Jung Ryeo-won, Lee Dong-wook cast in new tvN drama

49 July 21, 2015October 28, 2015

by girlfriday

We’ve got another dramaland reunion in the works: Lee Dong-wook (Iron Man, Mandate of Heaven) and Jung Ryeo-won (Medical Top Team, King of Dramas) are being courted to headline the new tvN drama Bubblegum, slated for a winter broadcast either late this year or early next year. The two actors were co-stars on the 2003 sitcom Do the Right Thing, where they shared a loveline for ten episodes before Lee Dong-wook left the show. Twelve years later, they might be starring in their first cable drama opposite each other.

I like both actors and think they’ll make a good pairing, though I’m actually more excited about the fact that the drama is the newest project from PD Kim Byung-soo, of Nine, Queen Inhyun’s Man, and Three Musketeers. His shows are sleek and stylish, and always well-produced. Writing is a drama newbie, radio show Music City writer and book author Lee Mina, and producing is the company behind Secret Garden and A Gentleman’s Dignity.

The drama is described as an “adult fairytale,” which to me sounds like any drama ever. Perhaps we’ll learn of a more specific reason for the fairytale mention later, but the premise is just about people with deficiencies, becoming a little happier just by being with one another. Vague, I know. It’ll have four main characters and take place in a broadcast station and a hospital.

Lee Dong-wook has been cast as a doctor of Eastern medicine who runs his own practice. He’s someone who thinks of his mother and the heroine before himself. Maybe the bigger question is who comes first, Mom or the love interest? Jung Ryeo-won is up for the role of a radio PD — she’s impatient and clumsy, and also carries some inner pain.

It’s hard to say based on the one-line premise what the show will look like, but it sounds like a thoughtful contemporary romance. The title throws me a little since it’s so light and fluffy-sounding, not that I’d ever complain about these two doing lighter comedic fare. I liked Jung best in History of a Salaryman, and Lee Dong-wook is far more charismatic when he’s going for the laugh.

Bubblegum is slated to follow Cheese in the Trap (which comes after Hidden Identity and Rude Miss Young-ae) on Mondays and Tuesdays either in December or January 2016.

Via IS Plus

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1 riya

July 21, 2015 at 11:12 PM

I hope they confirm :) A good news indeed.

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2 damianna

July 21, 2015 at 11:13 PM

Will definitely watch these two and then I'll see where the first few eps will be like. I want the drama to be nice though cause it's in good hands.
p/s: I think there are way better pictures of them around. Just saying.

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3 mary

July 21, 2015 at 11:31 PM

LDW's Eastern Medicine, Mom vs Love character reminds me of Yoon Pil-joo. ^^

I just rewatched My Girl and am excited to see LDW in hopefully a fun drama. :) also hoping JRW has another winning char like from HOTS or KOD.

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korfan

July 22, 2015 at 4:25 AM

Yoon Pil-joo! He was so nice!

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mary

July 22, 2015 at 7:13 AM

IKR??? Maybe this time, the Yoon Pil-joo line will win?

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4 Nox

July 21, 2015 at 11:32 PM

Really like JRW in History Of a Salaryman. Anyone should try this :D

Nice pairing, hope the story will be good :)

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houstontwin

July 22, 2015 at 6:02 AM

Yes! JRW was so funny and feisty!

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5 Ms. Clueless

July 21, 2015 at 11:34 PM

I love that PD! Queen In Hyun's man was the first cable drama I've watched! :)

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6 heol561

July 21, 2015 at 11:42 PM

Not a fan of LDW. But hearing him talked about his work on Roomates made me feel bad for him.Wish him all the best.

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kalel

July 22, 2015 at 2:04 AM

I've never watched that variety show, so I don't know anything apart from the fact that LDW was cast in that one but the show got finally cancelled due to poor ratings. Please indulge me and share this information about his work, @heol561 :-)

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Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan

July 22, 2015 at 9:03 AM

The episode was a long time ago, but I think I vaguely remember him saying that he was depressed for a long time and questioned whether he was doing the right thing with his career.

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Nox

July 22, 2015 at 3:55 AM

Same here. Not his fan (Only watch him in My Girl about 10years ago), but feel bad. Now my fave one also had the similar thing :( I do sincerly hope this to be good if he accepts the offer :)

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7 meowingme

July 21, 2015 at 11:43 PM

Hooray! Will be looking forward to weekly dose of Dong Wook, been missing him a bunch since Roommate ended.

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8 couchpotato_md

July 21, 2015 at 11:44 PM

miss LDW, nice pairing !

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9 Orion

July 21, 2015 at 11:51 PM

All my darlings are going to cable. Please accept the role, Ryeo Won. Please. I need this. I need to save you all from the Big Three. Dewwww eeeet! Or don't, it's your life, but we miss you. And yes, I also tweeted out at her. You don't understand the feels. :P

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10 nanoo

July 22, 2015 at 12:19 AM

Yess, I want LDW on drama again!! Tvn? O hyeaa, I can trust them to make a good drama in the end of the year~~

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11 jheart

July 22, 2015 at 1:01 AM

Really miss Jung Ryeo Won in dramaland . Great to see her back and with Lee Dong Wook. Double Yes!
Tvn is on a roll these past years with great production and castings.

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12 pigsnout

July 22, 2015 at 1:49 AM

2014-15 is a good year for kdrama pairings and reunions, no? Ji Sung and Hwang Jung Eum reuniting for KMHM, Lee Jongsuk-Park Shin Hye and So Ji Sub-Shin Min Ah doing dramas together after their cfs, now Lee Dong Wook having another costar reunion. ....

I was hoping for Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah to also do a drama after their cf but now they got revealed to be dating they won't do a drama together :/

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SOSOSO

July 22, 2015 at 2:04 AM

2014, couple reunion was started by Lee Dong Wook with his My Girl partner, and I still remember, the buzz in this blog about them.

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dashi

July 22, 2015 at 5:34 AM

But, I wonder why with all the buzz, Hotel King wasn't recapped here and not even included in the reviews?

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mary

July 22, 2015 at 7:18 AM

We were excited for reteaming of My Girl. Because My Girl is ♥

But Hotel King was such a... uhm... I heard it was really crazy and the writing was not so good. The only good things I heard about it was the chemistry between the leads.

I guess it was a good thing that no recapper was tempted to start it based on OTP alone. O__O Imagine how difficult it would be to slog through all that 2x a week.

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pogo

July 22, 2015 at 10:44 AM

wait WHAT Kim Woo-bin and Shin Mina are dating?!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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mary

July 22, 2015 at 1:42 PM

Yes :)

Dispatch outed them saying they've been dating secretly for past 2 months (they met earlier this year due to a CF, I think). Then both parties just said, "yeah we are dating" like it's no big deal.

Hurrah for them. ^___^

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13 Jojo

July 22, 2015 at 2:07 AM

I'm ready anytime for lee dong wook..

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14 kanz

July 22, 2015 at 4:50 AM

I miss Lee Dong Wook and Jung Ryeo Won!!!
Please say yes you two!

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15 Dera

July 22, 2015 at 5:25 AM

*reads title, sees JRW's name*

Immediate reaction: Yassssss! She's back!!! Thank ye Drama Gods!

*calms self and reads article*

Wait, it's not final yet? She's just being courted?

*feels a bit of disappointment but still happy nonetheless*

Please, Drama Gods!!! Make it final!

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16 maldita

July 22, 2015 at 5:36 AM

I'd like for this drama to be a hit, only because Lee Dongwook needs it after his string of flop dramas the last couple of years. I like Jung Ryeowon, too, so I'm definitely checking this drama out if they do confirm. :)

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17 OMG it's Healer ?

July 22, 2015 at 6:14 AM

I don't know the actors but I'm definitely watching this for the PDPD. I've seen all of his dramas listed above and they're all EPIC! definitely can't wait ❤

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18 Samoa

July 22, 2015 at 6:32 AM

@dashi, Hotel King has weak and typical storyline, the leads chemistry saved it from total disaster, so I think JB not interested on it. This blog also full with Lee Da Hae anti, it will spoil the mood if they read HK recap, IMO.

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19 kolache

July 22, 2015 at 6:33 AM

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20 salt n' pepper

July 22, 2015 at 7:30 AM

Yes!! I miss Jung Ryeo Won in dramaland! And I like Lee Dong Wook a decent amount so no complaints from me. I haven't seen their old project together but they seem like they'll work fine as a pairing. I hope both actors confirm.

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21 yeah

July 22, 2015 at 7:39 AM

"Writer of Secret Garden and A Gentleman’s Dignity"

I am concern about the scripts now.

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canxi

July 22, 2015 at 8:05 AM

Literally not what is sad, lol. Read it again, friend.

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22 canxi

July 22, 2015 at 8:04 AM

Lol, the other day I was just grumbling to myself looking at her instagram about why she hasn't picked up a project in such a long time. I was really mad and now this LMAO. Serves me right.

I really love her and Lee Dong Wook both so it'd be great if they accepted. I have no idea what the premise is trying to do with itself but it seems sweet and I imagine if that PD was willing to sign on to it he must see something there that he likes.

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23 alpha

July 22, 2015 at 8:21 AM

Argh. No not her! Can't they choose someone else....

Super pissed because I absolutely love Lee Dong Wook, but that actress is just a bore. I hope she rejects.

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24 dale96

July 22, 2015 at 9:04 AM

Wow, I have been anticipating for them to pair up ever since they hosted the 2012 SBS drama awards. They had so much chemistry in the awards show. I'm so happy right now since there are so many good news these days.

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25 Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan

July 22, 2015 at 9:07 AM

Well, the directing isn't what I hated about Nine. The company that produced SeGa and AGD though, I mean I love love love Kim Eun-sook, but that company will force PPL down our throats for sure. Think Anthony Kim and the Orange Juice in KoD.

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26 bbstl

July 22, 2015 at 9:08 AM

Love her and been missing her! it would be nice if something good could give him a fresh start.

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nomad

July 22, 2015 at 5:32 PM

me too!! I love, love her in History of Salary Man.

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27 juniper

July 22, 2015 at 9:36 AM

I hope they don't spend too much time on the phone, because unnecessary split screens here we come! I do miss JRW but this PD is just plain silly half the time.

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28 AJK

July 22, 2015 at 3:57 PM

I love her thanks to Salaryman, but completely meh on him. And the sketchy plot info doesn't sound all that promising.

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29 whitewire

July 22, 2015 at 11:46 PM

My life has always been ironic. Jung Ryeo-won is at the bottomest pit of my most disliked-hated actresses in Korea, but King of Dramas is the greatest work of art which mankind needs to either watch once or watch a hundred times. King of Dramas is my entire being and my entire fortune. And I can tell that to the world all day everyday.

Speaking of this team-up, I may not like Jung Ryeo-won or Lee Dong-wook, but I think it'll work out. And it is their first cable drama together? Bring it on. I am not soooo in. But I will def give it a try.

(Makes me want to pair Kim Myung-min and Lee Da-hae right now, without any delaying second)

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30 whitewire

July 22, 2015 at 11:48 PM

PS: Baek Yeo-chi in Salaryman is so irritating. My love for Yoobang grew fonder solely b

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31 mari.jeb

July 23, 2015 at 6:59 AM

Yay for this ! :D
I really like these two .. and seeing them together is a bonus for me <3

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32 Cee

July 23, 2015 at 7:10 PM

Premise seems pretty good, it all now depends on how they execute it. The PD is trustworthy though, so I'm going to have a little faith.

The actors are perfect, they'll make a good match. I guess I can say that I'm all on board!

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33 Iloveberry93

July 25, 2015 at 5:09 AM

omigawsh! I miss Jung Ryeo Won!! and my love Dong Wook... Hope he'll get a good drama this year. *sigh

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34 ObessiveCompulsive

August 3, 2015 at 11:45 AM

Glad its on TVN both Jung Ryeo Won and Lee Dong Wook can bring sexy scenes, great news!

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35 Ameli

August 11, 2015 at 12:41 PM

Hope all this team will give us big hit and great story to enjoy. Definatelly I'm in. I'm a big fan of Lee Dong Wook and I really like JRW.

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36 chinenye

September 6, 2015 at 11:00 AM

I hope she takes the drama, she one of the few actresses am partial too.

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