Kim Dong-wook and Lee Yi-kyung join Maids as flower boy noblemen

17 October 14, 2014April 8, 2017

Kim Dong-wook and Lee Yi-kyung join Maids as flower boy noblemen

by girlfriday

Lee Yi-kyung, Lee Shi-ah, Kim Dong-wook

Now that the Joseon-era upstairs-downstairs drama Maids has secured its servants in leads Oh Ji-ho (Ghost-Seeing Detective Cheo-young) and Jung Yumi (Mother’s Garden), it’s time to cast the noblemen. Kim Dong-wook (The Concubine, Dandelion Family) has chosen the show as his army comeback project; he’ll play the pretty flower-boy-next-door type who rivals Oh Ji-ho for Jung Yumi’s affections, and rising young actor Lee Yi-kyung (You’re All Surrounded, You From Another Star) is set to play a bad boy rebel.

The new JTBC Monday-Tuesday show is described as a historical drama with a modern sensibility, about the Joseon-era fast set and their servants. It stars Jung Yumi as a pampered nobleman’s daughter who was so pretty that she had her own fan club of admirers. But one day tragedy befalls her family and she ends up a slave, and has to adjust to life as a maidservant. Oh Ji-ho, by contrast, is an undercover slave — he’s a warrior on special assignment who harbors an enormous secret.

Kim Dong-wook has been cast to play the most popular young master in the capital city — a young nobleman with a promising future, an important family, a stellar academic record, a warrior’s skills, and a pretty face. He’s considered selfish by some, but has a painful past that no one knows about. He only has eyes for Jung Yumi, and will end up rivals with Oh Ji-ho to win her love.

Lee Yi-kyung and newbie actress Lee Shi-ah (she played Rain’s dead girlfriend in She’s So Lovable) play a troublesome brother-sister pair. Lee Shi-ah and Jung Yumi used to be frenemies who were always rivals to be the prettiest and most popular young lady in their social circle; following Jung Yumi’s fall from the aristocracy, she ends up as Lee Shi-ah’s maid. Geez, even Cinderella didn’t have to pick up after her mean girl frenemy. Their rivalry will continue well into their new social arrangement, and Lee Shi-ah’s jealousy will only grow.

Her oppa will be played by Lee Yi-kyung, and he’ll be the rebellious playboy who’s a constant disappointment to his family. He keeps failing civil service examinations and doing nothing with his life, and feels stress from always being compared to Kim Dong-wook’s perfect model student. He’s a playboy who goes in and out of gibangs even though he’s married, and causes trouble wherever he goes. I don’t know what to expect from the tone of this drama, but the characters sound promising, and I’m happy to see Kim Dong-wook back.

Maids follows Yoo-na’s Street on Mondays and Tuesdays beginning December 1.

Via Osen

Required fields are marked *

1 neyrie

October 14, 2014 at 5:38 AM

Ahhhh... Kim Dong wook... been waiting for his project comeback... A little sad that he is not lead... but still so happy he is back!!!

Required fields are marked *

2 sogazelle

October 14, 2014 at 5:50 AM

Lee Yi Kyung character in You Are All Surrounded was the only thing good for me in that drama.

He's such a great actor. I look forward to watching him again in such funny and likable characters.

Required fields are marked *

Rachel

October 14, 2014 at 10:21 AM

Hehe yeah I was pretty amused by his character in YAS. Glad to see him as a "rising young actor"! I remember him in School 2013 too.

Required fields are marked *

*Ko

October 14, 2014 at 2:41 PM

I saw him in a 2012 gay-themed movie directed by Lee Song-Hee-Il and his acting was quite impressive. He just stole the show actually...The main lead was a bit blank and inexpressive compared to him! He seems very versatile and promising for sure.

Required fields are marked *

3 yonghwagf

October 14, 2014 at 7:26 AM

This actually sounds good.... since I like jung yu mi, I'm gonna give this a try :-)

Required fields are marked *

4 jensredshoes

October 14, 2014 at 7:40 AM

I like the idea of this drama. It's nice to get a saguk that's about people's lives and relationships without to much political drama to wade through. I hope anyway. :)

Required fields are marked *

5 Jason

October 14, 2014 at 8:33 AM

Lee Shi-ah looks so familiar to me, was she in an idol group before?

Required fields are marked *

jaejyj

October 15, 2014 at 5:11 AM

Is she a same model girl from Jaejoong's Just Another Girl MV?

Required fields are marked *

6 CaroleMcDonnell

October 14, 2014 at 9:10 AM

this sounds good..although some silly idealistic part of me was hoping a nobleman would actually fall in love with a slave. But nooooo, it's always the Chunhyang theme...she is noble or semi-noble. Liking the story idea though.

Required fields are marked *

Lindy

October 14, 2014 at 10:17 AM

I can't wait for this one! In the backstory of Chuno, Jang Hyuk, as the young master, falls in love with his family's slave girl, Lee Da-hae, but they are separated by the usual unfortunate series of events. Oh Ji-ho is also in this as a general reduced to slavery. Chuno was the first k-drama of any genre I ever watched. I really enjoyed it although I found the political stuff very baffling, being a complete ignoramus about anything Korea related at the time. All I kept thinking was, "Wow, this country must have the best looking men on the planet!" Eye candy galore!

Required fields are marked *

mary

October 14, 2014 at 11:02 AM

>All I kept thinking was, “Wow, this country must have the best looking men on the planet!”

HAHAHAHA good conclusion!

Required fields are marked *

7 Daisy

October 14, 2014 at 9:42 AM

Wow I'm actually really excited for this drama! But December 1 is sooo far away :(

Required fields are marked *

8 Chandler

October 14, 2014 at 10:45 AM

I'm looking forward to this :) Cast seems really solid so far and I'm super happy to see Kim Dong-wook back.

Required fields are marked *

9 mary

October 14, 2014 at 11:20 AM

10 bucks says the playboy, "good-for-nothing" nobleman falls for Jung Yumi too. ^^

Required fields are marked *

Manin

October 14, 2014 at 12:09 PM

I see your bet and I will ...

dutifully write it down as a good keeper of the records. That was 10 bucks you say? In what currency do you want it?

(but seriously, it's pretty much in the cards isn't it: playboy troublemaker + sister with a new slave that's a former frenemy that competed for the title of the pretties girl? He's gonna be all over that in some flirtatious third lead way. At least if they follow the "normal" way of things)

Required fields are marked *

Mandy

October 14, 2014 at 5:30 PM

10 bucks from me too, although I hope not. The guy is married and I'd really rather not have another adultery loveline happening when there's been tons lately.

Required fields are marked *

10 Mandy

October 14, 2014 at 5:26 PM

This drama actually sounds the most promising out of the upcoming ones in terms of the premise. I don't know the writer's previous works, but I'm taken by the characters that sound multidimensional - at least on paper, that is.

I've been complaining about the lack of a good sageuk this whole year, so I just hope this lives up to my expectations because I'm not really fond of either the main leads. I really like Lee Yi-kyung though - he was totally amusing/heartfelt in YAAS and had some memorable scenes in YFAS. I'm glad he's getting more roles.

Required fields are marked *

Maids