Ha Yeon-soo goes to prison for new drama

38 September 11, 2014September 11, 2014

by javabeans

I’m not sure I would’ve thought to conjure up quirky Ha Yeon-soo as a suggestion in the game of who to cast as a convicted attempted-murderer (at least not in the top thirty, forty names), but she’s chosen to take on the role of one in the upcoming drama Legendary Witch, which will mark her first foray onto broadcast television (she’s mostly known for memorable turns in cable shows, like the music-themed drama Monstar and the tvN sitcom Potato Star 2013QR3).

Legendary Witch is the MBC weekend drama starring Ha Suk-jin (Thrice-Married Woman) that sounds a bit like a women’s version of the heartwarming blockbuster film Miracle in Cell No. 7, which took a motley group of inmates and banded them together as they rallied around a father and his precocious daughter. In this drama, a central cast of four ladies who served time in the penitentiary together (it’s Cell No. 10 this time) join together in setting up a bakery after their release. The prisoners were convicted of fraud, stock manipulation, murder, and attempted murder; Ha Yeon-soo’s character is a rookie model who was charged with the latter.

Once the women are released and set up shop together, they’ll encounter more obstacles, this time in business, as they go up against a large-scale corporation that threatens their livelihood. Ha Suk-jin’s character is a widowed single father and chef who meets the heroine while she’s learning about breadmaking at the prison’s vocational center, and thus kicks off one loveline.

The women will span all ages, with Ha Yeon-soo taking up the maknae role. Han Ji-hye’s name is currently a possibility for the lead, but she has not yet made an official decision. It looks as though Go Doo-shim (IU’s mother in You’re the Best, Lee Soon-shin) will play the eldest inmate, while Oh Hyun-kyung (the terrible makjang queen Soo-bak in King’s Family) is another name in the mix.

MBC weekenders aren’t really my cup of tea, though I did enjoy Miracle in Cell No. 7, and I love stories about people bonding into makeshift families — they just get me in the heart. On the other hand, this drama comes from the PD and writer of Hundred Year Inheritance, so you may want to start building up your tolerance for crazy.

Legendary Witch will follow current weekend drama Mama: Nothing To Fear, and is set for an October premiere.

Via My Daily

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Tags: Ha Yeon-soo

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1 mary

September 11, 2014 at 4:09 AM

Don't worry. My tolerance for crazy is bulking up nicely thanks to the mermaid! :)

The premise + casting news is shaping up nicely for this drama. I'm actually hoping for a YNS type of experience where no one is the Big Bad or the Great Good. Give us moral dilemmas, Show. Please. T^T

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aounet

September 11, 2014 at 5:23 AM

This is a little unrelated, but how are you feeling about SJR on WGM with Kim SoEun ???

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mary

September 11, 2014 at 5:53 AM

LOL at the ambush interview!

Pros:
- More screentime, More Rimtime.
- More possible screencaps.
- More opportunities to photoshop random Rim pics.
- Kim So-eun is <3.
- Kim So-eun is not an idol. Not that I hate idols in variety, but I'm just glad that there won't be lots of complaints in case there are scripted, fun sekshi times.

Cons:
- Rim getting married. Not mary-ed.
- Need to learn timespace warp powers to recap another show.
- Extra confirmation that Rim won't get LOTs of Mermaid action (if he can manage to film a variety show in between)

Conclusion:
More Rimtime. So overall, feeling optimistic and kinda nervous about how it will go.

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oozzeee

September 11, 2014 at 5:53 AM

,would you like a link to her blogpost about it? :)

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aounet

September 11, 2014 at 6:37 AM

YESSSSSSS.

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oozzeee

September 11, 2014 at 7:14 AM

Mary answered already, but it's always better with pictures so here you go..http://dr-myri-blog.blogspot.com/2014/09/song-jae-rim-to-be-on-we-got-married.html?m=1

pogo

September 11, 2014 at 8:54 AM

Kim So Eun.....another girl who needs a lead role already, years before the talentless hacks who keep scoring them in network dramas.

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2 Quiet Thought

September 11, 2014 at 4:26 AM

So . . . much . . . hair . . . surrounding that tiny face with the huge smile.

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Noah

September 11, 2014 at 5:11 AM

Hahahahaha - i agree

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pogo

September 11, 2014 at 8:55 AM

You think this is a lot, clearly you haven't seen her in Monstar.

That girl should get CFs advertising volumising hairsprays, honestly.

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Quiet Thought

September 11, 2014 at 4:25 PM

I DID see her in Monstar. SO . . . MUCH . . . HAIR . . .

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Quiet Thought

September 11, 2014 at 4:26 PM

. . . Also saw her in Running Man. Practically gnawing on Kookie's biceps.

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3 Waca

September 11, 2014 at 4:49 AM

I may try this one, it seems like a nice dama, and I'm all for female leads :)

thanks for the news javabeans!

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4 D's handphone

September 11, 2014 at 5:30 AM

My baby chipmunk in a new drama.. yayyy! But a weekender? Mehhhh..

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owl

September 11, 2014 at 8:18 AM

Don't you just want to squeeze those cutie chipmunk cheeks?

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Adele

September 11, 2014 at 5:29 PM

I know I kinda do ! :-)

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5 rinoak

September 11, 2014 at 6:01 AM

I have never understood why Miracle in Cell 7 was so popular. I went in expecting something 'heartwarming' as everyone always says, but I just felt cheated in the end. There's nothing heartwarming about being depressed and sad and that's all there was to that show. I like Ha Yeon Soo, but if this really is anything like Miracle, then I will definitely pass.

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...

September 11, 2014 at 6:53 AM

I didn't feel cheated because I didn't really have great expectations (everyone on my facebook feed admitted they cried like a baby while watching... but that's not really an indicator of quality) but I agree with you, it wasn't heartwarming at all.

So much great acting though.

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6 Lexington

September 11, 2014 at 6:12 AM

Gah! I so wish this was a sixteen episode miniseries as it sounds tons of fun and I love the premise. It has the potential to be both heart warming and hilarious, but I just can't do looooooong weekend shows. I tried it once. It was harrowing.

May try and catch the odd ep though.

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7 momoko

September 11, 2014 at 6:55 AM

Errrrr... I'm more interested on the news of the other other lead... Han Ji Hye.

She keeps doing family or weekend drama one after another with MBC.

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8 ahsaem

September 11, 2014 at 7:20 AM

OHMYGOD! I loooooooooved Ha Suk Jin in Childless comfort( who wouldn't, he's so hot!) and Ha yeon soo is my girl crush. I am so watching this. :D

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9 bree

September 11, 2014 at 7:23 AM

my brain went dead for a second when I read "Ha Yeon-soo goes to prison."

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owl

September 11, 2014 at 8:17 AM

I know, right? ha ~psych, javabeans~

I really liked Ha Yeon-soo as the unaffected New Zealand high school transplant in Monstar. That was such a little gem of a kdrama. Will have to check this out after Mama (which is too melo and kind of boring).

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pogo

September 11, 2014 at 8:59 AM

yeah, I thought 'wrong Monstar girl there, guys!'

but seriously, the fact that Dahee is so immediately being considered for a 10 year prison sentence for blackmail while woman-beater Kim Hyun Joong waltzes around giving concerts and treating the investigation as if it is a matter of checking into a hotel, is outrageous and disgusting.

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10 changhyun

September 11, 2014 at 8:12 AM

Why is she so beautiful

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11 pogo

September 11, 2014 at 9:18 AM

So she isn't the lead, but I hope we get to see a decent amount of screen time for her - she has a quirky, natural screen presence and a good knack for comedy.

But given the current state of Idols and Terrible Actresses Only casting in almost every role meant for an under-25, I have no hope that the networks will actually give her or teh other girls who deserve it, a shot at main lead.

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12 crazedlu

September 11, 2014 at 10:33 AM

Sounds like a good premise with lots of potential for gush inducing heart, unfortunately, I am NOT a fan of crazy. Darrrn. Especially because I like the cast.

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13 alua

September 11, 2014 at 10:39 AM

Reminds of a fairly recent j-drama (last year?) with two female characters that get released from prison and struggle through life (still need to watch that one though).

I've only been burned with weekend dramas but I might watch a little bit of this, if only because the premise sounds interesting enough and because I really liked Ha Yeon-soo in Monstar.

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junny

September 11, 2014 at 11:17 AM

ah yes, Itsuka Hi no Ataru Basho de with the lovely Iijima Naoko and Ueto Aya. I haven't watched it either, but I remember Iijima Naoko fondly for her turn in Bus Stop.

And that's a lovely pic of Ha Yeon-soo, she's got such a bright smile.

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james94131

September 11, 2014 at 3:50 PM

that was definitely a very nicely done show. Kinda melancholy if I recall correctly. Very much worth seeing if you have the chance.

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14 canxi

September 11, 2014 at 12:21 PM

Sounds pretty good.

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15 Sajen

September 11, 2014 at 12:39 PM

I wouldn't have her in my top pick either, but you know maybe that's the point. I really liked her in Monstar haven't seen Potato Star so I can't form an opinion on that. Maybe she's trying to prove she can be more than the cute slightly odd girl, of course who says that an attempted murderess can't look like a chipmunk.

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eki

September 11, 2014 at 8:21 PM

She only had 2 expressions in Monstar, very happy and crying. But she was really good in Potato Star. Either she improved really fast or it was the script in Monstar.

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16 Adal

September 11, 2014 at 1:13 PM

I like her a lot as an actress, and would gladly watch her in a drama. But I can't do weekend dramas with 50+ episodes for anyone! I did it before and I can truly say, 'once was enough!'

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17 bd5

September 11, 2014 at 2:23 PM

Haven't seen Ha Yeon-soo act, but she was a lot of fun/adorable as a guest on RM.

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18 Adele

September 11, 2014 at 5:27 PM

I am a fan of her since she appears in Running Man. So much cuteness!
I wish her good luck on her coming role. Fighting!

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19 NN

September 22, 2014 at 7:24 PM

The only actress who fits prison life is only Hwang Jung Eum. As if it is her own house???

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20 greenfish

October 6, 2014 at 5:31 PM

I love this girl. Although I don't like anything near a prison I would watch this for her. I loved Monstar (and I did love the ex-con bread maker in Your're the Best). Anyway, I imagine since the girls were all falsely accused they don't need to look like convicts or murderers etc. If all seem to run against type that only makes it that much more interesting to me. Will definitely check it out.

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