Kim Sang-joong and Kim Tae-woo offered KBS’s next sageuk epic
by girlfriday
KBS had a huge hit on their hands with the weekend sageuk Jeong Do-jeon this past year, as it was both a critical and ratings success, and the network’s follow-up in that timeslot has been highly anticipated since June. The project is finally entering casting rounds, and currently has offers out to the ever-awesome Kim Sang-joong (Bad Guys, A New Leaf) to headline, and Kim Tae-woo (God’s Gift – 14 Days) to costar.
The drama is called Jingbirok, the name of a book written by real-life Joseon historian and scholar Ryu Seong-ryong, detailing the Imjin War (1592-1598). The drama will be a telling of historical events with the scholar as the central character, in the same vein as Jung Do-jeon (who influenced the founding of the Joseon dynasty). Ryu Seong-ryong was an official who served during King Seonjo’s reign in the late 16th century. He was a brilliant Confucian scholar who was put in charge of military operations during the Imjin War, and greatly influenced Admiral Lee Soon-shin.
The story starts before the Imjin War begins and will follow the characters all the way through the Battle of Noryang, and the death of Lee Soon-shin. I like the approach that Jeong Do-jeon and Jingbirok are taking, in telling very familiar historical events through the eyes of lesser-known figures — scholars and thinkers who influenced kings and directed generals. I totally intend to watch all of Jung Do-jeon… when I find 50 spare hours.
Kim Sang-joong is being courted to play Ryu Seong-ryong, and it pretty much goes without saying that he’s going to be crazy good as the charismatic mastermind. Kim Tae-woo has been cast as King Seonjo, a weak king who came into power at the age of sixteen and was the first Joseon king of indirect lineage. He ruled during a period of extreme factional tension (when is the era in Joseon WITHOUT factional tension, is what I want to know), and of course during the war.
Directing is PD Kim Sang-hwi who worked on the long-format sageuk King’s Dream, and writing is Baek Woon-chul of Suspicious Housekeeper and Strongest Chil-woo. Jingbirok plans to start shooting in November for a January premiere.
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Tags: Kim Sang-joong, Kim Tae-woo
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1 mary
October 15, 2014 at 2:15 PM
Bbbbutt... what about Bad Guys season 2???
(Yes, I'm already rooting for a Season 2)
Kim Sangjoong ajuicy, please don't sign on to this drama yet.
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museofmanymasks
October 15, 2014 at 2:31 PM
+1
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panda
October 15, 2014 at 3:24 PM
+2
I am sure he can pull double duty. He's afterall badass duty from CH :-)
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rinoak
October 15, 2014 at 5:01 PM
+3 Bad Guys easily my favorite show right now. (I wish Kim Sang-joong was in everything. Can we clone him??)
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panda
October 15, 2014 at 5:05 PM
Oy vey * badass Daddy*
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leejunki
October 15, 2014 at 6:18 PM
ajuicy /DEAD
mary
October 15, 2014 at 9:58 PM
Heehee I like this thread ^^
wilphred
October 17, 2014 at 4:48 PM
this article made me want to watch Jeong Do-jeon. I am in the US - it isn't available on Soompi, Viki, Dramafever,or Hulu. Where can I find this show with English subs?
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2 daktari34
October 15, 2014 at 2:17 PM
I wanted to watch Jeong Do Jeon as well but couldn't find any subs :(
Hopefully this gets subbed.
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3 Meong
October 15, 2014 at 2:23 PM
January... Ah such a long wait. I'm definitely looking forward to this.
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4 lovepark
October 15, 2014 at 2:43 PM
Kim Sang-joong will be awesome because he simply and always will be.
Super excited about Kim Tae-woo. I loved him in The Face Reader (short but impactful). I look forward to his portrayal if he takes the role!
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ys
October 15, 2014 at 3:50 PM
Who was he in The Face Reader?
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lovepark
October 15, 2014 at 8:09 PM
He was King Munjong. It was a small but crucial role in the beginning that set the tone.
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ys
October 16, 2014 at 10:34 AM
Aha. Thanks.
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5 dreamcloud
October 15, 2014 at 4:55 PM
I wonder who will be cast as Yi Soon Shin? With the greats Kim Myung-Min and Choi Min-Shik as past actors of YSS, I'm eager to see who it will be.
I myself had taken interest in the book Jingbirok after watching Immortal Yi Soon Shin but have only been able to read the first chapter translated into English. I heard that it has been translated and is available to buy but I don't remember where. But for anyone who is up to ordering it: it's a true historical classic, like the Memoirs of Lady Hyegyeong but set with a background of the tumult of the Imjin war.
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6 howforwardsale
October 15, 2014 at 5:35 PM
I'm here for Kim Tae Woo and his beautiful mouth!!!
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7 Gwinna
October 15, 2014 at 6:37 PM
I wish there were subs for Jeong Do Jeon!
I like the idea of telling history from a scholar's perspective. KSJ was in Eight Days, correct? If he is the one I'm thinking of, he will definitely be great in this role.
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8 Rovi
October 15, 2014 at 6:42 PM
The only reason why Seonjo was chosen was because both Injong and Myeongjong (Jungjong's only legitimate sons by his 2 Queens Consort) had no surviving offspring (Injong's chronic illness and the poisoning rumor, Myeongjong's only son predeceasing him 4 years before he died), indirectly due to the actions of Queen Munjeong and the So-Yoon Faction ("Lesser Yoons"; headed by her elder brothers Yoon Won-hyeong & Wol-lo (later on these two had a falling out, with Wol-lo being executed by poison), and Won-hyeong's concubine-turned-legal wife and Queen Munjeong's confidante Jeong Nan-jeong (after poisoning the legal wife Lady Kim)).
Also, Seonjo's grandmother Lady Ahn (AKA Chang-bin, part of Jungjong's original 8 concubines (1 of them being Queen Janggyeong, mother of the then-youngest Injong)) had a good-standing relationship with Queen Munjeong (2 of Jungjong's concubines (all daughters of the 1506 coup leaders) later conspired against her: notable being Lady Park Gyeong-bin, whose daring ambitions somehow mirroring Deposed Queen Lady Yoon and her son Deposed King Yeonsan-gun, led to her eventual downfall, executed by poison; & Lady Hong Hui-bin, kicked out of the palace for conspiring with Yoon Im to replace Myeongjong with her youngest son Prince Bongseong-gun, due to Injong's poisoning rumors), and was the only concubine of Jungjong who remained (up to her death, during Myeongjong's 4th year) in the palace (the law stated that after the 3-year mourning period for the deceased King was over, his remaining concubines were then sent out of their palatial residences), (then-regent) Queen Munjeong bending the law in her case. Also, during the selection of the Crown Prince (the strong contenders being Jungjong's eldest Prince Bokseong-gun & youngest the wonja), Prince Deokheung-gun (Lady Ahn's youngest son, & Seonjo's father) chose not to participate in the 2nd round.
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kooriyuki
October 15, 2014 at 7:10 PM
And not forgetting what we learn from watching Secret Door - the Crown Prince/King and the Crown Princess/Queen and only sleep together on auspicious dates as stated by the royal astrologer.
Looks like I have to wait 2 weeks after the first episode aired in SK before catching it on KBSWorld.
(For any interested parties, I did a few writeups on Jeong Do Jeon, fyi)
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Rovi
October 16, 2014 at 7:54 AM
The issue with the royal consumation (at least recently) had been a topic since at least HaePumdal/TMTETS. And basically, every Joseon couple consulted their local astrologer for the most auspicious dates in everything.
Actually, when I first read this news, I was both satisfied and disappointed.
-Satisfied since apparently KBS will want to have another weekend daeha drama blockbuster to follow "Jeong Do-jeon" (and TBH, I didn't manage to pick up the series until a bit into the King U timeline since I was skipping episodes since R/L is not cooperating with timeslots).
-Disappointed because a few weeks ago, while travelling home, I was imagining in my head that someone should do a remake of Park Jong-hwa's 1959 novel "Yeoin Cheonha/Women of the World", which was done in 2001-2002 by the late PD Kim Jae-hyeong. Already I was imagining in my head which from the 2001-2002 cast to be re-cast as the elder genration. And a few days ago, I wanted that it be KBS's next weekend daeha drama. *sigh* I guess not all things happen...
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Because of Reasons
October 16, 2014 at 6:33 AM
Whoa. My head is spinning.
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Rovi
October 16, 2014 at 7:42 AM
That's the effect of sageuks on you darling.
The more you know (and the more you research), the more you get confused...especially when you relay it to others, you battle between narrating it and laying out the details in between but you want to be simple and concise.
Simply put: Seonjo was chosen by the royal clansmen and the most senior Dowager Queen alive (either Injong or Myeongjong's widow), because his grandmother (and in effect his father) had good relations with the previous regent (Queen Munjeong). Though unfortunately it created a kind of power vacuum (he's not eligible to rule since first and foremost he is of illegitimate blood on his father's side; ergo, not trained), especially notable when Hideyoshi decided to attack Joseon.
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Because of Reasons
October 18, 2014 at 10:52 AM
Thanks, darling. I did actually understand your first post, though. I had to read it a couple of time (so many parentheses!), but I understood it.
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fanwho
October 25, 2014 at 1:20 PM
He sure was a luckest king with so many great scholar subjects and greatest general, and his son Gwang Hae, great king material (only if he was lucky like his father - why he didn't have a guy like Han MyungHwae by his side).
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9 Adal
October 16, 2014 at 7:32 AM
I will watch anything with Kim Sang-joong, the guy is hot, mature and super talented. It's nice watching an actor which I don't feel like a noona ogling a flower boy. But a weekend drama..... I don't know if I have the patience for 50 episodes.
Still hoping for a Bad Guy Season 2. Pretty please?
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10 paulab253
October 16, 2014 at 7:47 AM
It seems so obvious: the actor Ryu Seung-ryong should play his namesake (and ancestor?).
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Rovi
October 16, 2014 at 8:04 AM
Mistake, girl, they're not namesakes; research what their original hangeul names look like.
And also, I'm sure they're not even related (even tho the hanja of their surname is the same) by their respective bongwan (Ryu Seong-ryong is of the Pungsan Ryu, Ryu Seung-ryong's is undisclosed).
The only person I know so far who's related to the historical Ryu Seong-ryong is his 13/14th-generation descendant actor Ryu Shi-won, famous during the early 2000's yet is now battling divorce & battery cases against his ex-wife.
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11 korfan
October 16, 2014 at 8:56 AM
Kim Sang-joong! ....... He can totally handle this role.
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12 mahyar
April 18, 2015 at 1:44 PM
I'm translating Jeong Dojeong into English. When I finish it. I'll upload it in subscene website and many websites. I think i'm the first person that translating this masterpiece. I have just finished ep 25.and tomorrow I'm gonna start ep26. I wanted to inform this hot news to korean fans.espesially Jeong Dojeon's fan. Just be patient.
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