News bites: January 10, 2015

37 January 10, 2015April 6, 2017

by awcoconuts

It’s rumored that Song Hye-gyo (Dugeun Dugeun My Life) has been cast in Wong Kar-wai’s newest project, The Ferryman, in the role that had Jeon Ji-hyun’s name attached to it several months ago. As usual, sources were quick to downplay recent media reports, saying that nothing has been confirmed. If Song joins the film, she’ll be among star-studded company; veterans Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro are also being courted. Based on an eponymous short story found in a collection of short stories titled I Belonged To You and written by Zhang Jia-jia, The Ferryman will be about an affair between a young woman and a married artist. The project is still in the early stages, and like other Wong films, it could be a few years before the movie finally gets a theatrical release. [TV Report]

Kim Min-hee, Yoo Joon-sang, Go Ah-sung

Kim Min-hee (Crying Man) has landed another high-profile Chungmuro project; in addition to headlining Park Chan-wook’s next film, Agasshi, she’s signed up for the latest project from film festival favorite Hong Sang-soo (Hill of Freedom, Our Sunhi). In accordance with Hong’s unique, unscripted directorial style, there’s no information available on the title, characters, or plot of the upcoming film, but Yoo Joon-sang (The Target, Birth Secret) has also confirmed that he’ll be involved, in what will be his sixth collaboration with the director. It seems Yoo is destined to work with Go Ah-sung (Elegant Lie, Snowpiercer), as she’ll also be participating in the untitled Hong project, as well as starring in the upcoming drama I Heard It Through The Grapevine, which Yoo also got offered a part in. Cameras for the Hong movie will begin rolling at the end of January. [Osen, Joy News, Osen]

Jung Woong-in, Jung Joo-yeon

Jung Woong-in (Empress Ki) will play coach Kim Soo-cheol in Shooting Girls, a film based on a true story about the soccer team at Samrye Girls Middle School in Wanju, Korea, and their emotional championship run in 2009. Coach Kim not only turned a sparse team of girls who dreamed of soccer into winners, but shared in their joys and sorrows along the way. It will be a nice change to see Jung in a role as a youth advocate and mentor, as I still haven’t been able to disassociate him from his portrayal of a chilling serial killer in I Hear Your Voice (His recent cameo didn’t help!). ([Star News]
Jung Joo-yeon (Aurora Princess) will be paired with Kim Joon (Endless Love) in City Of The Sun, based on Ikeido Jun’s popular 2010 novel, Tetsu no Hone. Kim Joon is the lead, who works at a large construction company. When he learns that his father’s death was somehow related to a bid-rigging scandal at the company, he’ll set out to enact revenge on the chairman. Vengeance won’t come easily, however, as he’ll fall into an ill-fated romance with Jung Joo-yeon, the youngest daughter of the construction conglomerate family. She has a cheerful personality and seeks out the best in people, but she’s outspokenly critical of architects who construct buildings solely for profit. What will she say when she learns her lover is trying to take down the family business? City Of The Sun premieres January 30 on MBC DramaNet. [XSports News]

Kyung Su-jin

Kyung Su-jin (Plus Nine Boys [Apologies for mixing her name up in a previous bite!]) will play one of the female leads and a good friend of relative newbie Chae Soo-bin in KBS’s upcoming weekend drama, Bluebird’s House. Kyung will have a hand in the loveline between her friend and oppa, and will play a winsome, goofy and cheerful character. Bluebird’s House airs for 50 episodes after the conclusion of What’s With This Family. [Osen]
Yoon Sung-shik, the PD of King’s Face, recently commented on the show’s ratings slump: “Ratings have waned so I’ve been really disappointed, but I think it’s because we started at a really unfavorable time. Other channels had already completed their second and fourth episodes, and we hit an obstacle when attempting to premiere in-between some well-made projects. We also had the disadvantage of starting with the previous show’s low viewership ratings.” (The preceding show was Iron Man.) He continued, “King’s Face has good flow and a tight story. In the first and second episodes, we were quick to deliver the story. We set a rapid pace, but I think we gave [viewers] less time to get to know the characters. Because we focused on the plot, I wonder if it was too much for the viewers, and I’m left with regret.” [Osen]

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Very excited about the new Wong Kar Wai movie with Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro (had a major crush on him while watching chungking express)! Although i kinda wish this movie would cast a female lead who can speak chinese. Nothing against Song Hye Kyo, its just that i prefer no dubbing..

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Georgie

January 10, 2015 at 1:40 PM

Dubbing is SOOO 19th Century...

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sulthanah

January 11, 2015 at 11:53 PM

Tony Leung was the best Chang Mo Gei in Heaven Sword and dragon sabre 1986. I started liking him after watching that series. After that, he started popular in movie especially in Wong Kar Wai's movie.

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2 Sunandmoon

January 10, 2015 at 12:48 PM

King's Face is really good... The plot is tight and balanced with action, romance, comedy, and political intrigue. The ratings are a shame, and it doesn't seem to be getting much attention from international fans either. I highly recommend it if you enjoy fusion sageuk like The Three Musketeers.

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Chandler

January 10, 2015 at 1:16 PM

I actually really enjoyed what I saw of it too and I've been meaning to continue it. I can understand where the PD's regrets are coming from because it certainly does move fast, but the drama does a pretty great job of making me care for the characters along the way. I think all the actors are doing wonderfully too. Hopefully, I'll catch up with it soon!

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Felicia

January 10, 2015 at 6:23 PM

yeah, I find it sad that king's face isn't getting that much attention from viewers. I really enjoy that show & find it to be well made

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Mohammed

January 10, 2015 at 5:35 PM

Sunandmoon

I agree King's Face is really good, i truly enjoy it. I like the fact it focuses on a Prince who would become historically famous for his political skills, his leadership under war, afterwards. Gwanghae isnt a military hero kind of king.

I like that the story focuses on his potential to lead his people, lead the goverment.

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Mama J

January 10, 2015 at 8:13 PM

I concur - it's a solid, enjoyable show. Very well done, and I wish more people were watching it.

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3 Chandler

January 10, 2015 at 1:18 PM

I'm so happy to see Jung Woong-in get a role like that :) And the movie sounds pretty lovely so far!

Kyung Su-jin looks so pretty here!

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Georgie

January 10, 2015 at 1:46 PM

Enjoyed his earlier dramas too when he was funny, JWI should do more comedies.

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4 headphones

January 10, 2015 at 1:28 PM

sounds like the PD of King's Face is taking the ratings loss pretty hard. to be fair, even though they're losing to the competition, they're not doing that badly if we consider the overall slump. The PD also talked about how seo in guk comforts him when the ratings come out and the mood is down on set. the demoralizing effect of poor ratings must be a tough part of live shooting system. but based on behind the scenes videos the cast and crew get along really well. hopefully the atmosphere is not too bad and the show will deliver what it means to well, right through to the end.

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4D

January 10, 2015 at 4:39 PM

It was so sad to read. I admit I watched the first three and haven't continued...but it wasn't because I didn't like it, but I was already grabbed by shows going on at the same time. I've always had the intention of going back and watching. Now I feel a bit guilty. And I have always really liked SIG, and it's rather sweet of him to comfort the DP.

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5 kanz

January 10, 2015 at 3:08 PM

Song Hye Kyo is really beautiful! Truly natural beauty :)
If she sign on that project, that would be great!

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Aigoooo

January 12, 2015 at 12:52 AM

When someone does a beauty ranking on Korean TV or internet, there should be a footnote saying Song Hye Kyo is disqualified coz her beauty is at a whole-nother level. lol

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6 Mandy

January 10, 2015 at 4:38 PM

It's refreshing to see a PD talk about what may have gone wrong with their drama. I havent heard anything about King's face at all - neither good nor bad. But I hope everyone involved can move on to better things. Especially SIG who's such a good actor. It'll be unfortunate if he doesn't get any more lead roles in the network because of low ratings.

Also, I'm happy Song Hye-kyo is doing movies but I wish she'd make a drama comeback already. I couldn't see her last one because of my JIS allergy so it's been a long time. I miss her in dramas!

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Rgin

January 10, 2015 at 5:14 PM

Hehe. Why are you allergic to JIS? Im curious.

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Mandy

January 10, 2015 at 8:07 PM

I got asked that question recently in another thread as well lol. I don't have an answer to it, really. He's a good actor but I dunno why he rubs me the wrong way. I did enjoy IOIL though and thought he was great in it. But mostly I avoid JIS even if I have absolutely nothing bad to say about him =)

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7 nokcha

January 10, 2015 at 6:44 PM

If only SHG could act and WKW was the director he used to be and Tony and Takashi were young and Leslie were still alive~

I miss those days~

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8 nokcha

January 10, 2015 at 6:44 PM

If only SHG could act and WKW was the director he used to be and Tony and Takeshi were young and Leslie were still alive~

I miss those days~

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nokcha

January 10, 2015 at 6:49 PM

oops, sorry for double post

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just reading

January 11, 2015 at 3:10 AM

I know what you mean. Big fan of WKW and his 2 go to actors - Tony and Takeshi. By the way, is Takeshi married already? He's too mysterious, I always wonder about him. Hehe. WKW should get back with his cinematographer, C Doyle? was it? Or has he already? They clearly need to it hasn't been d same without them together. SHK has improved but she's still a work in progress.

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9 pogo

January 10, 2015 at 7:55 PM

Great news re: Kim Min-hee!

(but does this mean she won't be taking on Ant Hell? I really wanted to see her and Kang Dong-won in a project together, guess it'll have to wait for another film :( )

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10 pogo

January 10, 2015 at 7:57 PM

(and re: KBS next weekend drama - does this mean Kyung Soo-jin isn't the female lead after all, but just one of them? Pity, I really liked her in Plus Nine Boys. But at least weekenders do tend to leave enough room to develop multiple characters and storylines, just like What's With This Family is currently doing)

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Annie

January 10, 2015 at 9:09 PM

The really weird part is that this means the main pairing is between the male lead and a girl who's supposed to be his half sister! Fauxcest FTW. But Chae Soo Bin has a really charming screen presence so I ain't mad. Good on KBS for launching a rookie actress on such a big platform - she may make it really big in the future!

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pogo

January 11, 2015 at 12:16 AM

KBS does seem to be branching out a little when it comes to casting female leads for their weekend dramas - as in, they actually go for actresses who weren't yet at leading lady status and could benefit from the break (Lee Yoon-ji in Wang Family, Nam Ji-hyun in What's With This Family, and now Chae Soo-bin).

I remember us complaining a while ago about how only idols or super-established actresses (or worse, really crappy actresses!) get a shot at young leading lady roles on network tv, and I'm hoping that some recent casting news is indication that that trend is dying and actresses - ones who don't have an idol sideline - are getting a shot at lead roles again.

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11 bamboou16

January 10, 2015 at 9:41 PM

I have always enjoy looking at SHG, as she is so very beautiful. And the way she is, calm, collective, almost surreal. Yes i do love her very much, but love the way she is in real life, or rather, the way she portrays herself/appears in front of the media, and not so much her as an actress. She may have talents, but i could not see it. I am ecstatic that she is doing so well, but somehow i do not feel so great about her working with director Wong and Tony Leung.

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changhyun

January 10, 2015 at 11:27 PM

She's not even doing that well, public opinion about her is the worst it has ever been in her career due to her brother's scandal as well as her involvement in covering up her brother's actions by silencing the media.

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parny

January 10, 2015 at 11:50 PM

I think you are confusing SHG with Han hyo joo?

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pogo

January 11, 2015 at 12:19 AM

pretty sure that's Han Hyo-joo.

2014 seems to have involved scandals - real ones, not just dating news - for quite a few of Chungmuro's leading ladies. HHJ, Song Hye-gyo and even Jun Ji-hyun (admittedly, JJH's was the least serious and seems to have blown over).

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Mandy

January 11, 2015 at 12:56 AM

Song Hye-kyo did have a tax scandal last year but I think it's not as serious as HHJ's brother issues. Plus she's hardly active in SK anymore. But I can see why you confused them. In the picture posted, SHK looks so much like HHJ.

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fab

January 11, 2015 at 9:35 AM

The news is about Song Hye-gyo.
Despite "scandals" here and there they're both still doing well in their careers...

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12 fab

January 11, 2015 at 9:32 AM

I's a bummer Kyung Su-jin is doing a weekend drama! I really liked her in +9Boys and was looking forward to her future projects, unfortunately I can't follow long weekend series.

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13 Quiet Thought

January 11, 2015 at 9:34 AM

Kyung Su-jin, on the other hand, got a good jolt of publicity from her Running Man appearance, at least with me! She's a strong spirit and I wish her well on the new drama. Too many episodes for me to follow, but she seems to be a natural scene stealer and perhaps it will lead to other things.

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14 dal

January 11, 2015 at 3:49 PM

But Pinocchio's predecessor also got a very low ratings and also started with average ratings, maybe its just the interest of the viewers.

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15 jika

January 11, 2015 at 5:45 PM

say to the believing women, that they lower their gaze cast down their eyes and guard their chastity, and do not reveal their adornment except that which is outward (face and hands); and let them draw their veils over their neck, and not reveal their adornment except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husbands' fathers, or their sons, or their husbands' sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their women, or what their right hands own, or such male attendants having no sexual desire, or children who have not yet attained knowledge of women's private parts; nor let them stamp their feet, so that their hidden ornament is known. and, o believers turn to Allah all together, in order that you prosper.

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16 Aigoooo

January 12, 2015 at 1:05 AM

I think nowadays, King's Face ratings is respectable. It would be nice for them to hit double digits but I think bad press from before it aired and current competing dramas are the main cause of it's low ratings.

I wish I can watch it but I have an allergy to sageuks.

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17 bd5

January 13, 2015 at 1:11 PM

Jung Woong-in is an under-appreciated actor.

Can be play serious or comedy with equal aplomb.

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