big! this, this flawed thing no this cant be right. I mean look at her neck....*gulp* no, dont look.
and later he would tell her to never ever get plastic surgery, no friggin way!
it would be fresh and challenging and funny and also would make a point in the context of korean society and norms.
ha. thats how it should be.
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24 bored2tears
June 11, 2014 at 7:44 AM
Damn! First of all Sung Joon does not need to play 2nd to anyone anymore. He's proven more than once that he can generate heat with an icicle.
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Thiya
June 15, 2014 at 10:53 PM
Agreed! The boy should have considered his career path may take a turn backwards if he keeps playing second lead. He is MORE than capable of leading the show.....hehehehe....do i look like im bias???
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25 debrainmke
June 11, 2014 at 11:34 AM
The addition of Sung Joon now makes me not want to watch it! But I will because I love Eric and Yu-mi together. Sung Joon looks like Lurch from the Adams Family! Not a fan. Thought he was the worse thing about "Lie to Me!"
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redfox
June 11, 2014 at 12:35 PM
you are totally insane.
wash your eyes.
besides he looks like my cousin so this is a double insult
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26 nomoola
June 14, 2014 at 6:03 AM
both first male lead and second lead have deep manly voice...me likey
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27 Sarang
June 15, 2014 at 3:33 AM
Yeayyyyy…..Eric and Sung Joon in one drama….too much eye candy, huh???!!! Sung Joon is handsome and all, but I'll root for Eric, because this Oppajussi so handsome, sexy, dorky and charismatic. I saw his craziness in Shinhwa Broadcast (I'm new Shinhwa fan, by the way) and totally fall for him. I saw his dramas before and must admit he's one of great actor and super talented..Eric, Sung Joon hwaiting!!!
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