SBS’s Birth of a Beauty courts Han Ye-seul, Jung Kyeo-woon
by javabeans
SBS’s weekend drama Birth of a Beauty is ramping up its casting process with Han Ye-seul (Myung-wol the Spy) and Jung Kyeo-woon (God’s Gift – 14 Days) surfacing as the latest names in contention for the leads (which I suppose indicates that Joo Sang-wook may be out of the running. Sad! I like Jung Kyeo-woon fine, but Joo Sang-wook’s adorkably sweet turn in Sly and Single Again was such a pleasant surprise that now I just love him).
The nutshell version of the plot involves a woman who finds that her life changes after losing weight. The broadcasters have made the obvious comparison to 200 Pound Beauty, but curiously, they’ve also mentioned a similarity to Temptation of Wife, though they didn’t specify how. I can immediately see the 200 Pound Beauty reference (inasmuch as both stories deal with a woman drastically changing her appearance via weight loss), but the second one eludes me — Wife is the quintessential revenge makjang about a mistreated wife who comes back with a different face (in that the new one sports a mole that renders her unrecognizable) to get revenge on those who wronged her.
Han Ye-seul is currently considering the lead, and would be making her return to dramaland three years since her troubled last production, Myung-wol the Spy. (For those who missed that kerfuffle, Han had reached a breaking point after being overworked and exhausted, and finally walked off the set. She got on a flight to LA to see her mother, and in the time it took for her to fly across the Pacific the brouhaha left in her wake had reached a fever pitch; she was vilified as a diva by some, while others defended her in light of the unreasonable working conditions of drama production. Han took a flight back to Korea almost as soon as she touched down in LA, resumed filming, and the show continued after a few days of interrupted production.)
Birth of a Beauty will be written by Yoon Young-mi of Bride of the Sun and Well-Raised Daughter Hana, with Giant and Midas’s PD Lee Chang-min directing. It’ll follow Endless Love and premieres in November.
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1 maldita
September 18, 2014 at 8:06 AM
Oh Han Yeseul... that Spy Myungwol incident will forever haunt her. I loved her in Fantasy Couple, though, as well as Nonstop. :)
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2 sweetyo0on
September 18, 2014 at 8:06 AM
Joo SangWook probably left once he realized that Han YeSeul was on board. I'm sorry but Korean grudges go on for long. I don't see any veterans wanting to work with her...
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fab
September 18, 2014 at 8:13 AM
A lot of people are or were on her side. Imo she was right in making an issue of the harsh conditions in live shooting.
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pogo
September 18, 2014 at 1:12 PM
From what I hear a lot of PDs and staff have refused to work with her, so she was effectively blacklisted.
Not sure why she got that treatment, she should probably have just signed another drama, one that began filming during her current drama's live shoot, and she'd have been fine! I mean, a rookie actress who isn't even popular gets away with that without any repercussions, stands to reason it might work for a much bigger start.
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pogo
September 18, 2014 at 1:16 PM
and as for the claim that she was right to walk away to "make a point" about the live shoot..... I'd have found that easier to buy if her doing so hadn't immediately screwed over her staff and costars, who worked under the exact same conditions.
I agree that the live shoot system is weird, but shirking work is not the way to go about trying to reform it, and it's not an excuse for anyone. Far better to deal with it while not actually in the middle of shooting though.
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fab
September 19, 2014 at 4:40 AM
Yeah you're right about that, the idea behind her running way was good, but the way she abandoned her fellow actors and staff is unacceptable. But he her come back proves that there are still people who believe in her.
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houstontwin
September 19, 2014 at 5:23 AM
If you sift through the dramabeans archive, you might find it mentioned that she had negotiated specific terms in her contract regarding her working hours. If the production company wasn't willing to honor those terms, they should not have signed the contract with her.
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mrmz
September 20, 2014 at 8:41 PM
I don't think she was trying to make point, or else she wouldn't have come back. I think she was just so exhausted and stressed and wasn't thinking straight. It happens all those beings we call humans. For that reason I don't see why she should be treated this way. However I do agree that it still inconvenienced the cast and crew.
Sometimes shit happens and no one real evil person is to blame. It's really the way the manage things in the industry the real evil.
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Georgie
September 18, 2014 at 1:40 PM
If that's the case, then we no longer respect Joo Sang Wook... Sounds like a little man...
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eki
September 18, 2014 at 4:36 PM
Single Cunning Lady had awful ratings so it most probably better for this drama that he passed on it. He can act, but it seems that not many want to watch him.
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mrmz
September 20, 2014 at 8:42 AM
I want to watch him!! Preferably in another season of TEN. Well he was adorable in Cunning Single Lady. I guess I'd watch him in anything (except melos - nothing in the world will make me watch one :P)
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yayaya
September 18, 2014 at 9:29 PM
I don't think so. FYI, Jo Sang Wook and Jung Gyu Woon are both under the same company, Fantagio. Knowing the fact, I assume that it is only a schedule conflict or may be there is any projects offered to him that he is interested more. Because if the case that he wants to leave because of HYS that likely will give any bad impact on his career, his company wouldn't even give the role to another actor in their company which mostly means killing their actor by rescuing another.
We can still count actors who are more powerful than their company anyway.
Korean grudges go on for long, but in some cases, an awesome project can cure. Though I'm not really confident that it will be one.
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3 drakor lover
September 18, 2014 at 8:20 AM
I thought Joo Sang Wook is gonna be the lead and Jung Kyeo Won would be the second lead?
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4 fab
September 18, 2014 at 8:21 AM
Maybe it's a good thing Joo Sang-woo passed on this, because a combination of 200 Pound Beauty and Temptation of Wife sounds terrible.
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5 john
September 18, 2014 at 8:31 AM
(in that the new one sports a mole that renders her unrecognizable)
Bwahaha.. That and a separation between 3-10 years, ( as per the Dramaverse Random Time Leap Generator ), that renders persons unrecognizable as well.
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Fun-Lugha
September 18, 2014 at 12:31 PM
Ha ha! Kdrama bs this is! I remember a couple of years back an old schoolmate who'd seen me last when I was 11 instantly recognised me a good 15 years later! And we weren't even close, just classmates in a class of 100 or so kids! Kdramas u be so full of it ;)
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6 dream
September 18, 2014 at 8:38 AM
The second connection is so easy.....the wife was left alone because of her weight and then later, after losing weight, she comes back to get revenge (and of course, no one will recognise her!)
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7 3mai
September 18, 2014 at 8:42 AM
Han Ye Seul fit the role perfectly...
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8 annnsow
September 18, 2014 at 8:53 AM
I love both Jung Kyeo Won and Joo Sang Wook. I wouldn't watch for the plot (hate these stories, very sexist, too much body shaming for my taste) but def for the male leads....
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9 whitewire
September 18, 2014 at 9:05 AM
Jung Gyu-woon I'm sooooooo happy he got a lead role! He is so deserving! He's always a supporting character in GG14Days, Sign, Salaryman, etc. I was so happy that he got the lead in Dr. Champ! More, more for you oppa/ahjussi! As for Han Ye-seul, I have no doubts, I love her already and still love her as time goes by waaaa! Fighting!
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10 buticut
September 18, 2014 at 9:58 AM
GAH!! Love me some Gyunnie, but this would be his fourth weekend drama. Oppa can do so much better than that....
He's working hard, but for some reason, he's still an underrated actor - they should give him a role more suited to his talent, especially after he was pretty much wasted in God's Gift. Not keen on the body-shaming plot either, especially if she loses weight, then comes back to get revenge on those who made fun of her, only to fall once more for the same douche.
Gyunnie isn't a stranger to plots involving drastic weight loss; after all, in Romance Town he gets rid of all his fat (In the USA, nonetheless :D ), only to return as this smokin' hot chaebol.
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11 mae
September 18, 2014 at 9:58 AM
Opa opa.. i miss you since gg14d
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12 MsB
September 18, 2014 at 10:14 AM
Can't say I'm unhappy if JSW pulled out. Hate these story lines too
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13 ...
September 18, 2014 at 10:29 AM
I was going to watch this only for JSW. Problem solved. Lol.
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14 Hmm
September 18, 2014 at 10:53 AM
So... if Han Ye-Seul accepts the part, can we expect her to be in a fat suit?
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15 Nixrix
September 18, 2014 at 11:29 AM
I'm watching if JSW is in it, will not watch at all if he's not.
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16 museofmanymasks
September 18, 2014 at 11:43 AM
I like both males and though Han Ye-seul isn't perfect, I like her. However I'm not going to suffer through this plot for any of them. Best of luck that its not a mess though.
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17 kiwichan08
September 18, 2014 at 12:47 PM
I miss seeing Han Ye Seul in dramas so whether or not this drama is gonna be a mess, I'm gonna still watch it. Only for for you Han Ye Seul.
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18 Abbie
September 18, 2014 at 2:17 PM
Despite the disaster that became Myung-wol the Spy, the show had it's good points (and it's bad, and yes, I'm excluding HYS leaving then coming back) but I did like Han Ye-seul in it, for the most part. It was not a perfect drama, but what drama is, really? It will be glad to see her back in dramaland.
As for Jung Kyeo-woon, I have mixed feelings about him. He's a good actor, but more often than not his characters end up rubbing me the wrong way. I don't know why. They just do. I kind of wish Joo Sang-wook had signed on to play the lead.
As for the show itself, I can also definitely see the similarities to 200 Pound Beauty, which I absolutely loved. I can also kind of see the similarities to Temptation of Wife, which I did not see. It could be similar if the female lead is bullied/made fun of for being overweight, possibly by her crush, and decides to seek revenge by losing the weight and making him fall in love with her, only to tell him who she was. A bit of a stretch? Possibly, but just my idea.
Once casting shakes out, and we receive more information on the plot, then I'll decide on watching it or not.
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Pipit
September 18, 2014 at 6:09 PM
I love Han Ye Seul. Her leaving the set of Myung Wol didn't bother me at all. She returned just as soon as she left.
I really hope she signs on this one. But I don't think I would want Jung Kyeo Woon here. I want Joo Sang Wook here. They would be lovely together.
Why can't we have another male lead? How about Oh Ji Ho? A reunion of Fantasy Couple couple would make this drama just perfect.
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salt n' pepper
September 18, 2014 at 7:57 PM
I agree with @Pipit. I prefer Joo Sang Wook. Jung Kyeo Woon is fine but I would have preferred JSW here instead. Oh Ji Ho is fine with me, too. I would go for Oh Ji Ho being paired with HYS over Jung Kyeo Woon.
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noenoe2
November 25, 2014 at 10:55 PM
You're crazy. Woon is a terrific actor, so underrated. He did a great job in Loving u a 1,000 times, Dr. Champ and Romance Town. Why does he rub u the wrong way? He has to play the part as he is directed. Sang Wook is a good actor too, but Woon is better.
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19 Aigoooo
September 18, 2014 at 3:41 PM
I thought the picture on the left was Jo Bo Ah. lol
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20 vanillasalt
September 18, 2014 at 4:04 PM
I hope Han Ye Sul takes the part, i've missed her in drama land
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21 rjyuggy
September 18, 2014 at 5:58 PM
Han Ye suel should do more melodramas like Will It Snow at Christmas. I love her when she plays a weak and vulnerable character.
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22 aRg
September 18, 2014 at 6:25 PM
Joo Sang-Wook ... why ? :(
Just come to me, sexy!
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23 jomo143
September 18, 2014 at 6:47 PM
Two coincidences:
JKW wore a fat suit at the start of Romance Town. He was very sweet as the overweight guy. Made me like his character more. That show was poorly named.
Sung Yoo Ri's character in the same drama above was able to pretend she was someone else because she wore make-up and a fancy pony tail. Totally impossible to tell the two apart. It was kinda ridiculous.
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D's handphone
September 18, 2014 at 7:50 PM
Dont forget that she's totally unrecognizable cos one wears more makeup the other quite plain, lika a before and after makeover..
Kekekeke...
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jomo143
September 18, 2014 at 8:10 PM
Oh, yeah and her clothes were different. :)
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24 chingu
September 18, 2014 at 10:50 PM
Good for Han Ye-seul for being able to make a comeback to dramaland after that incident. I was wondering when I'd see her again, 'cause I do like her. As for Jung Kyeo-woon, it's funny how this is like the female version of the drama— Romance Town—that he starred in where he played an overweight character that went through extreme weight loss.
I liked 200 Pound Beauty, so I'm looking forward to this drama-adaptation of it.
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25 Spec
September 19, 2014 at 12:22 AM
Missing Joo Sang-wook! If he's not gonna be in this drama, then hopefully he'll star in a better drama (rom-com) soon! :)
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26 BMM
September 19, 2014 at 4:01 AM
Please pair Han Ye-seul with someone better.
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27 nuna
September 19, 2014 at 6:33 AM
Please pair Joo Sang Wook with someone better.
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buticut
September 19, 2014 at 9:38 AM
Please pair Jung Gyu-woon with someone better.
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28 Lily
September 19, 2014 at 8:52 PM
I love Joo Sang Wook
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29 Thea
September 19, 2014 at 9:26 PM
I read on other site that JSW was accept this role. But after read this article, hes not in. I've tought JKW was the second male. I'm happy just imagine both of them on one screen. But now...
Actually I dislike Han Ye Seul, I want to watch because JSW is here. But I want JKW too. And I hear that Wang Ji Hye in too. Why we not moved HYS into second and give WJH to leading lady? If it was happen I will watch this drama.
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aRg
September 19, 2014 at 11:06 PM
Yup ... I also read on the other site that JSW has accepted this role. So confusing now. Well I never watch HYS dramas but I just feel don't like her by looking her pics. I'm sorry for HYS fans... you can hit me hehehe but maybe it will change after watching this drama (if only JSW in it hehehe ). Well, just wait patiently about the official news .. since I don't have the right to pick the actors/actress, I will just wait LOL
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30 irem
September 30, 2014 at 11:12 AM
Joo sang wook...why???
I drive myself crazy thinking of you, my man...
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