News bites: November 8, 2014

38 November 8, 2014November 8, 2014

by awcoconuts

Kim Sung-ryung, Lee Jong-hyuk

Kim Sung-ryung (Heirs) and Lee Jong-hyuk (Dating Agency Cyrano) might be pairing up as a married couple in the upcoming weekend drama Equator’s Flower. Sadly, the spouses don’t care too much for each other; their union is all for show. As a result of growing up in a poor hillside village, Kim Sung-ryung’s character is driven to succeed. Instead of accepting life as a single mother, she abandons her daughter and moves to the States, but after suffering from financial ruin, she’s forced to return to Korea. She marries the character offered to Lee Jong-hyuk, a chaebol who’s the director in a leading food conglomerate who doesn’t have time for love. The show will be about the ambitious woman’s power struggle with a chaebol family (her husband’s?) and her reunion with the daughter she previously abandoned. Equator’s Flower airs after Legendary Witch on MBC in February. [Osen, Osen]

Kang Haneul (Misaeng) is returning to his theater roots: He’s been cast as Harold in the play 19 And 80. Based on the novel Harold and Maude (which spawned the cult classic film), Harold is the son of a wealthy family who is fascinated with death. He meets the elderly Maude at a funeral, and their relationship turns romantic as she helps him find happiness in life. 19 And 80 opens in January at Kooklib Theater. [Star News]
Park Shi-hoo (Alice in Cheongdam-dong) is confirmed for After Love, where he’ll play a cold and heartless former pilot who now works at an airline company. The film will be a melodrama about Park’s character failing to appreciate his love when she was by his side, but realizing his love for her only after her departure. We’ve yet to receive confirmation from Yoon Eun-hye (Mi-rae’s Choice), who was offered the co-starring role, but we should have her decision soon. Filming begins this month on Jeju Island and After Love is targeting a May 2015 release. [Star News]
Oh Chang-seok (Jang Bori Is Here) has scored the lead in the upcoming comedy movie Mission, Steal A Top Star, in which he’ll play an immature top star who has everything — until he’s suddenly kidnapped by an unknown assailant. As a result of the experience, he reflects upon his life and begins to understand the heart of the person he loves. Oh Chang-seok’s in demand these days; his name has also been floated as the male lead of the upcoming drama Goddess of Sales. [Joongang]

Kang Haneul

Jung Yumi (Discovery of Romance) has been offered the role of Jung Woo’s wife in Himalaya. The upcoming film, based on the true story of Uhm Hong-gil, a South Korean climber who embarked on a Mt. Everest expedition in 2004 and struggled to retrieve a fellow climber’s body, has suffered its share of setbacks, but production is now finalizing the supporting cast. Jung Woo (Answer Me 1994) will play the deceased climber, so expect an emotional performance by Jung Yumi if she takes the role. Shoots begin for Himalaya at the end of the month and the movie will finally hit theaters next year. [Osen]
JTBC is launching a new high school detective drama called Seonam Girls High School Investigators. Based on the eponymous novel, the show will follow a group of five high school girls who make up an investigative team, and the hijinks that ensue as they go about their inquisitive business. Idol Lee Hyeri (of Girl’s Day) and actress Jin Ji-hee (Can We Love) have already been cast as two of the five, with the latter being saddled with twin genius oppas whom she’ll have to live up to. The group will try to solve problems running the gamut from bullying to abortion, and since I haven’t read the novel, I’m looking forward to a preview — I love a good Nancy Drew story. The celebrated variety PD Yeo Woon-hyuk has signed on to direct, and the show is expected to begin airing in December. [Osen]
A sequel to Bong Joon-ho’s The Host, which still holds the second-place all-time domestic box office record, is finally on the horizon: The Host 2 will enter production next year and is targeting a 2016 release. The sequel is taking shape as a joint Korean-Chinese production, and will mark Park Myung-chun’s directorial debut. A production source emphasized that The Host 2 will be strongly correlated to the first movie, and that the story will continue in the second film. Casting is still underway. [OBS]

Jung Yumi

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after answer 1994 hit, jung woo was so popular and should do dramas one after one but instead he disappeared and I can't help but think his company is so stupid. Even Go ara appeared more on tv! I'm pissed. Doing movie after popular drama? I think doing more dramas until be stable enough would be better, help him build his carrer and status

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Megumi

November 8, 2014 at 12:47 PM

I agree with you but I think he took a little break from the industry after his dating scandal, maybe he wanted the things to quiet down a little bit, at the time of the scandal it was very messy, the dating news broke out when the drama was still ongoing ,bad rumours about him were flying here and there, his ex girlfriend's involvement also didn't help the matter much either, it was just an unfortunate situation that celebrity dating is considered a scandal in Korea, I hope he manages to catapult him into a successful actor with this movie.

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captaincrunch

November 8, 2014 at 2:36 PM

It doesn't seem like he's that interested in dramas though? It's not like he's doing nothing, he's been filming two movies, Himalaya and C'est Si Bon. Those are pretty high profile and interesting projects with great co-stars. As much as I want him to do more dramas, I totally see why he wants to make it in Chungmuro riding the momentum he got from R1994. Career-wise it makes sense.

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Nina

November 8, 2014 at 4:36 PM

Perhaps his agency is not the best out there but his fans understand perfectly his decision to focus his career on movies for now , he enjoys doing dramas but his love for films is in another whole level .... he has expressed his desire to write more scripts ( he was one of the scriptwriters of his own biopic "Baram" ) , he also wants to try directing soon and even fimds time to continue his work in teaching and directing actors ( many ppl don't know about this but he has been doing a beautiful work as teacher for many rookie actors who doesn't have money to pay for private teachers or academies :-) )

In addition he's headlining 2 of the most high profile films of CJ Ent for the next year and his roles in both films seem like great challenges for him .... out of all the actors in the drama Jung Woo's acting skills were the most praised by critics, media and fans .... considering the pitiful level of scripts on a big portion of korean drama industry lately I think he really made a smart decision .

I prefer to see him doing big movies with interesting plots/characters/actors rather than headlining whatever drama just for the goal to be "the male lead" on a drama .... his exquisite acting skills deserve much more than that .

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bd5

November 8, 2014 at 6:40 PM

Films are more prestigious than dramas and a much better work schedule as well (which is why it took JJH so long to do another drama).

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j2hr

November 9, 2014 at 6:09 PM

i agree with you until the last paragraph. It seems to me that you think he is too good for drama, as well as assuming drama leads are suck. However, if not the "male lead" he got in a drama, he s nowhere to be seen today. Also, while not all drama male leads are good, many of them have "exquisite acting skills" like Ji Sung, So Ji Sub, Jo In Sung,...

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Nina

November 9, 2014 at 6:31 PM

I got ur point ... but I think I mentioned about "poorly written dramas" , and it's those kind of dramas I was talking about . Also tere's no way I can think he's too good for dramaland when I fell for him thru a drama xD and as a shameless diehard fan who miss him so mucho I cannot wait to see his dramaland comeback .... but I can do it (lol #dramaticme ) I'm determinated to wait till he finds a really good story and production . As someone who admires him sincerely that's all I ask for .

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Rachel

November 8, 2014 at 10:10 PM

On top of what the other responses have said, at with his age, and the recognition he's gotten for 1994 and Lee Soon Shin, I think it's more than appropriate that he's going into more intense and creativity-stretching projects, which I think is easier to find in the film world.

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2 sartorius

November 8, 2014 at 12:17 PM

Thanks for the newsbites! Love to hear about other news that isnt talked about much on the other English platforms!

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missDVM

November 8, 2014 at 12:45 PM

I second this! Thank you!

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owl

November 8, 2014 at 1:23 PM

This is a great catch-up and fill-in piece that gives us the latest on who's who and what's what. I am a fan of Lee Jon-hyuk from Cyrano Dating Agency and A Gentleman's Dignity. I think this role fits him perfectly. I really like that you follow the celeb enws on our behalf and pass it on - thank you, awcoconuts!

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eny

November 8, 2014 at 4:12 PM

from drama news today, the most interesting news is lee jong hyuk drama, kim sung ryung acting is good too, should check it

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3 missDVM

November 8, 2014 at 12:44 PM

And there he was. The lovely Kang Ha Neul.

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4 LillyLee

November 8, 2014 at 1:22 PM

Looking forward to After Love and the Host 2.
Sounds great.

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5 meenuby

November 8, 2014 at 1:35 PM

Kim Sung-ryung has got to be the hottest ahjumma in K-ent. Wow.

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6 museofmanymasks

November 8, 2014 at 1:41 PM

I missed Lee Jong-hyuk. Dating Agency Cyrano was my first drama and I sat through all of A Gentleman's Dignity for him so I might check out Equator's Flower. Is it a married couple falls in love sorta deal? I like those.
Kang Haneul as Harold? That should be fun. Is there a place we can watch Korean plays?
Looking forward to Himalaya; hope myasiantv will put it up when it comes out.
haha I've been wanting to see kid detectives in dramaland. glad its JTBC. I'm not familiar with these actresses but hope its good.

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kanz

November 8, 2014 at 2:42 PM

Do you mean to watch live Korean plays/musical? Korean plays/musicals usually exclusive in Korea. You can buy the tickets through several Korean sites, but it's in Korean. Int'l fans can only hope to fly there to watch the performance live or if we lucky we can find some short video on YT. This is based on my experience seeing my bias cast in a musical.

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museofmanymasks

November 8, 2014 at 3:44 PM

Yup I was hoping some gracious individual posts the plays/musicals online somewhere. *Dumps piggy bank* I certainly won't be flying anytime soon. Darn.

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7 rhienz

November 8, 2014 at 3:28 PM

Damn!
Park Shi Hoo is really shameless...
I think he should wait a bit bfore appear in romantic dramas or movies.. It gives me chill/ eery feeling..
Maybe a serial killer role or psyco is a good choice for him.
Eun hye - shi, please don't accept the role offered..
Thinkin him romance YEH make me sick, yuck!

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FlyingShoebox

November 8, 2014 at 3:48 PM

I understand where you're coming from but at the end of the day work is work. Ultimately his profession is acting and he's doing what he's been doing for years - irrespective of the scandal. But I do know that his presence on screen may seem disrespectful to some viewers.

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Rachel

November 8, 2014 at 10:12 PM

This is the kind of response that forced Yoon Eun Hye to shut down her fancafe after just 1 week - her fans left very nasty comments about her being offered this role with Park Shi Hoo that her management decided to stop it altogether.

Honestly at this stage, nothing he does in the entertainment industry is going to make his image any cleaner. Taking a psycho/killer role would just make things worse for him.

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LillyLee

November 9, 2014 at 10:49 AM

He is a very good actor, yes, and I think there is a lot of projecting being put on him by people who themselves did shameful things when they were drunk, that has little to do with what actually happened with him.

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LillyLee

November 9, 2014 at 10:52 AM

I used to work in a lounge and I can tell you that innocent young girls do not go out drinking alone with men and get roaring drunk in public. That just does not happen.

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sabelita

November 10, 2014 at 2:33 PM

That virginal girl which Park shi soo abused, had practiced a miscarriage two years ago, so think about her way of live Casta diva is not the title for her
maybe gold digger or ambitious starlette being an albeit for him because he has enemies into the industry.
Good ACTOR+BAD PERSONALITY+enemies SCANDAL

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8 FlyingShoebox

November 8, 2014 at 3:36 PM

That detective drama looks interesting - sounds like it has potential to be a good drama based on the plot. Not sure of the casting but plot wise, I'm keeping an eye on it.

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9 niKai

November 8, 2014 at 4:10 PM

leejonghyuk. snuff said.

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10 4D

November 8, 2014 at 4:33 PM

Kang He Neul as Harold would definitely be interesting. I love watching him in almost anything and that story is a great one. So much to work with.

*sigh* Well, I did join my company's lotto ticket for tonight. Maybe we'll win I can fly to Korea ;)

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11 whitewire

November 8, 2014 at 6:48 PM

Now that Park Shi-hoo has accepted After Love, I'm definitely aboard. Yoon Eun-hye must give it a chance, Mirae's Choice was a disaster. This might redeem her. I'm in for this couple, regardless what people say.

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12 Queenbee

November 8, 2014 at 9:24 PM

I am a fan of The host, so feeling excited to hear about The host 2. Must be another blockbuster. But why being directed by a rookie director? BJH should take it. And korean-chinese collaboration? Sounds so commercial that I don't like.

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13 korfan

November 8, 2014 at 9:35 PM

Other than his cameo in Master's Sun, I haven't seen Lee Jong-hyuk in dramaland for a while.

It'll be great to see him once again!

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14 nofrilldaffodil

November 8, 2014 at 10:53 PM

Comment was deleted

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15 nofrilldaffodil

November 8, 2014 at 10:55 PM

Ahhhh Jung Woo! He was GREAT in his heart-wrenching scenes as Bread Man and Oppa, and I'm so excited to see what he can bring about in a bigger production like Himalaya. OPPA HWAITING!

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16 fab

November 9, 2014 at 4:05 AM

I hope the part of the wife is big, because you can't waste Jung Yumi.

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Xxvxx

November 9, 2014 at 9:58 AM

I agree. I hope the role is meaty enough because it's jung Yumi we are talking about.

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salt n' pepper

November 10, 2014 at 7:10 PM

Jung Yumi! Yes, I hope the part is meaty enough because Jung Yumi is Jung Yumi. It would be a waste if it isn't. :)

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17 redfox

November 9, 2014 at 10:42 AM

I tried to see some news on Soompi today but my work computer blocked it!

um, will there be an Odds and Ends today?

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18 patty

November 10, 2014 at 3:09 AM

no one caught my attention apart from Equator Flower.i love the storyline and the actors have great ability....(Kim sung ryung has become my fav. actress ever since i saw her in Heirs)

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19 Negin

January 17, 2015 at 2:27 PM

quite looking forward to After Love...
PSH is a very talented actor....
both great actors PSH and YEH ...I wish the best for the project..

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