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Jealousy, Rebel’s Kim Jung-hyun up for School 2017

Ah, I love this kid. Okay, so he’s not actually a kid—he’s 27 years old, apparently—but he’s such a newbie in dramaland that I just see him as Gong Hyo-jin’s adorable kid brother in Jealousy Incarnate. Rookie actor Kim Jung-hyun (Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People) is the latest to receive a casting offer for KBS’s high school drama School 2017, alongside Kim Yoo-jung (Moonlight Drawn By Clouds), who’s up for the starring role; they’re both considering favorably for now.

The newest installment of the School franchise promises to return to the core premise of the series when it first launched back in 1999—to tell real stories about the everyday struggles that contemporary teenagers face. PD Park Jin-seok of mini-drama Naked Fireman and writer of Im Soo-mi of Let’s Eat, Let’s Eat 2, Rude Miss Young-ae, and more will be at the helm. As of yet there are no details about specific storylines or characters, but School is famous for launching careers and highlighting young talent through an ensemble cast, so the hope is that School 2017 will continue that tradition.

Now that I know his age, Kim Jung-hyun seems a little old for a high school drama, but I still think of him as fresh-faced because he only debuted in 2015 (in the indie movie Overman), and I first saw him last year in Jealousy Incarnate, where he played a prickly high school student who was overprotective of his noona. I loved that character and his hilarious hatred towards Jo Jung-seok so, so much. Then he followed up that role with another great character in Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People, and kind of ran off with his own little hero-redemption arc, becoming pivotal to the story and its ending.

I’m not sure if he’s just had good luck with two memorable minor characters at the start of his career, but he’s certainly made the most of his screen time; I’ve been impressed by his acting and it’d be great to see him take on more high-profile roles. I suppose he could play a teacher as easily as he could play a student, but I’d put my money on a brooding rebel in the back row.

School 2017 plans to air in July on KBS.

Via News1

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After watching his performance in Rebel, I can totally see him as the backbench brooding kid. He stole my heart as Mori, especially in the last episode.

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Is he cast as a teacher? Lol.

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I would love to see him in more things but uh, he's probably more age-appropriate to play a teacher than a high school student through an entire series. Especially if one of his co-stars is to be Kim Yoo-jung, who is actually high school age and almost a decade younger. (I trust School will actually focus on student issues and not try to pair them up like the dumb detour that was School 2015 )

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(of course, if he's playing someone's grown-up oppa who's not a high school student, that's more than ok by me)

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Maybe as Yoo Jung's oppa? That will be great. I am ready to see them bickering as siblings, and he becomes the overprotective oppa.

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His oppa mode in Rebel was kind of short. I wouldn't mind more of his awkward brotherly concern. I just wanna hug him and tell him that he's doing a good job.

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I thought there already hold a audition to cast new and young faces. Kim Jung Hyun and Kim Yoo Jung are bit old for student roles.

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Kim Jung Hyun yes but not for Yoo Jung because this girl is definitely at her right age to play high school student.

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But her style is not "young" anymore. I feel like she so old after 'Moonlight'.

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what even? Moonlight wasn't even a mature show. this is exactly the kind of mentality that leads to a shortage of young actresses in drama land.

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I kinda agree a bit because these teen actressess are becoming mature a bit too fast. I still want to see them playing younger parts of adult / or just supporting roles when they are still underage now and let those talented actressess who are in 20s who are still struggling to play these leading roles. But they are in demand and marketable, so what power I have to hold them from growing. And since this is school drama, Kim Yoo Jung is certainly at the right age to do that.

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Kim Yoo-jung is a High School student in real life. She is 17 yrs old.

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Mori yaaaaa. ??? I want him to play a teacher, because i want him to graduate from high school drama already. Yang Se Jong who was just debuted last year (and younger than him) already playing adult role, so I want him to do the same as well.. And if he is up to play a male teacher, I want to be casted as the female teacher and be his partner. Is it possible? ??

Anyway I hope whatever decision he is making will be great choice for his career. Because he has the potential to be bigger actor if he is on the right path. He and Yang Se Jong are among rookies (and new puppies) that I am excited with their career development.

And please School 2017, less romance please! It is cute to have romance as added elements, but it won't be very cute if the love triangle becomes the centre of the drama, because if it is so, it will be just another Heirs for me.

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Agree! No romance please but I dont mind some bromance!

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He could play teacher ! It's always good to try different characters !

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Agreee.

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He seems a bit old for the school series but maybe the plot requires for someone older. Possibly a character that's going back to school. He was really good in Rebel and I didn't remember him in Jealousy Incarnate until it was mentioned here.

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isn't he too old to be playing a highschooler opposite kim yoo jung? no offense, but i would prefer if they cast someone younger like yeo jin goo. if they're looking for rookie actors, maybe they can try lee seo won.

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just remembered kim taehyung (v from bts), maybe they can consider him as well. i think he did a wonderful job in hwarang.

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I am wary of Armies. They might bash the other actors if he doesn't get enough screen time.

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good point... that's one of the biggest risks if they do decide to cast him. it's a pity, i'm so looking forward to see him grow as an actor.

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Yeo jin goo to me doesn't look younger than this guy, it's just the age difference..

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Yeah, I remember reading an interview of his right after Jealousy Incarnate and finding out that he's actually the same age as Go Kyung-pyo, haha. I think he could definitely pull off the rebel in the back role, but, I have to admit, I was kind of hoping he'd get to move into more age-appropriate characters after his performance in Rebel.

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I was surprised about his age too but I guess K-drama producers doesn't care. I mean, Lee Minho played a high school student as well and he look way older than this guy. Hopefully he gives a good performance.

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Maybe because in the drama when Lee Min Ho casted as high school student, the rest of the casts also not underage. All of them look too told to be high school student anyway - in BOF and Heirs.

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Yes yes yes. Sign him up!! If the cast in The Heirs could play high school characters he most certainly can too.

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What? He is 27 years old?! I had no idea! I totally believed him as a high schooler In jealousy incarnate. Maybe if I had seen him in rebel, my impression would have changed. What do korean actors and actresses eat that makes them all look younger than their age?

So, I once played this game with my friends (who don't watch kdramas) where we just asked each other silly questions and when there was a question if I ever were to act in a movie, who would I want to play the male lead (yes, it was THAT game) and I told them all park bo gum and showed them his picture. They were all like 'he looks younger to you' when in actual case, he isn't! So, that's my sad little story where I realized that looks-wise, I might be noona to all my oppas.

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Park Bo Gum is so baby face. If I am not mistaken he is the same age with
Yoo Seung Ho but YSH looks older ? Just like Lee Hyun Woo who is still very believeable if he is acting as high schooler. I kinda want to send him to do his military service now and come back with more mature and manly look. lol. Kim Jung Hyun still look young in Rebel (and hotter) but agree some korean actors/actressess look younger than their age. Kim Yoo Jung and Kim So Hyun are among the real teens that I actually see them mature a bit too fast (their face, appearance) but this could be great because it means when they reach 20s later it won't be very long before they get their adult roles and won't be high schooler anymore.

Koreans spend a lot for their face and health, plastic surgery is one thing but they really care for their skin etc. That's one of the ways to maintain their youthful look.

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Just to add, some actors are really young but they look older than their age - for eg Seo Kang Joon look like in his late 20s /early 30s but he is the same age with Bo gum. So don't be sad - it is not that you are looking older, but Bogum and somre of your oppa look way too young for their age ?

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Awww, thank you, Sera. *blows kisses* :)

I agree, kim so hyun and kim yoo jung looks a little mature for their age. So, I guess, it's just that girls mature faster than boys. :P

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I actually want Lee Hyun Woo in couple of high school dramas. Now that guy is 27. i hear people is gonna complain about age gap. Look how Taek- So Hyun couple turned out in Let's fight ghost. I totally believed him as a high schooler in Jealousy incarnate.

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sorry Taec*

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Less or no romance please! Regardless these two will be a pair or not.

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YSH doesn't look an hour older than he did in I Miss You. He and PBG definitely looks the same age. But compare them to LHW and they look waaay too old lol. Or LHW looks way too young. When he smiles, he really does look like a kid - an adorable kid, but a kid all the same.

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Oh YSH in my opinion already looks older a bit than his real age even from before his military service. He doesn't have that young look so much and for me it is good.

LHW looks too young for his real age - if I didnt checked his age, I will think he is not 20 y.o yet?

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Good choice.

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He can be a rebel sunbae in school.

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He totally give out Choi Young Do / Kim Woo Bin aura in Jealousy. No I didn't watch Rebel so I have only seen him in high school dos and he looks just right in it!

Thinking back about Jealousy, I just remembered that his love rival / the other high school kid who chased the same girl is Do Bong Soon's little brother! Now I know why he looks familiar.

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i rooted for him to get the girl in Jealousy incarnate.

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He's so not going to be a teacher, u guys didn't watch school 2013? almost everyone in class had 25-30 years old

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yeah... one of the student is even older than kang daniel in real life. if people doesn't know about his age, i really think everyone will be happy him being student.

on another note, i hope they follow school 2013 more than 2015 version. no lovelines, just pure high school hijinks. make the bromance and womance at the same level too.

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I like this casting choice. He looks the part, and who knows, he could even be a repeat student. lol

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@16 zeopriou May 20, 2017 at 10:11 AM,

"he could even be a repeat student"

There's a precedent for that, IIRC. Gong Yoo was about this same age when he was in BISCUIT TEACHER AND STAR CANDY, and the character had been held back a year, I think.

At any rate, Kim Jung-hyun was very good in REBEL, and I'm glad to see him getting an offer for a very different kind of role. If he can still pass for a high school student, why not play it while he can? Although after watching him as a badass Joseon warrior, it'll be weird to see him in the school cafeteria in his uniform. ;-)

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I have no problem him playing high school student. They are actors and they are supposed to act as fictional characters.

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He's 27??? Oh my Mori Oraboni!!! ??

I really want him to take this role but now I know he is 27 I have a second thought. If this is Reply series sure he'll fit just fine but it is school series where he'll have to be high school student the whole damn time.

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I hope it's about real struggles, and not something overly exaggerated because that will take me out of the drama.

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As a self-proclaimed Jealousy Incarnate aficionado ??, it's an honour to hear his casting news.
. . . take a ✏️ and ✔️ this show in my ? . . .

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Oui! ¡Sí! はい!好! 네! Yes!

Kim JungHyun, no matter what language you say this in, say "yes!" to this offer! Please~

I'll suspend all beliefs for you! Although seeing how you pulled off your character in Jealously Incarnate, I don't think I'll have to put much effort into it, if at all.

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Omammagad!!!! I saw this and was rendered incoherent. What a nice surprise! Off to read...

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This guy is adorable. I remember him in the few episodes of Jealousy Incarnate that I watched.

Though all, I wish that, if he ends up being the lead, the channel looks for a girl aged 22-25 to be the main girl. Even though I really like Yoo Jung, I think she's too young to be with him, I don't think she would be comfortable with the situation, like Kim Soo Hyun with Taecyeon (17/18 year old me wouldn't feel good with a guy 4 years older, who would say 10 years!). I believe the industry puts these kids in difficult situations, and I can't understand why.

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He was so cute in JI <3

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I loved him so much in Rebel, I don't care what role he is up for. If he signs on, I'm IN!

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I never expected him to get casted for this, but I'm pleasantly surprised. He was so great in Rebel as Mori and I'm so glad he's getting his first lead role (in a full-length drama) so quickly. Please accept >.<

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School 2017 is on a roll! Can't wait for this drama to secure the cast! ?

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MORIIIIIII!
YES PLS

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Thankfully, School 2017 is following School 2013's premise, which had no love lines like School 2015. Otherwise, a romance between a 90er & 99er is a huge no-no. I've never seen Kim Jung Hyun, but I've read good things about his acting.

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I have a feeling there will be a loveline else they wouldn't have cast KYJ. But I also feel like this series will be about the boys. This gives me a School 2013 & 2015 mash up vibe. From the writer of Let's Eat there might even be a serial killer element. ?

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Excuse me pogo....school 2015 isn't dumb...it finished with a satisfied rating...so don't recklessly say it's dumb!

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He looks so good. I can see a lot of young girls fall for him if he takes the role. He has that Kim Woo Bin mean guy appeal, but better good looking. XDD

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Not only young girls - one noona already fell for him?

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Yay for more impending smiles!!! He deserves it after all the stoic characters he's played so far.... unless.... he's supposed to be a tsundre character....

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He would be perfect as a brooding rebel.

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I really love his addition to the casting for School 2017! I didn't know that he is already 27 because as girlfriday said, he is still a new face in dramaland. I don't mind seeing him as a high-school student because he doesn't look that old. He really owned being Gong Hyo-jin's little brother and I can already see him as the next Gong Tae-kwang.

I hope that there not much of a romance and pour down the bromance. Please, drama gods!

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Yay, I really liked him in Jealousy and Rebel so totally looking forward to him hopefully having a larger role. I was surprised when I looked him up and found out he's older than me! Although he looks young, I think I'd rather have him play a teacher fresh out of training. Him supposedly being a student in Jealousy was a bit of a stretch..

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Mindblown because he's already 27? Dear lord he looks so young. He was really adorable as the protective younger bro on Jealousy so I never realized how old he is already. Wow.

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I can't wait for school2017! i like both lead... <3

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what role did he play on rebel

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