It’s Okay, That Winter writer Noh Hee-kyung wooed by tvN
by javabeans
When can we declare the tvN conquest of dramaland complete? Has it already claimed dominion, or do we have to wait until every major PD and hit writer jumps ship to consider it complete?
‘Cause now we can add Noh Hee-kyung to the list, she of thoughtful insight, complex character development, and subtle melodrama (okay, also sometimes not-so-subtle), from such well-received projects as It’s Okay, It’s Love and That Winter, the Wind Blows and Padam Padam and The World They Live In and Goodbye Solo and More Beautiful Than a Flower.
The project isn’t finalized yet, and there’s very little that we know about it: A CJ E&M rep stated that while nothing has been fixed, both sides are “talking positively” about the move. But even without a concept or a title or a timeslot, it’s big enough news that a writer of Noh’s caliber may be joining the tvN family rather than returning to one of the public broadcasters. She’s not new to cable, and in fact Padam Padam was one of the first successes when the new general-programming cable stations launched in late 2011, allowing JTBC to edge ahead of the pack (Channel A, MBN, TV Chosun). But Noh returned to SBS afterward, giving them her next two dramas.
Although a move to cable often frees a writer or director to experiment creatively (say, going grittier or racier than allowed on broadcast television), I actually don’t think Noh moving to tvN would change the content or quality of her shows; her writing is pretty consistent across the board. The move seems more of a score for tvN, who seems to be every day adding to its stable of talent. Well, I tend to like most of their shows, so keep it comin’, I say.
No word has been given on when or what the drama will be about, but I’ll be keeping an eye out for updates.
Via Ten Asia
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Tags: Dear My Friends, It's Okay It's Love, Noh Hee-kyung, Padam Padam, That Winter the Wind Blows
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1 Sajen
August 23, 2015 at 6:22 PM
I love Noh Hee-kyung. Although honestly to me, both That Winter and It's Okay were disappointments.
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juniper
August 23, 2015 at 6:33 PM
Agreed. This would have been a coup 10 years ago. Now, not so much imo.
Though maybe now that she's free of Kim Gyu-tae, there's a little bit of hope? Sure, she's gone down hill (more like down a mountain, again, imo), but he always ruins everything completely.
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a
August 23, 2015 at 6:47 PM
I really liked IOTL (flaws and all), but That Winter was horrible.
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Emmy
August 23, 2015 at 7:01 PM
I enjoyed watching both at the start, but my interest in the characters slowly fizzled out as both dramas went on. The characters were complex and interesting, but not at all relatable, and I never managed to really root for them.
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somethingZERO
August 24, 2015 at 12:14 AM
Padam Padam was way better than those two dramas combined.
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Fitri Iphiet
August 24, 2015 at 3:09 AM
YUPS! i stopped watching those two dramas, haha.. just not my cup of tea..
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changhyun
August 24, 2015 at 1:08 PM
She's one of the best at starting dramas and building them up (Padam Padam, IOTL, TWTWB) but they all tend to fizzle out around the end.
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2 yujin
August 23, 2015 at 6:37 PM
I beg to differ... i liked Winter the wind blows but treasure Its ok its love. Its my favorite drama of 2014 and every time i tune into thr kickass OST it reminds me of so many poignant moments and dialogue. She writed with alot of heart. .. this is one writer i will def look out for
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readlead
August 24, 2015 at 1:18 AM
yup yup, writer noh have this kind of depth in her writing that I dont find yet in another writer. Her writing maybe is too realistic that many dont/cant enjoy it, but for me, she is definitely a writer that I love not only for watching her drama, but even more for reading her script and her essays.
The detail in her writing is also very fascinated at least to me, and there is always strong massage in her drama. She doesnt follow the trend, always come up with something different that makes her stand out from other writer, though it's not appealing to mainstream viewers.
She gives a classy+deep+realistic+artistic writing that makes her drama is beyond than just an entertaining watch :)
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AJK
August 24, 2015 at 4:18 AM
I loved It's ok as well, except for the sulky teenage girl. That winter would have been tolerable for me with a different female lead I think.
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me
August 24, 2015 at 5:18 AM
shk is perfect in TWTWB
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AJK
August 24, 2015 at 9:57 AM
To each his or her own.
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3 Excitable
August 23, 2015 at 6:41 PM
Well i actually like IOIL, if you turned some brain cells off. I mean if yourself know some good issues about the so-called sickness that they mentioned. Solid acting all around, beautiful OSTs, nice to look at so what's the harm in liking it?
That Winter, The Wind Blows on the other hand. I skimmed and watched. Note to myself, i will never rewatched it ever again.
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4 a
August 23, 2015 at 6:46 PM
I would have liked to see her on jtbc again, but it's still nice to see respected writers moving to cable.
I wonder if Korean tv is going to end up like how American tv is now, where the only worthwhile shows are found on cable.
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5 kanz
August 23, 2015 at 6:50 PM
I love That Winter more than It's Okay.. Not that IOIL lacking, I just can't engage with the story and the characters, TWTWB is more like traditional melo which drawn me more.
Now that Writer Noh joins TvN, can we hope she'll create a drama with much more narrative freedom (and new, fresh subject) than in Big 3??
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6 ty
August 23, 2015 at 7:30 PM
Noh Hee Kyung is a fantastic writer and I love her dialogue, but for some reason I always find an emotional block with her writing and her characters. And she comes off a little.. pretentious, sometimes? Just in my opinion anyways.
Anyways this is a huge score for tvN, and I'm happy to see them gain another star writer under their belts.
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juniper
August 23, 2015 at 8:08 PM
I agree with that criticism in regards to her latest works, but not her earlier stuff. Part of the problem is her material just doesn't support itself, lately--she's more or less sold out, so she's gone from raw human drama to the same trendy mishmash as everyone else's. When her old style shines through in something with stereotypes and tropes out to wazoo, it's just unpalatable. But I do think that the reason the dialogue IOIL, or That Winter, comes off a lot more pretentious than in things like Goodbye Solo, for instance, or More Beautiful Than a Flower, is because of the style in which they're presented actively work against the substance. Kim Gyu-tae is just about the worst partner she could have picked--his whole schtick (extreme close ups, ignoring everything else for too-perfect cinematography) prevents the viewer from building up any kind of intimacy with the characters or the situation, when intimacy is exactly what we need most to access/digest that kind of dialogue. The director of a NHK drama needs to go the extra mile to make her prose relatable, and KGT goes like 50 miles in the opposite direction.
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readlead
August 23, 2015 at 10:35 PM
I find IOTL perfectly fit my taste, as it's my most favorite kdrama up to date, yet after watched some deleted scenes from DVD, I felt a little disappoint because there is some scenes that PD kim should include while it's airing... but nevertheless, IOTL is still one of the best made drama in my opinion or let's say, I just Love that drama to the piece :D
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MisterX
August 24, 2015 at 12:36 PM
The problem is that she's pretty consistent when it comes to choosing bad matches PD-wise (not that it solely depends on her, but still). It's probably because deep down she's quite sensitive and she'd rather spend time "learning" how to adapt to someone than just call it quits after one project citing lack of chemistry.
- Worked with Pyo Min-Soo for over a decade... lots of acclaimed works but you see he's taking the overall impact down a notch every single time. I can't even begin to imagine what someone like Kim Jin-Won (Innocent Man) or Kim Jin-Min could have done with Foolish Love's script in 2000.
- Kim Gyu-Tae, several collaborations, and again very little to write home about. Mostly cases of him lessening the impact of her writing.
For Noh Hee-Kyung to work, she'd need an environment that allows writers with sensibilities that subtle to flourish, and this is not it. Let alone working with soulless corporate sharks like CJ E&M.
Go figure... You give Noh someone who understands her, like Hong Seok-Gu in Red Candy, and see what happens. It all works again, like magic.
But common sense has disappeared from this industry.
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sweetsour
August 23, 2015 at 10:42 PM
I agree, and I also think part of the reason why it feels like there's an emotional block in her writing, even though I like "That Winter the Wind Blows", is that her female characters tend to consistently either be cold and sort of detached, or kind of pretentious and annoying. Either way, I haven't been able to find this writer's heroines relatable, and I wouldn't mind that if the heroine were sympathetic, but her writing and the way the female characters are presented feel detached. I think it could also have to do with the directing, as was mentioned in the other comment. I find her male characters more emotional, than the female characters, which is a bit weird. I hope that for this drama, she will write a warm and lively female character.
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Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
August 23, 2015 at 11:47 PM
I totally agree. I hated Han Ji-min's character in Padam, I found Song Hye-gyo's character in That Winter so dull, and more than a few times I wanted to smash my fist through my screen because of Gong Hyo-jin's character in IOIL.
I hope she never works with the director of That Winter and IOIL ever again. I don't understand why he keeps shoving the camera up their noses.
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sweetsour
August 24, 2015 at 9:56 AM
I too found the h in Padam Padam to be very cold and detached, and it was the reason why I didn't watch more of that show than the first few eps.
I also found the h in "It's Okay That's Love" to be pretentious and annoying, after ep 8 (when the H/h went on vacation, and she kept being incredibly annoying), I dropped that show like a hot potato.
The reason I ended up liking "That Winter the Wind Blows" even though it had similar problems, is that although the h was cold, I attributed her coldness to the fact that she has depression, so I could get past her coldness. Plus she wasn't as cold as the h in Padam Padam. I also like this show, because it was the show were Jo In Sung looked his best, he hasn't looked as good in his other shows. So yes I may be a bit shallow on this aspect, but it helped me to like the show more. Plus his character was protective of the h.
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sweetsour
August 24, 2015 at 9:58 AM
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7 Liza
August 23, 2015 at 7:35 PM
Can she call jo in sung again? I miss him so much
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8 Joey
August 23, 2015 at 7:46 PM
That winter was so boring for me, but I loved IOIL a lot.
I also want JIS again. May be he is too big for tvN?
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9 Lydia
August 23, 2015 at 7:52 PM
I know she is a famous writer. In her previous works, only that winter and IOIL were well - received and solid ratings. Her writing style is emotional and a bit unusual. Because of her, Jo in sung become a my favourite actor.
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10 crazylu
August 23, 2015 at 8:00 PM
She is meh, considering her latest projects. But tvN is definitely doing it's thing.
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11 Mandy
August 23, 2015 at 8:12 PM
I'm really not a fan of No Hee-kyung - IOIL and Winter were just overhyped IMO - but good for tvN that they managed to get her to write something for them. Though really, its not that big a feat considering NHK already wrote Padam Padam for a cable channel arguably smaller and less popular than tvN.
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readlead
August 23, 2015 at 10:48 PM
I can understand you're not fan of writer noh, and though I like winter, I can understand you say that it's overhyped, but how is IOTL overhyped? no high rating, no hype in dramabeans, no hype in soompi, no hype in streaming online site. :(
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12 bbstl
August 23, 2015 at 9:04 PM
I loved both WWI and IOIL so I look forward to a similar character- and dialogue-heavy drama from her on TvN. I hope she brings Hyun Bin.
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ilikehim
August 23, 2015 at 9:17 PM
Not a bad idea since Hyun Bin needs a good (at least, better) drama to fade the residue stink from Hyde Jekylle Me.
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Fitri Iphiet
August 24, 2015 at 3:14 AM
i think, hyunbin's successful came from Kim Sam Soon and Secret Garden only.. i dont remember his other dramas that successful in Korea. his drama with song hae gyo failed. with sung yuri wasnt good too, i mean in rating.
and his latest drama, meh.
but i really hope, he can comeback with a good drama.
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midnightmint
August 24, 2015 at 5:40 AM
Bring hyun bin back,please?
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13 syntaxerror
August 23, 2015 at 9:23 PM
More importantly, this might mean we'll see Jo In-sung on cable tv soon since this writer seems very close with him. True drama domination!
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14 jam
August 23, 2015 at 9:38 PM
i absolutely loved padam padam despite its flaws! good for tvn for scoring her.
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15 gugugu
August 23, 2015 at 9:50 PM
I originally dropped It's Okay after watching the first few eps, but picked it up later and ended up loving it. I hated the first half but the ending got to me. But in my opinion the acting was what really got to me rather than the writing.
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16 iamdeb
August 23, 2015 at 10:03 PM
I know TVN is the "IT" channel these days but honestly most of their shows are either mediocre or somewhat enjoyable but easily forgettable. Only a few are outright bad or exceptionally good but maybe that's enough to set them apart from TV Networks. I've always thought JTBC was better than TVN in general.
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17 canxi
August 23, 2015 at 10:19 PM
That's cool! I'll be looking forward to it. I like her writing a great deal. I think she's thoughtful even when it doesn't always work out, I still enjoy myself.
I think Padam, Padam and Words Within (The World They Live In) are my favorites from her.
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18 readlead
August 23, 2015 at 10:41 PM
after IOTL, then I read her essays, it's official that she is my most favorite kdrama writer alongside Jung Ha Yeon.
Her writing may not fit mayor kdrama viewers, but the fact that many top a-list actors want to act in her drama is a prove that she is absolutely NOT a "meh" writer.
My wish, she and Gong Hyo Jin can reunite again. I love them both and I feel like they're each other style :D Since it would only air next year, then there is chance for GHJ to reunite with her, oh Please God!!! and I would be in heaven if the lead male is Jung Woo Sung ^_^
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19 Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
August 23, 2015 at 11:33 PM
It's Okay It's Love is one of my forever favourites and I'm grateful to this writer for it. I've liked her other shows well enough too even though I didn't finish Padam Padam. I'm curious to see what she comes up with next.
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20 chikaboum14
August 24, 2015 at 12:32 AM
I'm looking forward to her next work. I didn't enjoy Padam Padam and When the wind blows, i don't even remember what the stories were about but It's Okay that's love was very good even with his imperfections, she was able to convey a message about mental disorders, a subject which is rarely adressed in Kdramaland and of course every single actor did a great job so it helped a lot.
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21 fab
August 24, 2015 at 12:54 AM
I for one love her melos! And she actually gives spunk to her female characters, where so many writers can learn from.
If Jo In-sung is available that'd complete the party. ;D
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readlead
August 24, 2015 at 1:29 AM
For me, Ji Hae Soo (IOTL) is still the best written lead female character in any kdrama I've watch. People may say she is unfairly or and poorly written compare to jang jae yeol, but for me, it's one of the most realistic female character. Annoying as hell but inside, she is one of the most amazing woman. JHS is the best example that a woman, no matter how much she is acting to be cool, she still have many insecurities inside her, but then she can be much stronger than a man in the right moment.
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22 Beverly A
August 24, 2015 at 1:44 AM
I still go back to 'Padam Padam' when I want to reconnect to my heart in K-drama.
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Lindy
August 24, 2015 at 7:37 AM
As do I. Padam Padam was one of my first K-dramas. I often found myself weeping because I was so moved, not specifically by what was happening on screen at any particular moment, but by the whole situation between the gruff and embittered mother who is terrified to love her son and the son who has been robbed of a normal life. Great performances and a great show!
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somethingZERO
August 24, 2015 at 8:19 AM
The mother son relationship was the best thing about Padam Padam.
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Lindy
August 24, 2015 at 10:09 AM
I thought the father/daughter relationship of Han Ji-min as Ji-na and her father, Detective Jung, was also well written. The best part about Padam Padam for me was its depiction of the complexities of the parent/child relationship between opposite sex parent and child which can have just as much baggage as same sex parent and child. Not all daughters are "daddy's girls" and not all sons are "momma's boys".
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23 annflln
August 24, 2015 at 2:57 AM
IMO....Padam-padam is her best work so far. IOIL was fine, but TWTWB totally forgettable.
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24 john
August 24, 2015 at 4:57 AM
Dropped It's Okay after 3 or four eps. Some folks have allergic reactions to sageuks, for me, it's medical shows.
Winter, the story was meh, but it sure was pretty.
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25 graey
August 24, 2015 at 5:14 AM
I've only watched IOIL. I really liked the music, the acting was great and I thought the cinematography was fantastic. But I didn't love it as much as I thought I would. I felt like there was something missing. I did love the characters though. And I loved Ji Hae Soo. Maybe it's my love for Gong Hyo Ji? Or maybe it's my affinity for kinda bitchy annoying non-candy characters? Eh. Not sure. Hahaha.
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26 Tripletsnoona
August 24, 2015 at 7:13 AM
To be honest, I've only watched two of her works - TWTWB was not so memorable because apparently tragic melodramas are not my cup of tea though I enjoyed Jo In Sung & the winter scenes, but I LOOOOOVED It's Okay It's Love. Brilliantly written, solidly acted, all packed with beautiful cinematography and soundtracks. One of my favorite dramas so far, if not ever.
Cannot wait for her future works!
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27 kangaroo
August 24, 2015 at 7:44 AM
Love IOIL,
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28 TrinPie
August 24, 2015 at 8:49 AM
I love TvN. They have a lot of shows I'm really loving on them. I like that they are more willing to break away from the tropes and cliches found in a lot of the mainstream channels.
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29 Alessar
August 24, 2015 at 10:37 AM
I would watch the hell out of a show called "It's Okay, that's Winter."
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30 alpha
August 24, 2015 at 10:44 AM
Rolling my eyes at the under-appreciation of IOIL in this website. For me it is one of the best kdramas ever. It left such a deep impact in my heart.
And that winter the wind blows was also nice, but got little tedious at times. Can't wait to see what the writer has in store for us next.
Good luck writer-nim.
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irmar
July 9, 2016 at 9:30 AM
I'm with you here. It's Ok, That's Love is very high on my favourite list of k-dramas, maybe even at the very top. I loved everything in it. The sensitive writing, the message, the amazing actors...
Except for the ridiculous one-year time gap near the end, which was like a tired cliché. Although this time around it made sense (because it allowed him to concentrate on his therapy, and her to do something she had dreamed about for a long time), the fact that it has been used in about half of k-dramas made it look a bit ridiculous.
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31 Pearl~ai88
August 24, 2015 at 1:05 PM
Though the hero was really interesting, It's ok, that's love just rubbed me the wrong way from the get go and I enjoyed TWTWB only in the way that you secretly eat three pieces of cake as a midnight and then feel sick afterwards.
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32 Yna loves JJS
August 28, 2015 at 3:43 AM
IOIL still remains on my top 5 list. I am looking forward to this project hope it pushes through.
Top 5
1. Misaeng
2. IOIL
3. Oh my Ghostess
4. Healer
5. Man from Another Star
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