51

Honey Lee courted to be Jang Hyuk’s queen in Shine or Go Crazy

I never really thought twice about Honey Lee until her current role in the comically ridiculous rockers-on-the-homestead drama Modern Farmer, but I have so much love for actresses who are willing to put aside their vanity for comedy, which is what she’s doing to great effect. It’s why I’m not necessarily happy that she might go back to darker roles in her next project, since she’s considering MBC’s next Monday-Tuesday drama, Shine or Go Crazy. Okay, so the role also calls for her to marry Jang Hyuk (Fated To Love You)… so maybe the answer is, Who cares about the other stuff when you get to marry Jang Hyuk?

The fantasy historical drama is set in early Goryeo, and is based on real-life historical figures, but drawn with broad, fanciful strokes. Jang Hyuk plays Wang So, son of King Taejo, who founded the Goryeo dynasty. Wang So will eventually be the fourth king of the nation (later known as King Gwangjong), but we’ll meet him as a prince with a dark curse hanging over him, predicting the destruction of the country at his hands.

Oh Yeon-seo (Jang Bori Is Here) has been cast as his great love, and she’s the last princess of Balhae, a dying nation at the time of the story. Their star-crossed love story is represented in the title, since she’s literally the light that keeps him from going crazy. Co-starring are Ryu Seung-soo (Wonderful Season) and Im Joo-hwan (Watch Out For Fools).

Honey Lee is being courted to play Jang Hyuk’s queen, his half-sister princess. Wait, he marries his half-sister? Sigh, royals. This part is accurate historically, since Gwangjong was married to his half-sister Queen Daemok. Her character is described as the prettiest woman in the entire country, and she’s also bright, cool-headed, and knows how to make poison. Hm, doesn’t that seem like a dangerous skill to give your second lead?

After being married to the hero, she’ll pour all her effort into winning his love, which of course puts her at odds with the Balhae princess. She’s an ambitious woman who will become the heroine’s greatest foe. It’s the kind of role Honey Lee has done more of in her past dramas, and while I do get why people keep casting her as the femme fatale, I hope more rom-coms are in her future too.

Shine or Go Crazy follows Pride and Prejudice in January.

Via Osen

RELATED POSTS

Tags: ,

51

Required fields are marked *

although I really hate direct quotes, but.Her character is described as the prettiest woman in the entire country, and she’s also bright, cool-headed, and knows how to make poison."

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

OH, oops meant to continue but accidentally hit submit.
...I meant to say a queen is certainly a huge step up from a village head. she´ll become the first female president at this rate. fictional, of course

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

She's a hillbilly and countryfied but lovable in the comedy drama 'Modern Farmer' and really embraces the role of village head. I was just wowed by her. I never thought much about her before in the previous dramas she's been in like Pasta. I think she's proven to many that she's not just a 'Miss Korea' pretty face - she actually has acting chops and she is fantastic in comedy too.

I hope she will play more diverse roles in the future.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

"and knows how to make poison."

Boy, if that isn't foreshadowing, I don't know what is. XD

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Ewww on marrying your half sister. That's just all sorts of wrong. But... I'm still excited for this drama. I keep getting the feeling it will be the epic romance sageuk I've been waiting for since forever.

I like the idea of Honey Lee and Jang Hyuk as well. Although I hope the romance to a minimal in that area because it's really going to make me flinch.

0
8
reply

Required fields are marked *

Inter-marriage was not an uncommon practice among monarchies, world-wide. A not so distant example was the British Queen Victoria who married her first cousin, Albert.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh for sure its not un-common. But that doesn't make it any less disgusting to me.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Agree with you on that.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

not only married his half-sister , also married his niece Lady Gyeonghwagung (경화궁부인), niece of Gwangjong,

OMG

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Was it his biological- or stepsister? There's a huge difference between those... And nieces are a no-go!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

maybe they're from Alabama?

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

LOL

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

LOL+
from Alabama

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Is there a particular significance to the use of the word "Gwang" in front of a king's name and is it specific to a certain era/dynasty in Korea? Please forgive my ignorance. I searched but couldn't really find an answer to my questions, only discovered that the word is translated "light". Thank you.

0
10
reply

Required fields are marked *

so the name "Gwangjong" (and also his father's name Taejo) is called a "temple name." Temple names are names that historians give to Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese royalty after their death. They're made up of two characters: an adjective that describes their reign, and either "jo" or "jong."

"Jo" means "forefather," and was used to indicate one who founded a dynasty (ex: Wang So's father was given the name Taejo, because he founded the Goryeo dynasty).

"Jong" means "ancestor," and was used for the other rulers in that dynasty (this changed after Goryeo became a Yuan state under Kublai Khan. He felt that naming Goryeo royalty like that weakened his own power, so he kind of demoted them from emperors to kings, which is reflected in the temple names of close to a dozen rulers until the next Taejo [of the Joseon dynasty]).

As for the adjectives... some were praiseworthy, and some were more deprecating. Some rulers of Goryeo:

Taejo (太祖; Great + founder)
--太, meaning great or grand, was often given to founders
Hyejong (惠宗; Compassionate + ancestor)
--惠 was given to those who treated the people compassionately with a gentle quality
Mokjong (穆宗; Majestic + ancestor)
--穆 was given to those who preached their virtue and righteousness to the people
Munjong (文宗; Civil + ancestor)
--文 was given to those who sympathized with people and recognized their needs; along with 武(Mu) this is considered a very honorable name
Gwangjeong (光宗; Bright/Brilliant + ancestor)
--光 Gwang as a noun is "light," but as an adjective means "bright"

this is really verbose. tl;dr version:
"Gwang" isn't specific to a certain era... It's just an adjective, and it's still used in names today (for example, Lee Gwangsoo, from Running Man uses that same "Gwang" character). It was given to Gwangjong after he died to indicate something about his rule.... I honestly can't tell you what that something is, though, because Gwang seems like a positive adjective to me, but from what I remember of my Korean history classes during his rule he squashed his political rivals. He killed people before they could revolt against him.... buuuut I also read that he had public support because he supported Buddhism so maybe he was nicer to his people than he was to his opponents, idk (ok so this isn't REALLY a tl;dr version of anything sorry i talk alot)

0
9
reply

Required fields are marked *

Bean: Thank you so much for the information!
You are most appreciated!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

@ Bean
Thank you very much for such a detailed response. The naming strikes me as a very efficient method for commemorating a monarch. Vietnam is included in this system, please excuse my ignorance of Asian history, but what about the nations surrounding Vietnam (Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand)?

Well, thanks again and I'm off to do some research.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

@ Bean -- again

Well I found my answer. Laos, Cambodia and even Burma were part of Thailand from the 1350's to 1760's.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

heh, glad you were able to answer your own question ^_^ i'm sure there's a much more comprehensive list that could be made of east asian countries that use temple names to denote royalty (and also era names, posthumous names, etc...) i just listed a few i was sure of so it'd be one less thing to double check :p

0

Omg, thank you for this! ^^

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

@Bean, thanks for the heads up on Korean monarchy history. makes it even more interesting to watch. esp since my favorite actor Jang Hyuk will be in it.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thank you, bean!
today at DB, you are the Gwangbean :)

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

She could be everyday Gwangbean...

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

haha that WOULD be nice, but to be honest it's really not an everyday sort of thing. most days i'm a very average little bean:)

0

...And Yoon Kye Sang cameos* as her loyal bodygaurd, determined to save her from her dark path by any means necessary, desperate to sway her with his undying love. In other words...when Jang Hyuk if off making moony eyes at Oh Yeon Soo, he can keep her preoccupied. *wink wink*

Star-crossed lovers tend to bore me, so I figured I'd jazz it up a bit. Tragic romances are always better with sword-and-or-gun-slingers. And since dramaland loves melo, its just one more leg to the tragic love geometric shape!

*I only say cameo 'cause if he takes this I'd actually have to watch it

0
11
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'd watch Yoon Kye Sang and Honey Lee in it... haha

0
8
reply

Required fields are marked *

Me three... ??

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'd watch Yoon Kye Sang and Honey Lee in anything. :)

I wish she would've been the lead instead of Oh Yeon Seo, but that's just me.

0
6
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree...because she's the more stronger actress. Although I do have to give OYS props for her turn in Jang Bori is Coming -- prior roles made me dislike he for her annoying characters. She's not a skilled actress yet, but she's gained some ground.

Lee Honey is really knocking it out of the park (for me at least) with Modern Farmer and I think she deserves lead, for once! And not femme fatale yet once again.

..But, of course -- OYS was the lead in ratings juggernaut Jang Bori, so no surprise she'd get lead, imo.

0
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

Agree. I watched Jang Bori because it was too crazy to stop, but the real revelation there was Lee Yoori and the actor who played Moon Ji Sang. I couldn't stand DumBori and feel like any actress could've played her role. Anywho, I love Honey and as much as I'd like to see more of her onscreen, especially in a sageuk, I hope she passes. Now that I think about it, she would've been great for The King's Face but no use in crying over spoilt milk.

0

In my humble opinion, the real star in Jang Bo Ri was LYR. She was dynamic. Still scratching my head why OYS won... all she did was cry and scream. *shrug*
I'm excited about Honey Lee taking more roles. Should be fun. She'll probably outshine OYS but maybe I'm being biased.

0

I agree with both of you, Ella & Miko...Lee Yu-ri was the/I> real star of Jang Bori is Coming -- as if the last 1/4 of the eps focused more on her than titular Bori. I just said that Oh Yeon-seo improved somewhat, not that she was the reason why I watched. Jae-hwa with his aegyo and Ji-sang with Bi-dan were what drew me to watch, as well as the craziness that was Min-jung.

And lol to "Dumbbori"...whenever I saw her being referenced to that on Viki's ticker, I'd bust out laughing -- because it was true!!

0

@Tara @Miko
Jang Bori was such a frustrating but entertaining watch. All the moms, esp Do Hye Ok, made me want to pull my hair out. I actually hated her more than Minjung and the fact that DumBori kept excluding her behaviors and crying for her made it worse. I hope to see more of Kim Ji Hoon and hopefully not another 50 ep drama because he was criminally wasted. And more Lee Yoori and Moon Ji Sang actor too! Oh Yeon Seo is definitely better than Medical Top Team, but hope she can hold her ground with Jang Hyuk.

I would love to see Honey Lee play the gayageum in a sageuk one day. Her performance with Epik a High was mesmerizing. Truly beautiful and brilliant.

0

Yes, she seems much cuter than the final confirmed one.
:(

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

But seriously those two are practically at the alter (so I hear), why haven't they been cast together yet? (I bet the writers are saesangs who want to keep him single just a little. bit. longer. lol) I mean haven't several married couples gotten so because they were in a drama together? Gotta get the ball rollin' dramaland chop chop.
Or I suppose they could light a fire under their respective arses via the IOIL route: one of them has such sizzling chemistry that everyone starts shipping them with their onscreen partner, in turn kick-starting a proposal (...not that it happened for the actor and actresses in question. oh gosh don't break up the thought of a sad Yoon Kye-sang with his adorable toddler smile and tears that make me cry is too much).

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I don't mind if my favorite actors are married. It is not as if I ever planned to marry them. I think the ones who want them single are either low IQ or or suffer from unhealthy delusions.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think this drama could be MBC new ratings hit. MBC just have luck and knack when it comes to sageuk.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Ack! Sageuk!! My kryptonite!! I wish there was a pill to cure me of my dislike for sageuks! lol

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

you go girl! although the Hardrouki's head villager think you're not that beautiful XD

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

“and knows how to make poison.”

How convenient.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Honey Lee is kind of like Park Si Yeon in a way. They always get stuck playing the femme fatale role when they actually suit comedies and romcoms pretty well. /sigh/

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Should I just assume that that odd name sounds more dignified in Korean? Because it sounds like some hip-hop Kpop catch-phrase.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Her name in Korean is Lee Ha-nui, and I assume that they translated it as Honey to make it easier to say.
I think that was during the Miss Universe days though...although I'm thinking they just stuck with that English-ification of her name in her post-Miss Korea career.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh, sorry, I was referring to the name of the drama! Honey Lee, and the English alternative naming meme, I know. "Shine or go crazy," on the other hand, is liable to wind up as the catch phrase for a Gag Concert sketch.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i am not surprised if she got considered for the role becos she is the gf of yoon kye sang, a good friend of Hyuk.JH has a habit of pulling his friends with him into his ptojects.Am not saying is a bad thing, in fact i think she has been overlooked for too long. And if anybody can play the most beautiful lady of the time, she certainly qualifies.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

A sure fire way to maximize the shock and awe of an actress transformation.. get a really, really, really pretty actress.. it worked for Lee Ha Nui, Yoon Eun Hye and Charlize Therone. lol A bit off topic.. I liked Soo Young in My Spring Day but it pissed me off to no end that she had perfectly groomed hair the whole time she was in the hospital bed. She might be a promising actress but her idol image is still getting in the way.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Honey Lee has potential in rom-coms, or maybe only coms. I wish she'd try playing more of the kind of role that she plays in Modern Farmer.
It's great to see an actress playing a wide range of characters and not be burdened in the prim and proper image that often attached to actresses.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I like her since I saw her interview when she was promoting Deranged. I dont even know why I like her, I guess she's just a likeable person.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Who cares about the other stuff when you get to marry Jang Hyuk?

If there was more to read after this, I didn't see it.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I hear you my friend...slipped into a dream world right after, didn't you? Forgetting this was about Lee Honey and NOT you.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I must be the rare handful who don't agree with Honey Lee's pretty face. She's doing a good job in Modern Farmer but I have wondered many times how she became Miss Korea since learning of her becoming Yoon Kye Sang's beau.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *