News bites: September 3, 2016

72 September 3, 2016April 6, 2017

by awcoconuts

Yoo Inna, Lee Hong-ki

She had been in the midst of filming final scenes for Love Through a Millennium 2, Rendezvous Under Moonlight (billed as the Chinese remake of Queen Inhyun’s Man), but Yoo Inna has suddenly stepped down from the 28-episode show. Upon her return to Korea, official reports surfaced in China that Yoo was being replaced by Taiwanese actress Puff Kuo, leading the public to speculate that Yoo might be an unfortunate victim of souring Chinese and South Korean relations. Fortunately, she returns to dramaland soon in Goblin. [Joongang]
Lee Hong-ki (Modern Farmer) recently made his stage debut in Those Days, a musical set at the Blue House (Korea’s presidential abode). A mysterious event impacted the secret service staff in 1992 and is being investigated 20 years later. Yoo Joon-sang (Pied Piper) also performs, and Those Days recently launched its run at Chungmu Art Center’s Grand Theater and will continue until November 3. [MBN]

Jo Boa, Nana

Jo Boa has been diagnosed with encephalomeningitis, a type of disease that causes inflammation of the tissues around the brain and spinal cord, and has been admitted to the hospital. It’s the same illness that Hyeri suffered from earlier in the year, and here’s hoping Jo recovers fully and quickly. As a result of her hospital stay, her filming schedule for Monster will need to be adjusted. [Star News]
After School’s Nana is being courted for Conman, which would reunite her with Good Wife castmate Yoo Ji-tae. In the upcoming film, Yoo’s an elite prosecutor who will join forces with a swindler (Hyun Bin) who only cons other crooks. Filming will begin before the end of the year. [Herald, Joongang]

Ji Il-joo, Jang Young-nam

Two more have been added to the cast of Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju: Ji Il-joo (Age of Youth, Jackpot) will play a guy with a positive, sunny attitude and Jang Young-nam (Glamorous Temptation) will play the refreshing “tiger coach” of the weightlifting team. The show will air on Wednesdays and Thursdays on MBC beginning in November. [Osen, Xports News]
The cast is all for a second season for Age of Youth, although Han Ye-ri (who played Jin-myung) admits that the director has made no mention of a season two. Han said at a recent post-finale interview, “The actors all discussed and if a second season happens, we’d love to get the same cast together. No matter how busy we get, we made a promise to each other that we’d do it.” [TV Report]

Jo Jae-hyun, Chae Soo-bin

Blackbird is returning to the domestic stage in October — it premiered in Korea eight years ago, but has not been back since. A Broadway version starring Jeff Daniels and Michelle Williams earlier this year consistently filled seats and met with critical acclaim, and an American film remake titled Una (starring Rooney Mara) just premiered at the Telluride Film Festival. In the upcoming Korean stage revival, Jo Jae-hyun (Master — God of Noodles) is a man who was convicted of statutory rape and who serves 15 years in prison. Upon his release, he changes his name to Ray, finds a new job and is eager to start life anew, but he’ll cross paths with Una again. Chae Soo-bin (Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, Sassy Go Go) and Ok Jae-yeon have been double-cast as Una, a woman in her 20s who has lived a challenging life since her love affair with Ray at the age of 12. The unsettling story about a middle-aged man’s forbidden relationship with a young girl runs from October 13 to November 13 at DCF Daemyung Culture Factory in the Vivaldi Park Hall. [Xports News]

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1 Myka

September 3, 2016 at 3:09 AM

Yes to Age of Youth Season 2!

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The other Kiara

September 3, 2016 at 4:58 AM

I hope writer Park is on board. She is main reason why AOY was so good.

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Sera The Ms Temper

September 3, 2016 at 8:45 AM

Agreed. Basically her writing is the key point. I give my support for season provide with same writer & casts.

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bd5

September 4, 2016 at 11:46 PM

Well, that's one hurdle gone for a 2nd season of AoY - the other is Park Yeon-seon wanting to do a 2nd season (and the timetable).

Figure jtbc would be on board since AoY turned in strong ratings for them and a 2nd season would probably improve upon that.

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2 neener

September 3, 2016 at 3:17 AM

We need to see more of the girls! And let those ships sail smoothly ? I'm looking at you Sung-min and Ji-won and Yi-Na and her Gigolo friend.

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3 bubbles

September 3, 2016 at 3:25 AM

Second season Age of Youth? Yes please!

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yeah the Chinese $ is a big temptation but it is also a chancy thing as they can turn sour at a drop of a hat for no reason you can do anything about as an actress, and never..never say a word bad about china or they never forget it..lol I am a bit surprised though that Yoo Inna even agreed to do it after all it is something she already done before, it would be like Jang Nara doing the Chinese remake of baby faced beauty 'Love by Design', so I am guessing she did so to try and enter the Chinese market, sad for her to get caught up in the back lash of something she could not do anything about.

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pigsnout

September 3, 2016 at 4:25 AM

At least I hope she got paid for the work she did.

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windsun33

September 3, 2016 at 6:34 AM

There are actually two Chinas - the one run by the government - the Chinese Communist Party and all it's affiliates and state run media, and the rest of the country. There is a reason why China has something like 800,000 internet and media censors.

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5 ET

September 3, 2016 at 3:59 AM

Why am I crying with happiness just knowing that AOY girls would drop everything to do Season 2?

I am not the sort who would check out BTS so I have no idea how well the girls get along behind the scenes.

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6 pigsnout

September 3, 2016 at 4:20 AM

Jo Bo Ah actually got diagnosed with meningitis first but still her company made her go back to the Monster set to film. They only let her be admitted to hospital after her state became worse.

It's disgusting how greedy production companies are, this poor girl has an illness that can be fatal and still they forced her back to the drama set... and she is not even the female lead! But because she became a fan favourite in the drama even ahead of the heroine, they got greedy and risked her life.

I hope she recovers well, she should get lead roles after this.

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kaybee

September 3, 2016 at 6:02 AM

Korean entertainment agencies seem to care nothing about the health of their actors and singers. It's way too often you hear stories like that, even the fact that pretty much all actors/singers has been to the hospital at some point due to exhaustion is too much. I wish some laws would be put in place that ensured them better working conditions. Do South Korea not have any unions or guilds?

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Gidget

September 3, 2016 at 8:30 AM

Ugh...not unions. They turn every industry they touch to complete rubbish.

IMO the best way to leverage influence over entertainment companies is through public opinion. Where are their friends, parents and families? Wouldn't strategically placed online comments incite public pressure?

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kaybee

September 3, 2016 at 8:49 AM

That depends on how they're organized, the laws surrounding them etc. My country has great working conditions due to changes brought on by the unions decades ago and pretty much all kinds of workers have one.

Asian countries (from what I've seen so far) seem to have much higher expectations when it comes to work and studying, hence that is probably why none of their relatives etc complain. It's normal to wear yourself out working, for high schoolers and college students to study 24/7 way into the night and the like. The only way I can imagine that kind of method will work is if the hallyu wave becomes even bigger and the issue is brought up internationally and sactioned/boycotted or something. Or if Asian work ethics change. Of course, I may be completely wrong, it's just my observations.

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