Pillow talk and hair-pulling in tvN's Ex-Girlfriend Club

66 April 15, 2015June 13, 2015

Pillow talk and hair-pulling in tvN’s Ex-Girlfriend Club

by javabeans

The latest teasers for Ex-Girlfriend Club are fun, adorable, and okay, maybe a teensy bit vicious. But in a good-natured way!

In the first teaser, we see the cadre of ex-girlfriends going after the lead, Byun Yo-han, who’s Public Enemy Number One. That’s because he’s made them the subject of his popular webtoon which then gets made into a movie (thus airing out the dirty laundry to the public at large). Commence chasing, punching, and hair-pulling. (The behind-the-scenes video is almost funnier, because you can see that the actresses weren’t going easy on him at all, and that all that hair-yanking was real.)

Then in the second teaser, Byun Yo-han introduces each ex in turn, starting with the noona (Jang Ji-eun) whom he calls extremely haughty and chic, though she’s so busy that she clearly doesn’t have much time for him. She’s from the upscale Cheongdam-dong world and married, then divorced, a well-to-do man she’d been set up with on a formal matchmaking date.

Lee Yoon-ji is the ex with an obsessive streak and the crazy eyes “who liked me too much.” She works at an investment firm and goes after what she wants with guns blazing, which is probably great for her career and less great for her love life. Third is the sexy C-list actress played by Ryu Hwa-young, who was “sizzling hot”… though maybe too hot for him to handle.

And then there’s the movie producer played by Song Ji-hyo, who snuggles up to Byun just as she’s captioned “like a bear, and just a friend.” Ouch. I’d have pulled his hair harder for that.

The drama gets going when the webtoon gets made into a movie, bringing all the exes together. Song Ji-hyo is forced into his orbit because the film production house she works for is struggling to stay afloat, and she joins the adaptation project in an effort to save the company. Hopefully the ensuing romance gets a better ending the second time around.

Ex-Girlfriend Club follows Superdaddy Yeol on tvN and premieres on May 8.

Via My Daily

Required fields are marked *

1 Akira

April 15, 2015 at 8:17 AM

So cute! The BTS is pretty hilarious, and looks like the cast is getting along well. Hopefully that translates into good on-screen chemistry.

I have a lot of love for SJH from running man, so I hope the writing for this drama turns out better than EC.

Required fields are marked *

2 Sour Grapes

April 15, 2015 at 8:18 AM

I wish Lee Yoon-ji was the lead, even in the teasers she is killing it. Song Ji-hyo is just so bland as an actress. Sorry if I offended any Running Man fans.

Required fields are marked *

annie

April 15, 2015 at 8:41 AM

I was just thinking the same. As much as I love Song Ji-hyo, Lee Yoon-ji is leaps and bounds more talented and charismatic of an actress, and it really burns me that she's been relegated to such insignificant roles. It's really mystifying to me that she's not a top lead actress by now, considering her amazing performance in The King 2 Hearts and the fact that she was a lead in that crazy makjang weekend drama that had really high ratings. Makes me sad. I wonder if it's because she has unusual looks? Though personally I find her WAY more beautiful than people who fit the standard Korean "perfect beauty" mold.

Required fields are marked *

bitter

April 15, 2015 at 9:06 AM

More talented I think yes but charismatic?.. If Lee yoon ji was more charismatic than Song Ji Hyo she would have gotten recognize and not play too many second leads. I think Song Ji hyo has more charisma since that whats actually why people love her on RM. Lee Yoon Ji is good at acting but doesn't really have something unique or like an x factor so people don't remember her or notice her. I don't even know who she was I have to google who lee yoon ji is but I was familiar with her face and sure I've seen her somewhere since I've watch a lot of kdramas.

Required fields are marked *

JC

April 15, 2015 at 12:20 PM

You've probably seen her in King2Hearts! Or Goong, though she was a smaller role there. And she was most recently in Dr. Frost.

I actually agree with both of you-- Lee Yoon-ji is a wonderful actress, and I like her a lot. I don't think she's necessarily lacking in charisma either. I feel like she's mostly been relegated to colder roles though? Which is detrimental in terms of getting lead roles because although we're moving away from that typecast, Kdramaland is still in love with the Candy rom-com lead. It's too bad because while her other roles have been so-so for me, I thought she was *phenomenal* as the princess in K2H.

But I do think Song Ji-hyo, while undeniably the weaker actor between the two (although they were both in Goong together lol and she was better back then), is incredibly charismatic! I think she's been unfortunate in that her past dramas have been kind of meh on the writing front, but she has awesome chemistry with a lot of co-stars/CF partners, and I'm sure she can do fun, bubbly rom com very well- she was really good in Emergency Couple, if only that drama wasn't so cringe-inducing.

Either way, I'm excited for this to air. ^o^

Required fields are marked *

annie

April 15, 2015 at 3:03 PM

bitter,

Song Ji-hyo is interesting, because I agree that she has a ton of charisma in variety and yet I find her very bland in her drama roles, where she's beautiful but a lot of times blends into the scenery, although she was better in Emergency Couple.

But Lee Yoon-ji not have an x-factor? I guess we'll have to chalk that up to personal taste, because I have to agree with concreteroads, she was wonderful in K2H, in fact she pretty much ate up the screen and had me riveted for all of her scenes. And with LYJ I find that she's always good, no matter the quality of the drama or the size of the role, whereas SJH's performance really depends on how well the role is written and directed. For me, anyway.

But here's hoping SJH does well in this and makes a breakthrough as a romcom actress - I have hope that this kind of role is more suited to her than the saintly, boring character she played in Mandate of Heaven or the self-pitying whiner she played in Goong. And I'll keep praying our princess gets an awesome lead role soon :)

Required fields are marked *

JC

April 15, 2015 at 3:10 PM

I agree with you, I'm a Ji-hyo fan from Running Man but her drama performances do tend to vary based on the writing/directing skills exhibited by her projects.

I don't think she's actually lacking in skill? I liked her well enough in Goong way, way back when, and like you said Emergency Couple was a huge improvement. But she's also been great in meatier roles in thrillers and non-Mandate of Heaven sageuk so... I don't know why she seems to fade into the background in some of her projects. I really want to blame it on awful and weak characters (Mandate of Heaven) or plain awful writing in general (Jackal is Coming, Emergency Couple), but I think she honestly hasn't been in enough projects to tell.

I do think Lee Yoon-ji is better at picking consistently good projects though, even though she might not always be the headliner. And her roles have always suited her (she does haughty turned vulnerable oh so well), which helps with the "x-factor" thing.

bd5

April 17, 2015 at 8:24 PM

Love Mong-ji, but I wouldn't say that she's particularly "charismatic" in variety either.

It's not like she shines when RM has a big female guest or numerous female guests.

But maybe "charismatic" is the wrong term - Mong-ji is cute and adorkable (whether it be her dancing/singing badly or lashing out as "bad" Ji-hyo), but she doesn't exactly have an outgoing personality (which is why she all too often disappears into the background when there is a dominant, personality-wise, female guest or numerous female guests and isn't adept at cracking jokes.

In the early eps for RM, Ji-hyo was even more quiet (before she started to feel comfortable in showing her other side) and when she guested on FO, Yoo Jae-suk would have to drag things out of her.

Where Ji-hyo made her name then (on FO) and on RM from the start was her fierce competitiveness in the games.

Hyori was a bit taken aback by the fierceness of Ji-hyo in the games on FO, which was in contrast to Ji-hyo's shy/awkward reality personality.

So Ji-hyo's competitiveness, adeptness at the physical games (and fearlessness when it comes to things like high places, which is in contrast to most of the guy members on RM) is what Mong-ji is known for.

Required fields are marked *

Gidget

April 15, 2015 at 2:47 PM

People don't think she's very pretty? That's crazy! By western standards she's been by far the prettiest one in all the dramas you mentioned.

And in the second clip at 1:15-1:18. All I can say is keep flammable materials away from those two...

Required fields are marked *

annie

April 15, 2015 at 3:05 PM

Not sure if they do or not - just wondering if that has to do with her lack of popularity. It could also be that she isn't managed by a powerful agency. I know there are a lot of factors behind casting decisions that international fans aren't privy to. And I've noticed before that what Korean netizens agree on as beautiful is not necessarily what I would have expected.

But who knows? Maybe it's just bad luck. Hopefully she gets a good role soon.

Required fields are marked *

Gidget

April 15, 2015 at 3:16 PM

Agree!

I thought she created the more memorable characters in both Goong and K2H (although they were similar).

I hadn't remembered SJH was in Goong. I looked it up and can't for the life of me remember anything about the performance.

kanz

April 15, 2015 at 4:13 PM

Lee Yoon Ji is from Namoo Actors that manage so many actors and actresses, like Lee Jun Ki, Ji Sung, Moon Geun Young, Shin Se Kyung, etc to name a few so I can't really said she's not from powerful agency. She consistently performed well in all her dramas I watched, but then maybe it's just lack of buzzing factor around her.
We can't deny in Korea popularity is one of the bigger reason an actor/actress getting cast, in spite of their acting ability or lack thereof.

manga

April 15, 2015 at 6:49 PM

I'm actually the other way around. I don't remember Lee Yoon Ji's performances much except that normally it seemed like she's very wound up tight. Like tense, especially in the neck and shoulders. It's the mannerism of how she puts out her dialogue. Therefore I think that's how she gets the colder characters as well.

glenax

April 16, 2015 at 12:58 AM

Lee Yoon Ji is good in acting but does not exceed as leaps and bounds from Song Ji Hyo. The fact is, Lee is very thin and on screen her very large eyes are disportionate to her face making her look scary. I am sorry her face is not that telegenic.

Required fields are marked *

plaque

April 16, 2015 at 11:09 PM

Lol. The way you describe lee yoon ji reminds me of those edited pics where you magnify the head to look it more bigger than the body kinda link a bubble head..

Required fields are marked *

Gidget

April 15, 2015 at 2:32 PM

So is this one time you'll root for live shoot rewrites?

Required fields are marked *

Sour Grapes

April 15, 2015 at 6:14 PM

I don't think there is anything in this world that can justify live shoot rewrites.

Required fields are marked *

glenax

April 16, 2015 at 1:00 AM

Its not fair to judge Song Ji Hyo by Goong because that was one of the first dramas that she did.

Required fields are marked *

JC

April 16, 2015 at 7:45 AM

I actually thought she was decent in Goong... it was the writing/character that was terrible. It's like EVERYTHING else (literally everything) in that drama was abandoned halfway through in favour of the lead romance. That's it.

Required fields are marked *

paroles

April 16, 2015 at 11:52 AM

Imo that was her best performance. I also watched her in Jumong, Mandate of Heaven, Crime Squad and Emergency Couple. She was really bad in Jumong, and the other three dramas were a waste of time. She's really not that good at acting and I agree with people saying that she speaks weird as well, but for me it's probably just the tone of her voice. It's unique in a weirdly irritating manner.

Required fields are marked *

3 Aneleh

April 15, 2015 at 8:23 AM

I wish it would air sooner, I'm in dire need of a new drama to watch. The current drama offering has been kinda lackluster for me and the dramas I'm most excited for are all airing in May when real life is the busiest.

Required fields are marked *

4 kororo

April 15, 2015 at 8:31 AM

I'm so happy to see Byun Yo-han on my screen again, and as a lead !!!! The BTS is fun, and it looks like the cast have chemistry. I kinda hope that Lee Yoon-ji was the lead but she has been brilliant in second part lately, and SJH was not bad in EC, I think upbeat comedy romance fits her well, I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Required fields are marked *

5 soprection

April 15, 2015 at 8:48 AM

Man, I am so pumped for this show. I really hope it's fun.

Required fields are marked *

6 kimchied

April 15, 2015 at 8:52 AM

i'm hoping that it takes the style where each of the ex-girlfriends are characters in their own right with unique motivations, goals etc and not just bland stock types! (and I do like lee yoon ji she just lights up the screen... don't shortchange her!)

ji hyo's okay - i think she can really do this role well though cos it looks her usual running man personality so there's potential for natural charm there. :) byun yo han is just overflowing with charisma as usual.

Required fields are marked *

7 achiara

April 15, 2015 at 9:34 AM

TvN has been a bit disappointing lately and I have a feeling they will redeem themselves with this one. Everything looks so good so far. Please show, don't let me down

Required fields are marked *

8 iamdeb

April 15, 2015 at 9:40 AM

please don't be full of cringe inducing gender stereotypes.

Required fields are marked *

Gidget

April 15, 2015 at 3:04 PM

You are watching the wrong genre of shows if you don't want to see that. Most viewers of Romcoms would have no interest in a show that was seemingly conceived and filmed in the mythical Land of Androgyny. You gotta stick to indie/art house productions for that.

Required fields are marked *

Gidget

April 15, 2015 at 3:26 PM

BTW
I say that in a lighthearted way.

Perhaps you can watch it as a satire?

Required fields are marked *

iamdeb

April 15, 2015 at 3:43 PM

No I don't mind. Rom coms is what attracted me to kdramas and they are still myfavorite kdrama genre. I just have less tolerance for gender cliches now and have limits to what I can handle.

Required fields are marked *

iamdeb

April 15, 2015 at 3:47 PM

I meant *these days* I have less tolerance. Also the "crazy" ex girlfriends element could easily test my limits if they are written very one dimensionally. Just depends on how it plays out.

Required fields are marked *

Gidget

April 15, 2015 at 5:48 PM

I guess I can handle caricatures as long as they don't drift into one-dimensional crazy-pants territory.

I don't mind a trope if it's clever, or a stereotype if it's engaging. And I definitely don't mind one if it pokes fun at itself.

Required fields are marked *

9 momoisluv

April 15, 2015 at 10:54 AM

I can't wait for this show. It looks and sound so funny and cute. Definitely my cup of tea.

Required fields are marked *

10 Dam

April 15, 2015 at 12:56 PM

Lookin forward to this show

The problem with song ji hyo are the roles she gets that suck. Like the emergency couple character sucked, tho when she was with the second lead i actually liked her character. Its the same with actress Sung Si kyung or whatever her name is. She also gets those dumb roles, but now in the girl who sees smells.. well the girl is acing it. Love her there. So i hope the same will happen for Ji Hyo. A character full of life and backbone.

Required fields are marked *

JC

April 15, 2015 at 3:13 PM

I agree with you, I love Ji-hyo but too many of her past projects have been flops, or her character has been meek and weak and annoying. She's really suited to play livelier roles, like her variety character.

And yeah I definitely agree with you that Shin Se-Kyung has been improving by leaps and bounds in first Iron Man and now Girl Who Sees Smells. I think some actors and actresses are just generally more suited for rom-coms though. And YES to female lead roles with a backbone and a personality.

Required fields are marked *

plaque

April 16, 2015 at 11:11 PM

Agree I almost didn't watch Girl who see smells because of her but tried watching the first episode because of yoochun and then surprisingly love it.

Required fields are marked *

weallwantpizza

April 16, 2015 at 4:33 AM

lol sung si kyung is a great ballad singer~
shin se kyung if thats what you mean...

Required fields are marked *

11 Hmm

April 15, 2015 at 1:20 PM

So this isn't a drama about a girl having to fight this one dude's 7 evil ex girlfriends? because that I would see.

Required fields are marked *

12 Gladys

April 15, 2015 at 1:29 PM

May is going to be a super busy month!! 24hours/day won't be enough...

Required fields are marked *

13 fabdrama

April 15, 2015 at 1:40 PM

Byung Yo-han is too adorable, very grateful to Misaeng for discovering him!

Required fields are marked *

14 Aigoooo

April 15, 2015 at 1:42 PM

Mong Ji was going after him like he had a name tag on his back she's trying to rip. hehe TvN makes the funniest teasers. Song Ji Hyo looks gorgeous.

Required fields are marked *

plaque

April 16, 2015 at 11:12 PM

not to mention pulling his hair the way he pulled kwangsoo's hair

Required fields are marked *

15 Net-chan

April 15, 2015 at 1:44 PM

Hahahahahaha well Song Ji-hyo is an expert at hair-pulling, with all these years spent on Running Man!

This looks fun, I don't know the lead actor but I hope he's good... Might check this out!

Required fields are marked *

16 Sur

April 15, 2015 at 2:16 PM

With all these years of hair pulling experience on Jong Kook Song Ji Hyo obviously did well, and they already have off-screen chemistry.

Required fields are marked *

17 lolo

April 15, 2015 at 2:59 PM

I hope a Kwang Soo cameo this time. Song Ji Hyo call him now...

Required fields are marked *

18 JC

April 15, 2015 at 3:17 PM

The trailers are adorable, especially the second one. But I think what I love most is the BTS! It's awesome to see a cast that's already so close and giggly with each other, and they all seem to have fantastic chemistry--including and especially between the girls, which is always nice to see.

Also LOL at the very real hair-pulling in there... nice to see Ji-hyo putting her Running Man skills to good use. Next thing you know, the next trailer will have biting in it. :P

Required fields are marked *

19 mia

April 15, 2015 at 3:27 PM

bwahahaha this is so hilarious! please please! be as good as these stills and teasers! I love Lee Yoonji and Song Jihyo! yay!

Required fields are marked *

20 cecilia

April 15, 2015 at 4:31 PM

TvN romcoms have always been hit or miss for me, yet I still like (most of) them well enough. Though they may not perfect, I appreciate the quirky vibe they offered, or the way they dare to experience with unusual theme or even give fresh takes on the usual tropes we've seen so many times in dramaland.

Judging from the premise, teasers, and BTS, I really want this show to do well. I have high hopes in Byun Yo-han too, who was so fun to watch in Misaeng, and who further amazed me with his wide range and intensity in other projects. Hope everything delivers.

Required fields are marked *

21 jam

April 15, 2015 at 4:41 PM

wheeeee totally excited for this. im all for byh!

Required fields are marked *

22 SilentSquee

April 15, 2015 at 4:50 PM

The BTS... LOL! Poor guy...

Required fields are marked *

23 hawoojinruinedme

April 15, 2015 at 6:37 PM

Aww so cute! I haven’t watched Misaeng, but have heard praises for Byun Yo-han, so I’m excited to finally see him here! He’s mightily cute in this!

Required fields are marked *

24 songsong

April 15, 2015 at 7:33 PM

I think this drama is going to give Producer a good fight!
Going to watch this for sure!

Byun Yo-han is a gem from Misaeng! I wish his other fellow cast from Misaeng can do a cameo especially Im Siwan & Kang Sora.

Required fields are marked *

JC

April 15, 2015 at 9:58 PM

Wow, I didn't realize until your comment that this drama was going up against Producer!

Haha, oh, I cannot wait for all the meta-jokes... Running Man cast members going head to head for the ratings. Now all Kwang-soo needs to do is get himself a role on another station and they can all fight for it.

Required fields are marked *

Kokopops

April 16, 2015 at 4:38 AM

So it's a meta running man vs 1n2d!

Required fields are marked *

25 canxi

April 15, 2015 at 7:53 PM

Loving those teasers. Haha, it looks cute. I'm super looking forward to it.

Required fields are marked *

26 toni

April 15, 2015 at 7:55 PM

I find the BTS funnier than the actual teasers LOL I think this would be fun; I just hope Song Ji-hyo will bring a different vibe to her character since I find her too bland in the characters she played before like in Emergency Couple.

Required fields are marked *

27 jheart

April 15, 2015 at 8:39 PM

Looking adorable and funny :x
Need more rom-coms , hoping it will be a great one.
The overflowing chemistry between Ji Hyo and Yo Han ❤️
It competes with Producer so wishing that it wont get spotlight stolen and the ratings could reach up to 5%
Good luck !
May is full of great dramas .
In need of 48 hours a day

Required fields are marked *

28 Gumiho_bean

April 15, 2015 at 9:29 PM

I love both of the leads and the synopsis seems ok, so I'll be definitely watching it

Required fields are marked *

29 Jennalyn Zul

April 16, 2015 at 3:31 AM

Can we have Han Suk Yool hair?

Required fields are marked *

weallwantpizza

April 16, 2015 at 4:34 AM

i second that! hahaha

Required fields are marked *

30 weallwantpizza

April 16, 2015 at 4:36 AM

despite most comments talking about song jihyo or lee yoonji...

i count on byun yohan (like omg hes so freakn adorable in that poster and in that teaser, do u even know that hes actually a shy guy, omg cmere lemme hug u) hes a great actor.

Required fields are marked *

31 jheart

April 16, 2015 at 7:03 AM

More interviews/greetings from our lead couples & other main casts for anyone who interested ^^
They are so so cute <3
Their smiles match perfectly :x

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWhwtBTDbF4&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RibBh9bYdJ4&feature=youtu.be

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2mm6db_eng-sub-ex-girlfriend-club-quiz-event_tv?start=6

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2mm0kn_eng-sub-ex-girlfriend-club-facebook-greeting-1-sjh-byh_tv

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2miggx_eng-sub-ex-girlfriend-club-1st-script-reading_tv

(credit to the owners)

Required fields are marked *

32 Elaine

April 16, 2015 at 8:21 AM

Never seen Lee Yoon Ji's work before so I wont be comparing but I've seen all of SJH's works. I agree that her acting depends on the writing/directing. I liked her in Jumong, at least on the latter part, but I liked her better in Gye Baek with Lee Seo Jin. She played the part of a revenge-filled queen to an A. She made the character relatable despite being quite evil. And in EC, had the writer did a better job, she would have been more fabulous in it. It showed potential on her acting, expressing more emotions on her eyes and her face in general. So I'm super excited about this.

One thing I had to commend SJH on is that she can create good on screen chemistry with her partners, even if she had more chemistry with Dr. Gook in EC than CJH. And her chemistry isn't that overwhelming but you'll love it for being light on the eyes and warm enough to relate to the loveline.

Required fields are marked *

33 plaque

April 16, 2015 at 11:17 PM

Some one said they can't remember Jihyo on Goong. I don't think that's because she's forgettable because I hated her character so much and back then I thought the second lead was way prettier than the main lead (yoon eun hye). I think its because she look soo different. Same as whishing stairs and jumong she look different you have to look really hard or to be her fan to recognize it was her.

Required fields are marked *

btsxfangirl94

April 17, 2015 at 12:48 PM

Yes she certainly looks different now..I also thought she looked the prettiest in goong..I know koreans are obsessed with pale skin but to me she actually looked a lot better with tanner skin In goong compared to now..idk