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Character info revealed for Park Hae-jin’s “ghost agent” in Man to Man

So far, we know that JTBC’s Man to Man features two (possibly three) recent hitmakers of television, with Park Hae-jin (Cheese in the Trap) teaming with Descended From the Sun co-writer Kim Won-seok, and Oh Hae-young Again director Song Hyun-wook a likely addition. And we know that Park Hae-jin will be playing a bodyguard of some sort. The folks at production company Drama House have now released a fuller description for the main characters, to sate at least a bit of our curiosity over the show and its direction.

In Man to Man, Park Hae-jin plays Kim Seol-woo, a bodyguard to a top star who’s actually also a mysterious “ghost agent” with the national intelligence service. The ghost part refers to the black ops nature of his job (and not, say, literally a ghost — hey, it’s been a paranormal era in dramaland, and you can never be too careful when interpreting descriptions!), and even inside the agency, only the highest officers know of his existence.

Kim Seol-woo has outstanding skills, the ability to carry out operations without leaving any traces, and a perfect poker face (so, spot-on casting with Park); he puts those talents to good use in maintaining a 100 percent mission success rate. It’s his latest mission that sets him up as a Hallyu star’s bodyguard, and in the process he encounters the gravest danger of his career to date. Writer Kim, who’s currently deep in the scriptwriting process, explained that Park Hae-jin will demonstrate a “new type of spy” through the character and his thousand faces, seen in a diverse set of undercover roles.

As the other man of the title, we have Hallyu superstar Yeo Woon-gwang, whose massive popularity extends overseas and has earned him the love of the entire nation, although he harbors some kind of hidden personal background story. The producers explained that the title is meant to evoke not “Man vs. Man” but more “Man x Man,” which I translate here for you all to figure out because what does that even mean? (And if it’s supposed to mean something, why can’t it mean “Man to Man,” since that’s what it says? Oh, drama titles, you’ll always be a mystery.)

In any case, the producers stated that the drama will not be like the typical kind of action drama where the two men face off in a showdown, or a romance melodrama where two men fight over a woman in a love triangle. Instead, it’ll take “a wholly different format.” Not that I think dramas have to reinvent the wheel, but actively pursuing a fresh new angle can’t be a bad thing. I know it’s definitely got my attention..

Man to Man will be entirely pre-produced, and plans to air on JTBC early next year.

Via Ten Asia

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So "Man Square"? Are they gonna teach us maths now? From watching kdramas I have already learnt about 15 + alpha. Can't wait to learn more :P

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Oh gosh ! I remember the term 15+alpha and I remember holding my sides laughing at that time but I can't remember the context!

Enlighten me, please ?

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I Remember You.

When Lee Hyun was explaining to Cha Ji An how much he liked her, after he told the detectives how much he liked them...

lol

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Ah! Now I remember!

Thanks !

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So it's basically a mix of "Myung Wol the Spy" and "Boku to Star no 99 Nichi".

I'm just happy to see PHJ on my screen again.

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Actors who formerly played spies/bodyguards should put in cameos for the laugh factor.

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I second this.

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This is a great idea!

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YAS. At the very least Claudia Kim and Ji Chang-Wook should cameo!

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Add Jung Kyung-ho's Doctor's Son in Cruel City to the list and I'm all good.

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Man x Man... it sounds like Beautiful Gong-shim minus Gong-shim plus more spy-action-thingies.

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That sounds like the perfect scenario to me. Bromance is such a beautiful thing when done right!

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Is it just me that gets a tinge of mixed feeling when i see Seol in his name?
I miss CITT T.T.
I mean the good parts. And minus the baek brats

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Complain as we will (and I have done so X 100) about the weaker episodes in Cheese, it is still head and shoulders above everything I've seen since. Think of Episode 1 of Cheese as compared to Ep 1 of Uncontrollably Fond, for instance. I like the second one okay, but Cheese just had a fun, quirky spirit like no other.

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I agree. Cheese in the trap was a well made drama atleast definitely uptill 8 episodes. I think the first episode was the best. I wanted more creepy jung.

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So, who's the hallyu star?

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I also wonder who is that person will be? Is that person is a male or female? Or maybe they should get a rookie actor just for the gag. A rookie actor act as a Hallyu star.

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And go with a really "big" character. Think Cha Seung-won in Best Love. :D

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I vote Jung Kyung-ho...I love this guy, he played a celebrity in I'm Sorry I love You and he rocked the part. But he's so charismatic, he wouldn't be able to play supporting actor, they'd be equals.

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Good choice ! I think they'd be a perfect match ! Jkh can be amazing in both serious and comedic scenes. Maybe the roles are meant to be equal.

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Jung Kyung Ho would be epic.

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A rookie who can act well in both universes? A rookie who can't act at all (super meta)? Or a rookie who can act well but not withi the dramaverse?

If we're going rookie that can act all 1 or 3, Ryu Joon Yeol? If he's not to big to share the limelight.

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Exactly, they need a guy with charisma yet with acting skills and who is definitely not afraid to play second to him. I am loss here. The guy I desperately want probably won't make the cut for is lack of popularity and probably deserves the lead based on acting skills. Kim Mu Yeol, where are thou??

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At this point I'm thinking PHJ plays both roles.

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Now I would actually love to see that! I can imagine it in my head already and it would be hilarious! Even better, Park Haejin plays ALL OF THE CHARACTERS down to random customer #2 at Subway.

I mean, there must be a reason why he's the only one who's been cast for months and there's no sign that they are trying to cast anyone else.

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That's the best idea ever - he could play the love interest too, he's so pretty he'd totally nail the role.

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Park Haejin looking "lovingly* to someone off camera. The music soars, a single tear running down his cheek. Cuts to a reverse-shot of "other" Park Haejin looking back just as passionately. The music reaches its crescendo. Cherry blossoms fall. Wide angle long shot of the two lovers looking at each other; the world around them in slow motion. Man to Man.

I'd watch it.

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Would they change the working title to Another Park Hae Jin?

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Wig or chic short hair?

Omo, heels or cogs? Designer pants or mini skirts/dresses? ???

I can go on all day

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I meant clogs. But cogs work too.

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Y'all are cracking me up.

@Am and all the people in slow mo are clearly PHJ

@I'm in it for the sound track - first, I love you're name. Been wanting to tell you that. Also, if I pass out from laughing, it was your comment that pushed me over the edge ???*dead*

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Pffff...and the title would be 50 Shades of Park Hae-jin? Actually since this will be entirely pre-produced it could totally work. What's he doing now, can he start shooting right away? It's just mid-July and they would have enough time for post production as well. Ha.

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50 Shades of PHJ? ?

Now I just want each character to have a main color theme, a lá Powerpuff Girls, Wiggles, etc. We won't know who is who otherwise. Duh.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ColorCodedCharacters

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I just wanted you to know the Subway comment was noted and appreciated.

But yeah, it seems like they aren't even trying to cast anyone else.

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Seriously though! When I saw Ghost in the title,I started to wonder if there really was a Hallyu star. Or if PHJ's character had an imaginary friend, had long term hallucinations, or was schizophrenic.

Yoy know what? Handled right those would be educational and entertaining.

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Everything is looking great! Love Park Hae Jin, but I need to know who is co-star will be. Who is the other half of our multiplication problem???

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If they are going to make something new, I hope they make it man x man in the literal sense, I'd definitely watch that haha >:D imagine, undercover agent falls for hallyu superstar.

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Would that do that in a Kdrama? Nah. It sounds like a buddy movie to me.

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I CANNOT WAIT.

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This sounds interesting!
Seems like there will be bromance, with some angst since the top hallyu star won't know about the bodyguard's "ghost agent" alter-ego, making it ripe for misunderstandings and feelings of betrayal... Throw in some action sequences and mystery too.
Curious who is going to be the other lead but I'm pretty sold on at least checking this out.

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Maybe it's man "cancels" man. ?

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A drama about the invention of the wheel, now that's something new.
So far this year JTBC has been airing quality dramas, please take care of PHJ too!

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Finally .. a news about this series!
Then again, it doesn't reveal much of the story *lol*. Oh well, another long wait ...

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Awww yeah!

This is all sorts of mysterious and edge-of-your-seat excitement already.

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This is first pre-produced drama of jTBC?
So this is a thriller drama. I really hate dramas that told that something "new" and "different" but finally, stills old.

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There's so much mystery surrounding the other Man...maybe they'll settle for a woman playing a man instead? The woman disguises herself as a man and becomes a famous star, but the bodyguard uncovers her secret. I know, I just want to see a romance that bad....

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I love a good cross-dressing story but I would be kinda annoyed if they didn't share that until the drama. Because it was advertised as a bromance.

Then again, they've always let us the audience know so it would be revolutionary for us to be surprised. It would have to be a rookie though and very secretive. That reveal would be epic. Maybe next drama.

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This sounds like it could be interesting. It would be awesome to have a romance between the 2 leads, but I know that wont happen. I really wish kdramas touched more on gay relationships that weren't just used as comedy. But knowing the show wont touch that subject it still sounds interesting and like it could be thrilling. Hopefully they cast someone who will compliment PHJ and can match him in acting chops.

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That was my first thought. I'd love to see well acted gay drama. There's "Life is Beautiful", but that was such a long time ago. It sounds like an interesting drama nonetheless.

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You could check out Hyena if you're looking for more examples. It's about a group of ahjussi and their dating lives, and one of them happens to be gay. AM 97 also has a gay character, but it's more about longing and unrequited love than an actual relationship.

Unfortunately, Korean TV still seems to be at the stage where unproblematic portrayals of gay characters are political--it's about inclusion, and convincing the audience that gay people are human beings like them--so the day when there can be gay leads worrying about other problems, beyond their own gayness and reassuring uncomfortable straight people, is a long way off imo. Don't get me wrong, coming to terms with your own sexuality can make for a great story (as long as it's not preachy and forced), but the day the Korean Almodóvar blows into town pigs will fly.

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I wish it was something like Mirage of blaze....

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Since JTBC also had Secret Love Affair if there will ever be a serious gay drama in SK I'm certain they'll be the one airing it. The question is just when...I hope I'm still alive then. XD

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It's jtbc so I trust them to be different.

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Man x Man= 2Men??? Well, im gonna call it 'Man Ditto' then!! Idk about you but the "x" between names normally implies a couple... that would explain the mystery around these men and would make an interesting watch tbh!

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Am I the only one who was more exited by the news that OHYA director is picking up a new project!!!???The drama will be a mix of comedy and romance with a touch of melo....
This will be an explosive combination of write+director+actor... Cant wait for it....

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