JTBC's Man to Man holds first table read » Dramabeans Korean drama recaps

52 October 4, 2016

JTBC’s Man to Man holds first table read

by chickachunga

The cast of JTBC’s new drama Man to Man recently gathered for the first table read. Headliners Park Hae-jin (Cheese in the Trap), Park Sung-woong (Remember—Son’s War), and Kim Min-jung (Master of Trade—Inn 2015) were in attendance, as well as supporting cast members Yeon Jung-hoon (Mask), Chae Jung-ahn (Entertainer), Chun Ho-jin (Moonlight Drawn By Clouds), Jang Hyun-sung (Doctors), Lee Shi-un (W—Two Worlds), and Oh Na-Ra (Flower in Prison). An impressive cast, no? Plus, a Song Joong-ki (Descended From the Sun) cameo was announced not too long ago in case anyone needed an extra nudge to tune in.

Written by Kim Won-seok (co-writer of Descended From the Sun) and directed by Lee Chang-min (Remember—Son’s War), Man to Man is the story of a black ops agent named Kim Seol-woo (played by Park Hae-jin) whose job is to protect Park Sung-woong’s stuntman-turned-Hallyu star character named Yeo Woon-kwang as part of a top secret mission. Kim Min-jung plays Cha Do-ha, Yeo Woon-kwang’s number one fan since forever, who’s also the president of his fan club and recently turned manager at his agency. And Yeon Jung-hoon plays Mo Seung-jae, the villainous third-generation chaebol with a hidden ambitious agenda.

I thoroughly enjoyed Descended From the Sun probably more than I should’ve (I’m powerless to the Song Hye-gyo effect), but I wasn’t a fan of the messy direction in Remember—Son’s War which eventually prompted me to discontinue watching. Not sure how this Descended writer-Remember PD pairing will turn out, but I’ll hold out hope because the cast is pretty strong.

Man to Man will be 100 percent preproduced and is expected to air in the first half of 2017. Cameras will roll later this month.

Via Newsen

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1 lazielizard

October 4, 2016 at 10:28 AM

is the title of this drama referring to a sweatshirt??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fR_W_wvRpM

at 4:20 in the video they refer to the konglish word man-to-man..

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2 Flightey Gazelles

October 4, 2016 at 10:35 AM

I'm disturbed by how sexy I find Park Hae Jin with a wrist watch. I don't know, I find people wearing wrist watches sexy, I even liked a Jay-Z pic... and that's saying a lot! Maybe its because wrist watches mysteriously stop working in the next thirty minutes I wear them on my hand. Is it my bone density? Chemical makeup? Constituents? Because I'm a perpetual late comer and should not keep to time? I don't know?!

Any sexy wrist watched Park Hae Jin....then I scroll down and see him in a plain white tee, smiling and stuff.....*heart palpitating widely* Jeez!!

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purpleowl

October 4, 2016 at 10:41 AM

???

Flightey, I love you so much!

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sfgirl

October 4, 2016 at 10:42 AM

LOL..

I dont know if its the wristwatch, but I did like the white tee + smiling pic as well!

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Gidget

October 4, 2016 at 12:03 PM

There isn't a wristwatch in the world that could overcome the distaste I developed for him by his opportunistic choice to pour fuel on the incomprehensibly ridiculous CITT uproar; and willfully damaged another actors career while he hypocritically cast himself as the long-suffering victim. Ugh. Just ugh.

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Aisha

October 4, 2016 at 1:33 PM

We did not follow the same news....
All he did is complain about his lack of screen time, which is perfectly normal given that his filmed scenes was cut. He has every right to voice his opinion.
Oh and he's not accountable for the fact that fans put the blame on Seo KangJun actor.

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michelle

October 4, 2016 at 3:50 PM

??? How is this-- how is that even a possible way to interpret what happened with CITT... this victim blaming lmao...

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eerinmide

October 4, 2016 at 5:20 PM

The worst type of victim blaming I have ever seen! This is why celebs and idols do not come out and expose all the shit that happens to them behind the scenes, because of people like you who will turn the situation around on them and blame them. What happened to PHJ was a shitty thing! He had a right to speak out... because it was a shitty thing! All the people who tried to cover it up in the name of being 'proper' are very shitty people!

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Gidget

October 4, 2016 at 11:30 PM

Unless he negotiated a set amount of screen time in his contract, they had no obligation to give him said screen time.

I know 'victim blaming' is a fashionable concept. But it doesn't apply here. He wasn't a victim.

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cc101

October 5, 2016 at 12:36 AM

There is an amount because he is the Main lead of the show. Plus they used his name to market this show for investors and people to watch. He took time out filming another show so he can do this after they bagged him and seeing how many fans really wanted it. They had a responsibility to show all there was since they wanted him so much and used his star power.

ilovekiwi

October 6, 2016 at 11:55 PM

One of the requirements for him taking the role (as it mentioned in several articles a year before the filming and before the even drama got a channel) was that drama stayed true to the original content. From the articles I read the production team stopped contacting the writer after episode 6 and were ignoring her calls. It was in her contract to have say in how her material was being re-produced, but they completely ignored her. Do you think that behavior is morally or legally right?Do you think it's okay for an actor to film scenes only to be edited and have those same scenes re-filmed by another actor? I'm genuinely curious.

He wasn't the first one to voice his opinions about the situation, it was the webtoon artist and the fan. As for the other actors he has only said good things about them before , during, and after the show. He never once mentioned them in negative manner and his only issue was with the PD. It wasn't about screen-time, but more about the story not staying true to the original material, which he and the webtoon artist were promised. It's an unfortunate situation for all of them, but at the end of the day he isn't responsible for the actions of others and I think their all victims in this mess.

Jean

October 4, 2016 at 4:51 PM

Same!!!! I thought I was the only one haha!! I had to pause and take time to appreciate Park Hae Jin's side profile in plain shirt with that attractive sexy wrist watch *fans self* hahaha ?

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3 purpleowl

October 4, 2016 at 10:39 AM

This is probably the drama I'm looking forward to the most for 2017.

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apluszee

October 5, 2016 at 3:17 AM

My to-see drama list for 2017 is filling up before it is even 2017!

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4 Flightey Gazelles

October 4, 2016 at 11:07 AM

I'm not familiar with Park Song Woong, but he looks adorable in that P-cap!

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chingu

October 4, 2016 at 11:24 AM

He was awesome in Remember! He started out as a lawyer w/ such a flashy wardrobe and attitude. He had a lot of heart, though, so I really loved his character.

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bbstl

October 4, 2016 at 12:03 PM

Oh, that's who he is! I could not recall where I'd seen him. He was great in Remember.

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5 chingu

October 4, 2016 at 11:21 AM

Can't wait to check this out! Love the main guys!
Man, I had to squint and zoom into the pic to recognize Jeon Jung-hoon! He looks much more chubbier than when I last saw him in Mask.
Can't wait to see them all in character!

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6 sim

October 4, 2016 at 11:52 AM

I never get excited for a drama when KMJ is cast as the female lead :(

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hana

October 4, 2016 at 3:00 PM

Same here

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vkook

October 4, 2016 at 6:41 PM

Yes. I was really anticipating this drama before Kim Min-jung was casted. Now i'm unsure whether to watch this or not. There's just something with her that's off to me. No offense to anyone who likes her, though.

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azzo

October 4, 2016 at 9:18 PM

I never watched any of her works so I don't know what to expect from her but no one gets me as excited for a drama like Park Hae jin so watching this gonna make it my first KMJ drama!

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7 blo

October 4, 2016 at 11:57 AM

Oh please be good. You have such a great cast. Not sure how I feel about the writer/PD, but I'm almost always willing to let the past stay in the past. Now. How often will Yeon Jung-hoon have to glare in this one?

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Van

October 4, 2016 at 12:52 PM

Lawl, he's so good at that! Aha. I think I even read somewhere once that one of the things he doesn't like about playing evil characters is that his face hurts a lot from so much glaring. ???

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blo

October 4, 2016 at 5:38 PM

Indeed, he is good at it. I remember his face hurting being mentioned in one of the podcasts. I laughed out loud in the middle of work. I won't mind it if he glares all the time in this one.

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chingu

October 4, 2016 at 6:14 PM

A db podcast? Ah, that must've been it. Ahaha, since he's so good at it, I wouldn't mind more glaring from him either. Bring on the smolder!

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juniper

October 4, 2016 at 1:08 PM

If the Descended From the Sun association is making you nervous about the writer by any chance, Kim Won-seok has a pretty good track record without Kim Eun-sook. He did The Queen's Classroom and collaborated with Kwak Kyung-taek on Friend, Our Legend, both of which had very solid scripts.

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blo

October 4, 2016 at 5:34 PM

Thanks! I did not know that. Have not watched either of those two dramas. I feel a lot better now. Of course, no offense to those who liked DotS. Just personal taste.

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juniper

October 4, 2016 at 8:48 PM

That's good :) I think his job for DotS was mostly trying to give Kim Eun-sook a more credible backdrop while she did her usual thing, but no one tells KES what to do with the ratings she gets lol.

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8 Lea

October 4, 2016 at 11:59 AM

His haircut is giving me major flashbacks to Bad Guys. I was half expecting to see Ma Dong-Soek pop up in my screen. I will look forward to this with cautious optimism. Simply because of the fact that I've learned to be so through some bad experience with dramas with too much buzz and little content this year. Fingers crossed, we get a quality drama, we certainly have an experienced and skilled bunch of actors here.

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chingu

October 4, 2016 at 12:57 PM

Yeah? I think it's kinda awkwardly short... his bangs and overall hair length was a bit longer in Bad Guys and Cheese, so this is something to get used to. He's still good looking in other angles, though. Hehe. Um, I really hope he gels it up, though! That'd be great.

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michelle

October 4, 2016 at 3:52 PM

Oh god I'm still waiting for a Bad Guys season 2. I loved it sooooo f much.

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9 fab

October 4, 2016 at 12:42 PM

I thoroughly enjoyed Descended From the Sun probably more than I should’ve (I’m powerless to the Song Hye-gyo effect), but I wasn’t a fan of the messy direction in Remember—Son’s War which eventually prompted me to discontinue watching. Exactly the same sentiment! Trying to stay optimistic for the cast. pleasebegood. And at least this is pre produced, they won't work themselves to death for a flop.

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10 Lin

October 4, 2016 at 12:45 PM

Park Hae Jin has left a spoiled taste in my mouth ever since the whole Cheese in the Trap mess (I defended him/supported then it started to be suspect that he's the only one who came out smelling of roses and like his shit don't stink. He was shady af and could have handled the whole thing better and it irks that his fans and many a netziens will tear down KGE but utter not one word of the shady interviews he gave) but my favorite ahjussi oppa Park Sung Woong is here and also Yeon Jung Hoon (I am never getting a VP:3 am I?). The rest of the supporting cast is pretty solid and JTBC has yet to fail me so I will tune in.

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roake

October 4, 2016 at 3:45 PM

I have the opposite sentiment. I was partial to KGE before the whole CIIT fiasco. I just find it incomprehensible to redo scenes that would have explained the story better. This post production editing ruined a beloved story.

Calling him "shady af" because netizens didn't turn on him as much is a bit much. You are welcome to your opinion of course, I'm just expressing mine.

I do not hate any actor because of CIIT, let's not judge people so harshly. The actions of rabid fans is not a reason to hate an actor, just spread love instead of hate so our positivism can drown out those crazy fans.

I would prefer to keep dramabeans a place to lift others up.

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lina

October 4, 2016 at 3:56 PM

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rubytuesday

October 4, 2016 at 6:55 PM

The CiTT aftermath is so irritating to me. Obviously there were major issues behind the scenes of that drama, but to blame the actors? Do people seriously think that the actors have such a major sway on a production that they can literally PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH SCENES GET AIRED? They are actors! They act! That is their job!
Sorry for the rant, but I love all of 'em, and I hate that Kim Go Eun and Seo Kang Joon got so much hate for something that was very likely completely out of their control. Hell, did Kim Go Eun even benefit in the drama from the changes that occurred in the drama?

And I get why some people feel a tad suspicious of Park Hae Jin, considering how much the public supported him. But that isn't in his control either. He was mistreated and disrespected... he deserves a little sympathy.

But seriously- the people that should have had the complete blame for the whole fiasco are the people RUNNING the show, NOT the people IN the show.

*sigh* I need to go lie down. ヾ(￣0￣ )ノ

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Sinta

October 4, 2016 at 9:01 PM

Kim go eun got hate not because o the drama, she got hate because of her interview. She said something that implicitly put down park hae jin.

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poliwag

October 4, 2016 at 11:56 PM

Meanwhile, Park Haejin who OPENLY bashed his co-stars without being 'implicit' never caught any hands because he was a victim. All the actors were caught up in this scandal, don't act like Kim Goeun ''''''''implicitly'''''''' put him down when it was simply because she didn't support him.

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gem28

October 5, 2016 at 4:26 AM

Kim Go Eun's indirectly put the blame on him for taking focus away from her drama. I respect her opinion but she did it knowing full well that it might backfire so lets not make excuses for her. What followed was another post that was targeted at the netizens supporting PHJ. As for Park Hae Jin, he reacted to what he felt like was unfair treatment to his hard work, it could've backfired but he took the chance. Controlling public sentiment is beyond his or her abilities. I don't know what exactly went down behind the closed doors but I don't blame the actors for it. The production, the station along with the editors made some very questionable choices and would have gotten away with that if he had not spoken out.

starlightvtn

October 5, 2016 at 9:57 AM

Excuse me, i have never ever known Park Hae Jin has an interview in which he says about his co-stars in CITT Drama. Not once!

While on other hand, we all have read Kim Go Eun's interview and has our own interpretation of what she wants to deliver.

Do not make things up and blame Park Hae Jin for what he is obviously not doing!!!!

Krys11

October 6, 2016 at 12:11 AM

Please show me that interview where PHJ said anything bad about his co-stars. There was NONE!!! Nothing at all!! He always praise his co-stars and said he get along well with them and they are great etc. It was the PD that he express his problems. He have a problem with the PD not the actor or actresses of the show. Do not spread false information because what you are doing is libel and defamation.

Lastly even PHJ even said that despite his issues with the PD and not liking he style, he said the CITT cast and staff was his favorite among all he have work with. He proves this by hiring the staff of CITT to be the one with him on hif CF filming. He gave them extra work and money to earn.

11 Miky

October 4, 2016 at 1:10 PM

The cast looks fantastic,i'm anticipating this drama soooo much,now i only hope the script will deliver because i know the actors will

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12 hana

October 4, 2016 at 3:02 PM

I'm not a big fan of the main leading actress, but then again I didn't finished watching Descedents of the Sun either. Smooth filming to the crew and cast.

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13 michelle

October 4, 2016 at 3:55 PM

Not the most interesting premise imo? but Park Haejin and Park Sungwoong pique my interest u__u Kim Minjung I'm ambivalent about, but I like most of the supporting cast! GL to the crew and cast!

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14 rosaline

October 4, 2016 at 4:38 PM

most dramas for me nowadays have 'nearly' a good cast and then it's either the male/female lead that just makes me pass it up. this time it's the female lead...

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15 azzo

October 4, 2016 at 9:12 PM

I screamed, I literally screamed YAY and loud at work because I saw Park Hae Jin on my screen. Can't wait to see him in a drama again. So looking forward to this!

And yes, let's not play the blame game here, it just gets tiring!

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16 Flightey Gazelles

October 5, 2016 at 2:13 AM

Oh dear! I posted a simple lighthearted comment in appreciation of all the peeps who are reping the wristwatch association because I can't wear them but then I come back and see that the thread has descended into bashing...Anwae!!!
I'm currently rewatching CITT( because I'm a masochistic) and Its getting me excited about this one ( cautiously lol).
The production team of CITT really f*cked up big time and should change their weed supplier.
Everything was perfect, all the performances believable and I have nothing but goodwill for ALL the cast including the villains( so good).

Here's to hopping another drama like it comes and captures our feelings the way it did...and ENDS WELL!! Ex CITT members, fighting! Cheers to all!

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17 Makoto

October 5, 2016 at 2:25 AM

What a moodbooster. I'm literally crying reading this news. After all the tiring work and bad luck I've undergone today, reading this has lifted up my mood. Call me shallow but I love Park Hae Jin no matter what. I erase CitT completely out of my mind and think only his best performances both in Bad Guys and My Daughter, Seo Young. That's it.

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18 hanie

October 5, 2016 at 3:00 AM

What's with some of the comments really?

wow... this drama has stellar casts which makes me a bit more interested than I should. And very nervous. Please be good all the way to the end, that is all. Not amazing or epic or spectacular, just good. I still has flashback about you-know-what-I'm-talking-about sometimes and I hope man to man and goblin will help me fully recovers.
While we at it, any news on Bad Guys Season 2?

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19 YY

October 6, 2016 at 2:26 AM

Can you imagine PHJ doing a sageuk? If he were in Scarlet Heart he could play Wook I think...he's got those cold eyes...

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Flightey Gazelles

October 6, 2016 at 1:30 PM

If he was Wook, do you think there'd have been Second-Lead-Syndrome the way there was? I'm partial to Park Hae Jin but if he was Wook, the relationship would have been a lot more darker than it already was. Can you imaging him saying "I'll win you back" with a dark expression?We'd be wondering if they'd even find Hae Soo's body after the murder lol!

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Man to Man