Jung Jae-young goes from welder to politician in KBS's Assembly

30 July 6, 2015April 8, 2017

Jung Jae-young goes from welder to politician in KBS’s Assembly

by girlfriday

We haven’t been posting each new round of stills and teasers for Assembly because visually there’s just a whole lot of suit-wearing and office-sitting going on, but it’s nice to see Jung Jae-young’s transformation from blue-collar worker to idealistic politician — his underdog success story as a rookie member of the Korean National Assembly is the central focus of the new KBS Wednesday-Thursday drama, which is already set to premiere next week.

Movie actor Jung Jae-young is making his television debut in the series by Jung Do-jeon writer Jung Hyun-min, and starts off the story as an average factory worker who one day finds himself fighting for his job. He speaks out on behalf of his labor union and becomes the voice of the people, and lands himself in the national assembly where he’ll learn firsthand how difficult it is to get anything done in government.

Song Yoon-ah (Mama) co-stars as his political aide who has far more experience under her belt and guides the newbie when he takes office, and Ok Taecyeon (Wonderful Season) plays a young man who works hard to overcome his poor upbringing and is studying to become a police officer. He’ll start out in an antagonistic relationship with the hero, which I’m sure they’ll work through in some bromantic fashion. Jang Hyun-sung (Heard It Through the Grapevine) and Kim Seo-hyung (Empress Ki) co-star, and Jo Jae-hyun (of the writer’s last drama Jung Do-jeon) makes a special cameo appearance.

Jung Jae-young’s teaser has the tagline: “Hope, communication — all futile words. I will melt the frozen National Assembly.” Song Yoon-ah’s teaser says: “Hope, communication — all futile words. I will open the closed National Assembly.” And Taecyeon’s teaser: “Hope, communication — all futile words. This was my only road to life.” The drama describes the hero as “brave because he’s stupid, and righteous because he’s naive,” which should make for a very unusual politician, but hopefully a heartwarming and uplifting drama about the human spirit.

Assembly premieres next Wednesday, July 15.

Via Hankyung

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1 Juliang

July 6, 2015 at 3:58 AM

The set up and the hero's description “brave because he’s stupid, and righteous because he’s naive,” remind me of Takuya Kimura's Change.

I trust Jung Jae Young in any role, hope this drama have a good run.

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Narina

July 6, 2015 at 5:32 AM

+1 thought the same thing.And I loved 'Change' despite some cliches because it was so heartwarming.

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Juliang

July 6, 2015 at 11:26 PM

Ugh, tell me, that drama made me cried over a politician's speech, unbelievable! :)

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Fun-Lugha

July 6, 2015 at 7:46 AM

Kimutaku, the man who's tackled every job under the sun-F1 driver, 'mad' scientist, president...the whole lot! And I've watched pretty much all of them ;)

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astromantic

July 6, 2015 at 10:04 AM

Yes, exactly! I enjoyed that one a lot. I think Assembly has all the elements to do just as well.

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2 dae_bak

July 6, 2015 at 4:17 AM

This post was published so late at night omg....

Anyways I'm super excited for this. I feel like I'm up for a really meaty political drama right now in the midst of the more lighter fare that's airing/going to air.

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3 Bella

July 6, 2015 at 4:47 AM

I think some international fans have no interest in this drama because of these veteran leads. But I love them.
I am sure this drama will get pretty good rating in Korea.

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Kiara

July 6, 2015 at 6:53 AM

I think it's just those that only watch television dramas that have no interest because they are not familiar with Jae-young's work since he hasn't done a drama before.

If this article was on a film blog everyone will eat it up because everyone would know who Jung Jae-young is.

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Mohammed

July 6, 2015 at 7:28 AM

Excuse me dont generalise international fans to those that love only flower boy dramas, idol dramas,rom coms.

I started watching kdrama because of the great veteran actors in Korean Cinema that made the countries film,tv known film fans in Europe.

I dont know Jung Jae-Young film wise but i have respect for a drama like this and impressive veteran actors Jo Jae Hyun, Jang Hyun-sung.

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Cocoboo

July 6, 2015 at 10:28 AM

The original poster did say some international fans, not all. Don't get too worked up about it.

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Mohammed

July 6, 2015 at 10:59 AM

I missed the some part but it is annoying at times like you cant enjoy kdrama without being seen as fanboy of popular actors who some fans are shallowly crazy about.

There are fans that follow writers,directors in korean tv world and not just go crazy of Lee Min Ho,Kim So Hyun and co......

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KimchiKimcho

July 6, 2015 at 3:33 PM

Agree 100 percent !I was introduced to K-drama via K'movie and Jung Jae-young is certainly one of my favourite actors with Hwang jung min and other veteran ones. I will just give a try to anything he is in :)
I'm sure he'll be fantastic, as usual :)

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windsun33

July 6, 2015 at 11:58 AM

And some of us international fans don't like idol dramas, so it evens out.

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4 badmamajama

July 6, 2015 at 5:14 AM

how is Taec getting roles with his stiffling acting??

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Freeman_c14

July 6, 2015 at 9:35 AM

Because connections.

And, the kdrama industry is slowly becoming like the japanese entertainment industry: movies, dramas, etc only exist to promote idols. (take for example the Attack on Titan upcoming movie)

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5 Ella

July 6, 2015 at 5:32 AM

Thank you for this! I'm really excited for this drama because Jung Jae Young rules.

I guess the trend this year is movie actor/tress gracing our screens in dramas. A great and welcomed trend I might add because so far, Go Ah Sung and Park Bo Young have been fantastic. And I expect nothing less from Jung. :)

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6 Dean

July 6, 2015 at 6:03 AM

Wow…I was like watching korean movie teaser. I don't know the name of that senior actor. He was in Punch and Jeong Do Jeon. But he's so good. Every single drama he's in, always has pretty high ratings (2 digits). Taecyon should use this chance to learn many things from him.

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7 Kiara

July 6, 2015 at 6:43 AM

My drama list is getting bigger.

Jung Jae-young: Assembly
Kim Moo-Yul: My Beautiful Bride
Park Bo-young: Oh My Ghostess
Jun-ki and Yubi: Scholar Who Walks the Night

I'm most excited about Jung Jae-young's first drama. He is an Amazing amazing amazing actor! I just wish this drama had a different time slot from Scholar /sigh.

This is going to be my drama for the year. Can't wait!

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8 eynay

July 6, 2015 at 6:44 AM

Somewhat I agree with you. Someone comment somewhere this drama not worth watching just because only popular cast is taecyeon. As for me, Jung Jae Young is one of my favourite actor & I love all of his movies that I watch. So I hope his first drama success, have very good rating & good storyline.

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Kiara

July 6, 2015 at 7:05 AM

This writer's last work was solid with a rating high of 20.1% so I'm not going to worry about the ratings. He knows politics so this is exciting.

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9 eynay

July 6, 2015 at 6:45 AM

Reply to Bella ?

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10 pigsnout

July 6, 2015 at 7:04 AM

@YOO - surely we all know by now that idols don't need to be good at anything to keep getting jobs. They just have to look pretty and be from a big agency, no matter how much their acting sucks they will keep getting roles. Taecyeon is a classic example.

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11 Tru2u

July 6, 2015 at 7:49 AM

The City Haller is saying yes. Why does this seems like the male version of city hall. Haha plus the lead is a solid actor. My problem will be the writing. 2015 has solid cast, but have really dumb script/directing. Won't watch until I'm sure it has a solid script and directing.

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12 just sayin'

July 6, 2015 at 9:30 AM

Jung Jae Young is the real deal. Can't wait to see him in a drama. Rally good cast all around. I'm looking forward to this one.

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13 Lindy

July 6, 2015 at 10:08 AM

Very excited for this one as well. Jung Jae-young is right below Cha Seung-won in my Korean actor pantheon. I had no idea this was his first drama for television ever but his movies are worth checking out. Especially Castaway on the Moon and Going By the Book but he's great in everything he does.

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Waiting

July 6, 2015 at 3:05 PM

Castaway on the Moon is a favorite and my first time seeing a paddle duck/swan which made me laugh no end when its expression seemed to mock him at times. I don't usually re-watch things, least no until years later, but it may be time to re-watch this.

Speaking of re-watching, not Korean, but Netflix just added Chocolat with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp. Why do I like movies about chocolate?? (Like Water for Chocolate, Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, etc.)

Where's that nutella...

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14 museofmanymasks

July 6, 2015 at 11:25 AM

Woop woop! this is going to be great (...if they keep the actor to Taec ratio in check)

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15 gustave154

July 6, 2015 at 4:07 PM

Wow Jung Jae Young in a drama role? Daebak

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16 hanie

July 6, 2015 at 6:21 PM

of course I'll watch it~
it's jung jae young ajusshi tv debut, and solid casts too (minus probably teac)

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17 Orion

July 6, 2015 at 6:25 PM

I was excited about this until Taecyeon appeared. Then I (and others) tried to think of a happy outcome. "Ah, probably minor role. Some happy goofy kid. He's good at that. Watchable if silly.". Now he's the second male lead, the third teaser is for him, the posters feature him right there, front and center. I know this industry's habits too well by now, but the idea was too sad for me to give into it until all of this.

I hate to think they would manage to get a huge name like Jeong Jae Yeong and then eff him over and ruin their own show's potential just for oppadoration, but it has happened before and it will happen again. And it's KBS, which I trust less with important decisions than I trust an alligator with living prey. If they do what I think they will do, what dramas have been consistently doing, they are unforgivable.

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Assembly