Yeo Jin-gu courted to join Kim Kang-woo in sci-fi mystery Circle
by javabeans
Yeo Jin-gu
Ah, tvN’s sci-fi mystery project Circle just got more interesting, with a leading role going out to Yeo Jin-gu (Jackpot) for what would be his first (technically) adult role; he’s been transitioning out of child roles for a while, but actually turns twenty this year. The drama recently put out an offer to Kim Kang-woo (Goodbye, Mr. Black) for the other lead role; Kim is still considering, while a third actor, Kwon Hyuk-soo (Missing 9), has been confirmed for a supporting role.
I’m still trying to figure out exactly what Circle will look like, but I’m intrigued by its premise and its attempt at a new storytelling format, set in both present-day Korea and in 2037 with aliens arriving on Earth. It’s believed that the future of mankind depends on controlling and regulating people’s emotions, and humans learn new skills from the aliens and also take advantage of them; what ensues is a story of alliance, resistance, and love. One episode will contain two shorter stories, the first part set in 2017 and called “Beta Project,” with the second set in 2037 and called “Grand New World.”
Yeo Jin-gu has been offered the role of a character named Woo-jin who is a university student in the 2017 portion of the drama, while Kim Kang-woo’s would-be character is a violent-crimes detective in the 2037 part. And while the description mostly sounds mysterious and serious, Kwon Hyuk-soo’s character is described as providing the comic element as an energetic, impassioned detective in 2037. That’s spot-on casting, because while he can be more serious, I know him mostly as that goofy guy from SNL Korea, who’s always up for a funny face or a laugh.
As for the new format, I’m all for it; when parallel storytelling is done well, it can make for a satisfyingly mind-bending story. Also, tvN has experience in this realm, demonstrating this dual-plot concept in a few different ways, with shows like Queen In-hyun’s Man, Nine, Signal, and Tomorrow With You.
The writers of Six Flying Dragons and Tree With Deep Roots, Kim Young-hyun and Park Sang-yeon, are the creators of Circle, while a team of four writers will pen scripts: Kim Jin-hee (Alice in Cheongdam-dong), Ryu Moon-sang (Drama Festival’s Escaping Slavery), Park Eun-mi (Drama Festival’s Haneuljae’s Murder), and Yoo Hye-mi.
There’s been some talk of Circle taking up the late-night weekend timeslot on tvN, although as of now it is currently unscheduled.
Kwon Hyuk-soo
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Tags: Circle, Kim Kang-woo, Kwon Hyuk-soo, Yeo Jin-gu
Interview with Kim Yoo-jung
Hello Dramabeans series
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1 drawde2000
February 23, 2017 at 3:11 AM
So where do I sign up?
This keeps getting better and better.
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Magenta
February 23, 2017 at 8:52 AM
He can do Sageuks with his eyes closed, y'know. Since he is not that active maybe he should just go the army like what Yoo Seung Ho did. 2 years is like a month here, he won't be missed much and then when he comes back just like Yoo Seung Ho, he can do dramas left and right.
Only idols have a hard time going to the army coz you have to be fresh and hip and make hay while you still have your youth, what with all the dancing and the crazy schedule, diet, surgeries and stuff.
Time is nothing to a truly talented actor, I believe Yeo Jin-gu is one.
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Kiara
February 23, 2017 at 3:18 PM
He is actually active. He was just done filming his sageuk movie "Daerib Forces" (with Lee Jung-jae and Kim Moo-yul <3 ) last month. They started about a month or two after Jackpot.
I like it that he goes back and forth between Dramaland and Chungmuro.
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weaselking
February 23, 2017 at 5:31 PM
Yup, and he had some low-key projects too, like that documentary he did with tvN and TOMS where he went to Vietnam.
On the other hand, I would like it if he could have a project where he could fully establish himself first, he did say he would like to do lots of roles about youth (or around his age) before he gets older, so he looks like he's gonna take his time anyway. :D
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2 sooyi
February 23, 2017 at 3:24 AM
Yay for Yeo Jin-goo! I liked his performance in Monster Boy Hwayi but sadly Jackpot did not enable him to show his capabilities as an adult actor. When I saw the article, I thought he was going to feature in the future timeline but I don't care that he was offered a role for the portion set in the present.
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sooyi
February 23, 2017 at 3:25 AM
I mean he is equally good for both segments.
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Kiara
February 23, 2017 at 3:45 AM
He was still fantastic in Jackpot. A testiment to his capabilities as an actor. Great performance despite the messy script.
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weaselking
February 23, 2017 at 4:07 AM
I was actually very impressed with him in Daebak. He was able to show his character develop from an inexperienced prince to a king who has an entire country on his shoulders.
The way he changed his acting from Prince Yeoning to King Yeongjo... it was awesome for me. I really felt his growth into the character, also the way he showed restraint in his acting but still being able to convey what he wanted to express at the same time.. ;; - ;;
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blueribbon
February 23, 2017 at 11:36 AM
His role in monster boy is what put him in my radar, unfortunately the dramas he has been in really didn't caught my attention and I dropped them in the beginning. So I am really excited for this and I cross my fingers and toes hoping it is a good one. :)
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3 Martin J Simwaba
February 23, 2017 at 3:33 AM
I'm really getting eager by the day
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4 Sera The Ms Temper
February 23, 2017 at 3:38 AM
OK hopefully this will be good show, for the sake of both Kim Kang Woo and Yeo Jin Gu. Crossing my fingers that the female leads will be the aliens. lol.
Anyway, i am waiting for the news about Moon Chae Won who has been offered role for Criminal Minds K-version, together with Lee Jun Ki. ?
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Peppa
February 23, 2017 at 4:20 AM
Waiting for that news too and that other news regarding Nam joo hyuk and others confirmed for bride of the water god 2017.
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Grapes
February 23, 2017 at 5:24 AM
Waiting for that too
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5 Kiara
February 23, 2017 at 3:39 AM
YES! I missed him but it's great that he's been able to take a break from dramas and do a full movie.
Now I have to watch this.
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6 weaselking
February 23, 2017 at 3:53 AM
I hope this casting gets finalized real soon! I'm getting very excited at the premise, it sounds tricky but I hope they really pull this off!
Jingoo has been saying he wants to take student roles so Woojin seems to suit him perfectly!
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Kiara
February 23, 2017 at 5:29 AM
A college student Yay!
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weaselking
February 23, 2017 at 5:49 AM
I'm happy he's been recently doing roles just right for his age. His age in Potato Star was just too much of a stretch. He's a college student now too so this role is even more perfect!
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Sera The Ms Temper
February 23, 2017 at 7:11 AM
University student is a lot better than high school student. I still feel a bit better on the fact Kim Go Eun played high school in Goblin. It will be great if she played college student.
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7 rentenmann
February 23, 2017 at 4:15 AM
YAY! I was just lamenting last week how much missed seeing this young man's skills. If he accepts, please be good, writer-nim & director-nim!
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8 Flightey Gazelles
February 23, 2017 at 4:16 AM
Him, Yoo Sang Ho and Kang Hanuel have this mature auras about them that even if they play boyish characters, there's this underlying world wariness in their eyes.
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Gumiho
February 23, 2017 at 11:43 AM
It's funny how ysh and yjg voices are that deep and mature..
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9 kanz
February 23, 2017 at 4:17 AM
Oh I really like this casting! Yeo Jin Goo usually picks interesting project.
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10 kanz
February 23, 2017 at 4:20 AM
Oh I really like this casting!
Yeo Jin Goo usually picks interesting project.
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11 jasmin
February 23, 2017 at 4:53 AM
The older Yeo Jin Goo gets the more interesting he looks. I mean he is handsome but with a interesting face. Combined with the talent... I can't wait for a drama in which he is the one and only leading man.
BUT now I'm looking forward to this as well. Yeo Jin Goo made this interesting.
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12 mysterious
February 23, 2017 at 4:56 AM
Goodness me, this young man is gorgeous. He is an amazing actor with an amazing voice. Daebak was mediocre but he was great. He really did seem older in the later episodes. He can act like a teenager in one role and then act like a regal king in his late 20s in another and it is completely believable. If he takes it, I hope it will be good for all the actors' sake. But if he takes it, I'll be tuning in no matter what.
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13 Sailor Mars
February 23, 2017 at 5:09 AM
Wow, this sounds REALLY interesting. Nice to see that tvN is still investing on different types of storylines, like with Signal and Misaeng.
Hope there's at least one well written female character to make it even better.
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14 celine
February 23, 2017 at 5:20 AM
Interesting! Looking forward to more casting news and more info about the plot.
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15 yrlvv
February 23, 2017 at 5:30 AM
Can you stop referring the first adult role? how many years or what kind of role that needed to be confirm that the child actor be adult or not? Yeo Jin Goo is 20. He has been adult for 2 years now. He has been lead for few movies/dramas already, got excellent award last year. If his role is not an adult, he still is an adult, playing high school doesnt mean that hes a child.
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mindy
February 23, 2017 at 6:04 AM
When people say "adult role" they are usually referring to the character the actor is playing, not the age of the actor himself...
It's not that big of a deal anyway, is it?
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mindy
February 23, 2017 at 6:05 AM
But I do see that JB is referring to HIS age here.
Either way... Does it matter?
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yrlvv
February 23, 2017 at 6:13 AM
Because its not true. And if it doesnt matter why need to referring it.
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Sera The Ms Temper
February 23, 2017 at 7:05 AM
I also agree that it doesn't matter either way. I think JB referred to his age, not the character. Well, it is right anyway since he just become twenty. His first leading role as an adult - honestly I find it is not even a big deal.
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yrlvv
February 23, 2017 at 10:18 AM
In dramaland, hes not gonna be adult for another few years. Guys can only act fully romance when they are about 23. In jackpot, dramabeans refer to his first adult role, then this one first adult role. How many first he gonna get? Hes not a child anymore.
Same go to the girls. Ruler and MDBC are the first adult role. Then if they play high school next project, they are not adult anymore.
If they are actors, why keep referring to their age? If a 23 years old guy play high school role, no one refer to his age. If YJG play high school, it will refer to his not adult role.
weaselking
February 23, 2017 at 6:25 AM
I think javabeans meant that this is his first leading role as an adult. His first role as an adult in Korea is Jackpot, since he only came of age last year. But Jang Geunsuk is the lead character there. :))
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weaselking
February 23, 2017 at 6:27 AM
20 years old is also the age you become an adult in Korea.
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Kiara
February 23, 2017 at 6:58 AM
Thanks Heaven for that. I can now fangirl on him like crazy and not feel like a pervert.
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lunatic4KD
February 23, 2017 at 7:21 AM
LOL. I've been waiting for someone in this thread to voice my sentiments! I also stand by my prediction made three years ago that YJG is going to become the hottest and most talented actor when he gets into his twenties...and he will hold that title for decades ahead. Lucky us. The baby fat is gone. The voice is even deeper. His superb acting ability has never been in question. There is something ethereal about this young man. Something dignified, kind, humble-yet-self-assured that is going to make him a super star.
Kiara
February 23, 2017 at 9:19 AM
Agreed and we'll be here cheering him on.
I hope he'd get to work with Park Bo-young. She has been openly fangirling on him for a long time.
weaselking
February 23, 2017 at 5:36 PM
@lunatic4KD You said it so well. There's just something about him, the way he carries himself in front of people that makes you fall for his charms, aside from his talents and voice.
@Kiara Yes to Park Boyoung! I think they would really look great together, somebody make this happen already.
Sera The Ms Temper
February 23, 2017 at 7:09 AM
In Korea only when you becomes 20 years old that is considered as an adult, isn't it?
"with a leading role going out to Yeo Jin-gu (Jackpot) for what would be his first (technically) adult role; he’s been transitioning out of child roles for a while, but actually turns twenty this year." - if my understanding is correct, this clearly refer to his age who just became 20 y. o.
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yrlvv
February 23, 2017 at 7:45 AM
in korea 19 is adult.
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weaselking
February 23, 2017 at 5:45 PM
They've legally lowered it down to 19, but I believe most people still refer to 20 as adulthood age. When YJG was 19 in Korean age, he was being asked left and right about the actresses who would want to act with him in a melodrama, he always said he still has a year left before he turns into an adult. :)
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16 Livii
February 23, 2017 at 5:31 AM
Yes, he's back! If it signs on a good female lead Im definitely in.
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Kiara
February 23, 2017 at 9:21 AM
Too bad Park Bo-young is currently in a drama.
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17 azzo
February 23, 2017 at 5:54 AM
Yeo Jin-gu YAY! I'm always happy to hear about him, very talented young actor.
Hope he signs on because this sounds very interesting.
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18 jessanno
February 23, 2017 at 5:59 AM
I am here for this! I love Yeo Jin-gu. Jackpot did not deserve him.
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19 canxi
February 23, 2017 at 7:27 AM
This sounds really good.
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20 jadea
February 23, 2017 at 10:54 AM
I love Jin Gu so I'd love for him to take this role. And if he does it better be good.
He's such a good actor, but I feel like he's stuck in this awkward stage where he's too old to play a high schooler, but too young to play a lead in something serious. A university student is perfect for him though.
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21 rosaline
February 23, 2017 at 11:43 AM
nam ji hyun (actress) as one of the female leads would be good. they are good friends in real life as well
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22 cheliwel
February 23, 2017 at 6:28 PM
it would be unfortunate if YJG never gets a chance to reunite with KYJ. I'm waiting for when both are legal.
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23 am1993
February 24, 2017 at 8:48 AM
Yeo Jingu is a phenomenal actor. He always manage to impress me...but omg does he have terrible luck with dramas lately. Orange Marmalade and Daebak turned out both to be complete mess.
I am crossing my fingers, my toes, my eyes that this drama is good and that Yeo Jingu will finally have a drama script worthy of his talent.
At least the premise seems fresh and interesting.
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24 Hye Mi
February 24, 2017 at 12:12 PM
Where there is YJG there is me. Even if the drama itself is a mess. Because I know he's not.
Dang I'm still bitter about Daebak. The drama had a lot of potential but it never delivered. I hope this one does YJG and the rest of the cast justice.
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