Joo-won’s melodrama Yong-pal gets a director switch
by javabeans
In a sudden move, SBS has replaced the director on its upcoming drama Yong-pal, the series starring Joo-won as a skilled surgical resident who takes on house calls to the filthy rich and becomes witness to the shadier side of the upper crust. A director or writer switch always makes people wonder at the circumstances eliciting the change (and whether the conflict, whatever it was, will manifest in what we see onscreen), but little explanation has been given, with only a generic “internal decision” offered as reason.
I was hoping that the initial director, PD Lee Dong-hoon, would bring to Yong-pal his touch with dark thriller elements that he worked to such great effect in God’s Gift—14 Days. That drama (despite the aggravating ending that I refuse to acknowledge as real) was a great example of a serial drama that kept audiences on the edge of their seat throughout, and while I’m not quite sure what tone to expect of Yong-pal, there was enough in the description to hope for taut suspense and dramatic conflicts.
For instance, Kim Tae-hee stars as a chaebol heiress who lies in a VIP suite in the hospital in a coma—and then wakes and plans a “frightening punishment” to the people who brought about her condition. Sounds intriguingly dark, doesn’t it?
But the new director, Oh Jin-seok, is decidedly NOT a thriller guy. In fact, he’s much more of a rom-com guy, and the last drama he did was SBS’s lowbrow, feel-good series Modern Farmer. Now, I liked Modern Farmer for what it was, but what it was was silly, sometimes stupid gag comedy with more heart than brain. How is he at all a fair trade for God’s Gift guy?
(Now, to be fair, I know we can’t judge a person’s quality purely by the most project they did, and both PDs have a number of other dramas under their belts. New PD has weekend makjang drama Goddess of Marriage, 2007’s How To Meet a Perfect Neighbor, and Lovers in Paris and Lovers in Prague, both classic romances. Old PD had weekend drama Dummy Mommy, rom-com Protect the Boss, and movie-adapted Tazza, among others.)
SBS has stressed that the PD swap would not pose any hindrance to actors’ roles or the production schedule. Okay, sure, but what about the production contents? I’m still drawn in by the premise, but I have to admit I’ll be watching with more wariness now.
Yong-pal plans to premiere in August, following Mask.
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Tags: drama production, Joo-won, Kim Tae-hee
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1 Dahlia
June 21, 2015 at 12:11 PM
That is a strange swap. I'll still give the early episodes a shot and hope for the best.
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2 redfox
June 21, 2015 at 12:25 PM
not a very necessary switch. but perhaps the other one couldnt do it for some personal reasons? did he ask to be replaced or was it the production comapny´s decision?
[btw khmm... some news.... could you...Night Scholar...new official stills of LSH? Please? (I wrote an email too..)]
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3 ck1Oz
June 21, 2015 at 1:13 PM
Man I hope it doesn't turn into a conventional rom com. I liked the original director.
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4 Mandy
June 21, 2015 at 2:50 PM
What is in the waters around SBS lately? First there was the huge behind the scenes mess with ITWY's remake, and now this. And to think they were on a huge roll only a year ago.
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5 no name #6
June 21, 2015 at 3:39 PM
You know, I said I could see a little bit of comedy working from the story setup, but I absolutely did not mean make it into a rom-com. Mix a little dark humor into the thriller/melo stuff, and that sounds right up my alley. I really can't see taking this premise and turning into a rom-com. So I kind of doubt that's the plan.
All this to say that I still have hope that this isn't signaling some huge change in the (presumed) tone of the drama. Hopefully, it's not going to affect the quality either. I hope SBS knows what they're doing.
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6 solazie
June 21, 2015 at 3:56 PM
Well, I like both God's Gift and Modern Farmer. I just can wish the best for SBS, my #1 bangsong 2011-2014. I think this year I more stick to KBS's dramas.
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7 sean
June 21, 2015 at 5:02 PM
the plot really sound interesting..i can't wait!
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8 Khomes
June 21, 2015 at 7:11 PM
The plot sounds familiar... Royal Pain, a US tv series?
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windsun33
June 21, 2015 at 8:40 PM
Sounds a lot like it yes.
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9 mindy
June 21, 2015 at 7:19 PM
Everyone keeps mentioning Royal Pains, haha. I watch that show with my dad every week and have since episode 1!
This does sound like it could be good and the description of the heroine intrigues me. I highly doubt it will become a rom-com, the premise just sounds way too dark for it to take that turn.
Looking forward to it!
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10 SS
June 21, 2015 at 8:16 PM
I was mostly attracted to this drama because I loved God's Gift. Then again, I do not know if what I liked about God's Gift was more of the writing or was it the production and directing? It's probably both :)
So I watched Reset and I hope the writer has improved for this drama. There was potential in Reset's writing but it got lost somewhere along the way. I had hoped that PD Lee Dong Hoon would help make Yong Pal darker and tighter. Now with the new PD, I do not know what to expect.
I am happy with the casting though. Besides the leads, we have Oh Jung Se and Jo Jae Yun. After a somewhat frustrating Plus Nine Boys, it would be a first for me to watch Oh Jung Se as the bad guy. Maybe Jo Jae Yun can bring in the comedy bit if he plays the underworld figure. I hope the humor if any, would be a satirical take on the rich and famous.
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SS
June 23, 2015 at 12:45 AM
Aarghhh...seems like Oh Jung Se and Jo Jae Yun dropped out. What is going on, SBS?
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11 windsun33
June 21, 2015 at 8:42 PM
Modern Farmer was one of those dramas that I had to force myself to watch, and even then only made it for 1.5 episodes. If this is anything like that, I won't make it far.
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12 molly
June 21, 2015 at 10:58 PM
Everything at SBS is so damn shady these days. I think sticking to cable dramas is the best choice.
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13 kororo
June 22, 2015 at 12:39 AM
*Crossing fingers*Hope it's a good choice, SBS is so shady these days.
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14 far
June 22, 2015 at 12:50 AM
This is a concern to me. I was really happy at the prospect of God's Gift director for he has produced great projects. But this new director... i cant be too judgemental, but his previous projects are on the borderline of good.
The casting is good and i like the writer's previous project Reset. But the new director... i really hope the production knows what they're doing.
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15 Jojo
June 22, 2015 at 1:11 AM
There are soo many actors in their 30's.. why bring a kid to star with noona??? I dont like this pairing
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just
June 22, 2015 at 2:54 AM
he is 27 year old, not a kid anymore although his fans call him cutie which I found a bit cheesy.
Besides, he looks a lot older than his age and KTH looks younger so they are visually match imo. I am not very sure in the acting department though.
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Jackeline
June 23, 2015 at 9:44 AM
Oh you don't have to worry about Joo Won's acting. He's done many projects to prove he's right up there with some of the best actors in the industry (Baker King Kim Tak Goo, Good Doctor, Gaksital). Kim Tae Hee, on the other hand, while not necessarily a bad actress, has always been more known for her beauty.
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16 korfan
June 22, 2015 at 7:16 AM
"Coma" ... "Modern Farmer" ... "frightening punishment" ... "gag comedy".
I never would've thought of seeing these words mentioned together while talking about the upcoming drama Yong-pal. ....... But who knows what we'll end up with, it may actually work!
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17 uto
June 23, 2015 at 2:19 AM
Royal pains
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