News bites: February 15, 2015

41 February 15, 2015February 15, 2015

by awcoconuts

Lee Sung-min, Kim Seol-hyun

Lee Sung-min (Yay, Chief Oh!) is finalizing a contract for the male lead in a new sci-fi movie titled Robot, Sori. He’ll play a father whose daughter goes missing and who refuses to accept the widespread belief that she’s dead. When an artificial intelligence robot makes an emergency landing in Korea, Lee will commission its use in the search for his daughter. It’ll be his first lead in a commercial movie, and Robot, Sori will begin filming during the latter half of the year. [Osen]
AOA’s Kim Seol-hyun (Watch Out For Fools) is readying her vampire fangs: She’s been cast as the female lead in Orange Marmalade, KBS’s upcoming Friday-Saturday show, in which the heroine is a vampire. Kim will work opposite Yeo Jin-gu (I Miss You) and CN Blue’s Lee Jong-hyun (A Gentleman’s Dignity), and wow, that’s a cast full of beautiful young faces. Orange Marmalade, based on the popular eponymous webtoon, airs after Spy in May. [Joy News]

Sohn Hyun-joo, Eom Ji-won

Sohn Hyun-joo (Three Days) and Eom Ji-won (Thrice Married Woman) are finalizing contract negotiations to star in The Phone. While the movie’s title lacks a certain ring (hur), the plot is intriguing: A top lawyer is still heartbroken over the loss of his wife, who was murdered the year before. Through a strange disruption in the space/time continuum, he’ll receive a call from her, and when he realizes that he’s speaking with his wife on the day that she was murdered, he’ll try everything in the present to reverse the past. Sohn will play the grieving attorney, while Eom will play the devoted (and doomed) wife. The Phone begins filming next month and is expected to hit theaters in the latter half of the year. [Star News, Sports Chosun]
The grandpas are back! The third season (technically the fourth, in terms of geography) will take place in Greece, and Na PD and the halbaes embark this very weekend to begin filming there. While tvN had considered filming in Jordan, safety concerns prevented them from doing so. The original cast of Grandpas Over Flowers, all four halbaes and our crotchety Luggage Boy, will be back on the small screen at the end of March. [Osen]

Krystal, Seo Joon-young

Krystal (She’s So Lovable) has paired up with Seo Joon-young (Secret Door) in one of three short films commissioned by W Korea to celebrate the fashion magazine’s 10th anniversary. Titled Listen To My Song, it will be about a top actress (Krystal) who is rolling out an album. Seo will play a band member, and the two will connect via music. The comedic short runs less than ten minutes long and will be released in mid-March at KT & G’s SangsangMadang multiplex. [Asia Economy]
Korea’s King of Sitcoms, PD Kim Byung-wook (Potato Star 2013QR3, the High Kick franchise), will be bringing his unique ability to China beginning in 2016. He and Fan Entertainment have partnered with China’s Croton Media, and will consult on the writing and direction of 100 episodes of a new Chinese sitcom. Per the agreement, Fan Entertainment will receive an advisory fee of just over $3.5 million, and if the show is a success, this could be a lucrative, ongoing business relationship. Kim was excited about the opportunity, saying, “I’ll take on this project with the same trepidation and passion as I had when I first started making sitcoms, and will strive to succeed.” [Xports News]

Park Yong-woo, Song Chang-eui

Park Yong-woo (My Love, Madame Butterfly) has been cast in an SBS drama special akin to the popular film, The Attorney. The two-episoder is called Lifechaser Lee Jae-kyu, and Park is the title character. Initially a materialistic, money-grubbing attorney, a single incident will change him, and he’ll become a lawyer for the people, fighting for those whose lives were wrongly sacrificed. Lifechaser Lee Jae-kyu airs in 3D on February 21 and 22. [Joy News]
Song Chang-eui (Dr. Frost) is on the verge of taking the lead in MBC’s upcoming weekend drama, Make a Woman Cry. While not a lock yet, he is positively considering the role of a high school teacher stuck in a marriage of convenience. When his wife commits suicide, his son blames him for his mother’s death and begins to act out and to bully other kids. His actions lead to another boy’s death, and Kim Jung-eun will play the mother of the child who died. She’s a detective but when she loses her only son, she’ll quit the police force and set up a snack shop in front of her child’s old school in an effort to hold onto his memory. Her prime position leads her to become an ajumma Hong Gil-dong of sorts, who keeps a watchful eye over the neighborhood children. Make a Woman Cry airs in April after the conclusion of Rosy Lovers. [Osen]

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1 pogo

February 15, 2015 at 3:23 AM

yay for Lee Sung-min getting the lead in a commercial movie at last! Misaeng <33333

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2 harmonyfb

February 15, 2015 at 3:26 AM

Orange Marmalade, KBS’s upcoming Friday-Saturday show, in which the heroine is a vampire

::laughing:: How many is that, now? It's like they said, "What would Harmonyfb like? Vampires? Let's do that this year!"

Dear Korean TV industry: I also like haunted house/ghost shows. Could you get on that for next year?

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Manin

February 15, 2015 at 6:20 AM

Ghost will be slanted for summer and movies I think. At least that's the norm I have noticed: Korea likes to make horror moviess in the summer. ;)

But yeah it is kinda fun how the trends are so very noticable in dramaland. That's a game for next OT: What trend would you like to see next? :p

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harmonyfb

February 15, 2015 at 8:42 AM

Oh, I definitely wanted haunted houses next, but really, any supernatural shenanigans will do. ;)

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Lol I can already foresee the outrage by k-netizens over AOA Seol Hyun's casting. An idol - B list at that - paired with one of their favourite golden boys... Nevertheless Im looking forward cos it's Jingoo's first leading role and Lee Jonghyun back in drama land since A Gentleman's Dignity!!

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sssicca

February 15, 2015 at 3:49 AM

Lol~ I myself am guilty for feeling disappointed too. I wanted yeo jin goo to at least be paired with a decently-liked actress to at least secure a part of success(?) since this is his first lead role after all. And seolhyun, though is not a bad actress, she isn't strong either and currently, not particularly well-like either. I am worriwd about the drama success and yeo jin goo....

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Heal-er

February 15, 2015 at 4:29 AM

Me too. I am worried about the success and that timeslot which is gaining less than 5% so far.

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whimsyful

February 15, 2015 at 11:23 AM

Yeah, even if they had to go for an idol, I was really hoping for IU: she looks age-appropriate for YJG, can sing and play the guitar, and can act. Plus apparently the webtoon writer actually based the female lead's character on her. *sigh*

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grace

February 16, 2015 at 11:25 AM

Iu so fits for the character. I wish she was the female lead

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pogo

February 15, 2015 at 4:17 AM

it wouldn't matter as long as she was a decent enough actress who can carry a lead role, like say, Jung Eunji. From what I've seen, she's not lead role material yet.

I personally don't see the point of handing role after role to mediocre idols (High School Love On was another example) when there are talented actors out there who would do better. Not that anything in that time slot has done well so far.

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hipployta

February 15, 2015 at 5:49 AM

Fans of the webtoon were huffy about Jin Goo's casting (because he doesn't look like the character but can act) but are going to be IRATE about an idol getting casted

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blszin

February 15, 2015 at 9:55 AM

Hmm I think its the fact that I already paired him up with kim so hyun in my mind... thats why Im so disappointed ;D but well, lets give everyone a fair shot. This noona is still going to turn in to cheer him on :D

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ana

February 15, 2015 at 7:48 PM

lol they were already ranting over a good casting for the female lead when he was cast. all the comments were basically "NO IDOLS!!!!11!!" they already dislike her from that Brave Family variety show, i can't imagine how they'll response to this casting. at least they're closer in age this time.

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aX

February 16, 2015 at 9:02 PM

I am not too disappointed these days nor am I that surprised. it appears that it only makes sense for ACTORS/ACTRESSES to join a Kpop group so they can eventually act. More and more IDOLS are taking over the acting scene anyway. It's kinda sad but it just makes sense now to start of as a Kpop idol now and eventually make way to the acting world. =/

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4 reza

February 15, 2015 at 4:12 AM

wow kbs great cast sound good

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5 neverending

February 15, 2015 at 4:50 AM

The Phone sounds like it will make a good thriller, but I'm pretty sure I've heard this synopsis before. Plus I'm not sure how they are going to handle the grandfather paradox.

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6 hipployta

February 15, 2015 at 5:47 AM

Oh the fans of Orange Marmalade were already sniffing about Yeo Jin Goo because he does not look like his character but can act so they accepted him...but they were demanding an actress for the lead and did not want an idol so Seolhyun better avoid the comments

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Annie

February 15, 2015 at 1:36 PM

What is the character supposed to look like?

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sophia

February 15, 2015 at 2:59 PM

Tall-185cm,lanky, pale, teal hair color

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ana

February 15, 2015 at 8:00 PM

Dang at this description. If EXO Sehun can act, he could play this role well.

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Aliya

February 16, 2015 at 9:03 AM

Wow now that you mention it, that description is all Sehun. If only he could act..would have been perfect ;;

7 derp

February 15, 2015 at 5:52 AM

yeo jin goo is good but his height err for that role seems inappropriate..

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8 Dramafed1782

February 15, 2015 at 6:17 AM

I really do hope Lee Sung Min gets some kind of recognition for his role in Misaeng. He was the glue that brought out the best out of all his co-stars and the story. I hope he gets like a Baeksang or any broadcaster award.
He was what made me love Pasta more than the main OTP (though Honey Lee made a big impression on me too :) )

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9 javierkim

February 15, 2015 at 6:52 AM

The synopsis of 'The Phone' is quite similar to 'Frequency' which starred Dennis Quaid, where the son makes contact with his father exactly 30 years in the past on the day before his death in a warehouse fire. However instead of the phone, the son used his dad's old radio.

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tweetpandora

February 15, 2015 at 8:43 AM

I was thinking the same thing, that is one of my all time favourite movies ever.

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Hipployta

February 15, 2015 at 9:40 AM

It reminds me of the 2AM MV "You wouldn't answer my call"

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maldita

February 15, 2015 at 10:10 AM

Yup! First thing that popped up in my mind. Another Korean movie also has the same phone/radio talking to the past/future theme and it was Ditto with Kim Haneul and Yoo Jitae. It was more on romance and family, though, and not a thriller/action type.

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10 gogummaa

February 15, 2015 at 8:00 AM

am i the only one disappointed in the Orange Marmalade lead? was expecting someone...umm..maybe yeo jin goo level? i dont know. or maybe i should give the girl a chance? good luck to the drama anyway.

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11 soprection

February 15, 2015 at 8:31 AM

Wow, Make A Woman Cry sounds depressing. Two suicides AND bullying? Talk about heavy.

Is there a stain on Kim SeolHyun's dress in that first picture? Because they shouldn't have sent her out like that. Maybe oin something to the front to hide it.

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tq

February 15, 2015 at 8:46 AM

Um, that's a shadow.

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brian

February 17, 2015 at 10:47 AM

That's the shadow of a microphone to be exact.

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12 padmé

February 15, 2015 at 9:28 AM

Yayy for Seo Joon-young :)

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ultramafic

February 15, 2015 at 1:37 PM

One day Seo Joon-young will be a lead. I have to believe this.

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13 goldeng

February 15, 2015 at 4:11 PM

why do I just find out Jonghyun is coming back to dramaland?! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh~~~~~~! so Jonghyun and vampires? I need to watch! hope he ends up being a vampire too lol jin gu baby is great too!! wherever I look i would see pretty! idk about the girl's acting but i've already seen how everyone is throwing rocks at her -presumably for being paired with the hottest actor oppas out there that are too mighty to be paired with "someone like her"- and AOA... guess theyre the it group to hate lately... fans will have a field day with this cuz jonghyun is an idol & labelmate and jin gu is one of the precious promising actors...

that last drama is one i'll surely skip with no remorse... too tragic for my taste!

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14 ana

February 15, 2015 at 7:58 PM

Seolhyun is quite tall so I'm guessing she won't be wearing high heels lol I'm surprised YJG is 5'10. I thought he was shorter.

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15 AnnaAkana

February 15, 2015 at 8:25 PM

This year must be the year of vampire dramas! Yipee let's bring back that genre :D so far I know there are about 3 vampires drama now - Blood, Orange Marmalade, and Scholar who Walks the Night (still waiting for casting news on that).

Looking forward to seeing the first vampire drama blood, however, looking at the casting for Orange Marmalade - I am extremely excited to see that one! ♥

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Lilly

February 16, 2015 at 9:07 AM

Scholar who walks the night. I have not heard of this one before.

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16 whitewire

February 16, 2015 at 2:24 AM

OMG CHIEF OH SOOOOOOOO HOT. Chief Oh becoming MALE LEAD should be k-ent's greatest gift! (But pls, A DRAMA, Chief Oh! You are so handsome! ♥)

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17 sf fan

February 16, 2015 at 1:01 PM

~ While tvN had considered filming [the grandpas] in Jordan, safety concerns prevented them from doing so. ~

Thank goodness, because I was sincerely worried for them. And Greece sounds more awesome, anyway.

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18 bd5

February 17, 2015 at 11:13 AM

Park Yong-woo and Song Chang-eui - 2 excellent actors.

And good to see Lee Sung-min getting more lead roles now.

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19 Dreamer

November 17, 2015 at 12:17 AM

Lee Sung Min is awesome... genuine actor...

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