Lee Min-ki offered new tvN drama This Life Is Our First
by girlfriday
Believe it or not, it’s already been ten years since Lee Min-ki headlined a drama (2007’s Mixed-up Investigative Agency), and five years since his memorable cameo that opened Shut Up: Flower Boy Band. But he might be returning to the small screen before the year is out, in a new tvN series called This Life Is Our First, about contemporary marriage and family.
PD Park Joon-hwa of Bring It On, Ghost and the first season of Let’s Eat will direct, and writer Yoon Nan-joong of Ho-gu’s Love and Flower Boy Ramyun Shop is penning the script. That’s a solid batch of tvN dramas they’ve got under their belts between the two of them, so I’m looking forward to their treatment of realistic youths and marriage. It’s said that the series will use a familiar dramatic setup in order to really examine the institution of marriage, and what marriage and family mean in today’s society. And through all this, it’ll explore real problems that young people face.
Lee Min-ki is up to play an average man in his thirties who completed army duty, got his degree in design, and now works at an IT firm. He’s described as a typical Mr. Perfect good guy, but his one quirk is that he has clearly defined taste, except he never says that he likes a thing, only that he dislikes a thing. It’s because he believes that your personal preferences are really only made certain when you discover that you dislike something. But… does this rule also apply to people?
The only other plot information available is that the drama will be a meeting between someone who is house-poor and someone who is homeless. Hm, that smells a lot like contract marriage hijinks to me, but maybe I watch too many dramas. I’m sure there are plenty of real estate hijinks in real marriage too! Er, yay?
This Life Is Our First is potentially up to follow Argon on Mondays and Tuesdays beginning in October.
Via IS Plus
RELATED POSTS
- Detective K returns to catch a vampire serial killer
- Tomorrow With You loses Lee Min-ki, gets pushed to 2017
- Lee Min-ki, Shin Mina up for fantasy romance Tomorrow With You
- Lee Min-ki and Yeo Jin-gu escape the asylum in Shoot My Heart
- Lee Min-ki as underworld upstart in For the Emperor
- Lee Min-ki and Yeo Jin-gu partner up in Shoot My Heart
- Chilling character posters for Lee Min-ki’s thriller Monster
- Lee Min-ki releases movie MV Everything
Tags: Jang Nara, kim Tera, Lee Min-ki, Ryu Hwa-young, Seo Hyun-jin, Seo Ji-hye, Sohn Ho-joon, This Life Is Our First, Woo Do-hwan, Yang Se-jong, Yoo Ji-tae
Interview with Kim Yoo-jung
Hello Dramabeans series
![[2022 Year in Review] The Bean Count](https://www.dramabeans.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/beancount_2022.png)
Required fields are marked *
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
1 juniebug
August 2, 2017 at 8:07 AM
Every time I watch Shut Up: Flower Boy Band, the beginning always gets to me and I start weeping. Even if Byung-hee was only on the screen for a couple episodes, he made an impact with them. I will be really glad if he takes this role so I don't have to cry every time I see him.
Required fields are marked *
Nessie
August 2, 2017 at 2:45 PM
He was so so perfect in that role! I"ll always remember him from Shut Up: Flower Boy Band.
Required fields are marked *
junejune
August 3, 2017 at 1:11 AM
I couldn't get over the fact that he died, so i just stopped watching. Everything seemed so dull without him. He is such a good actor, i hope to see him again soon with a good project.
Required fields are marked *
Bong Soons Tiny Fist
August 3, 2017 at 1:10 PM
Me too! I couldn't believe it when he died.
Required fields are marked *
Samurai
August 6, 2017 at 10:32 AM
This comments prompted me to watch it and now I'm forever stuck at the end of episode 2 two too *wail*
Required fields are marked *
2 sidsaid
August 2, 2017 at 8:11 AM
I feel like i've been waiting my whole life for Lee Min Ki to get a lead role in a drama. Finally my prayers have been answered. This drama better be good or I will rage.
Required fields are marked *
vongole
August 2, 2017 at 8:31 AM
Have you seen Dal Ja's spring?
Required fields are marked *
fay17
August 2, 2017 at 9:22 AM
Dear all don't hate me but I had this very weird reason for not watching dal ja's spring, maybe only me, but I felt dalja's teeth was quite yellow on the show? And it was kind of off putting for me,? okay there I said it, I'm too embarrassed beyond words now. ? But trust me I wanted to watch this show so much.? Anyway I have been waiting to see him in a drama too, so I watched the only other full length drama he did properly, with Eugene. And I loved the movie he did with Kim Min Hee, 'a very ordinary couple'.
Required fields are marked *
Chiisan
August 2, 2017 at 12:00 PM
Is the yellow teeth have to do with the color filter? You know, some shows have filters that whitewash actors three shades lighter, some make everything reeealy saturated, some make everything look aged and dark.
Required fields are marked *
fay17
August 2, 2017 at 12:10 PM
Ah that's an interesting point you raised! I watched it on dramafever, so maybe I should check on a different site. They do have a dark, reddish kind of filter, :S. I feel sorry to the actress now damn. Now I have to check it out again, noona romances is my favourite genre after all. :D Thank you Chiisan! >.<
hades
August 2, 2017 at 1:42 PM
I watched it over at DramaFever as well, but I don't remember that being something noteworthy. Watching romance shows with people I find attractive does help in keeping my interest in the show, do I don't fault you too much. ? You should try giving it a second chance. It's one of my favourite K-dramas. Lee Min-ki does a pretty good job.
Required fields are marked *
fay17
August 2, 2017 at 3:22 PM
Hahaha, I am so superficial, I know. Maybe a small pet peeve of mine I admit hehe. But what Chiisan said does make sense, I'm not going to miss it this time!
sidsaid
August 3, 2017 at 3:21 PM
I have not, actually. I try not to watch older dramas because there's sometimes so much second-hand cringe that writers/directors have grown out of nowadays.
Required fields are marked *
SimbiAni @ MDL
August 4, 2017 at 1:48 AM
DJS was better than most I've seen, & I especially remember being pleasantly surprised how they actually tried ~talking things out instead of pointlessly angsting on their own any time issues came up. Plus, no serious "triangle" messes! Bonus: Kim JaeWook has a minor cameo role in a couple eps xD
Required fields are marked *
bbstl
August 2, 2017 at 9:19 AM
I Really, Really Love You? I loved it and he was great!
Required fields are marked *
fay17
August 2, 2017 at 9:24 AM
Yeah it was! Although for the whole length of the show he acted like a noble idiot lol, but I loved his chemistry with Eugene.
Required fields are marked *
Miky
August 2, 2017 at 11:57 AM
Still remember that confession in so many languages even now jajja
Required fields are marked *
fay17
August 2, 2017 at 12:13 PM
Omg I totally had a blast from the past moment haha, that was one of the best scenes from the show. I loved how they used to stay in the same house, and Eugene would be whining over the married man all the time. Wish they had a little more screen time to enjoy the new found love for each other, though. -_-
merisoo
August 2, 2017 at 10:17 AM
He played the lead male role in Dal Ja's Spring which is a really good old school drama.
Required fields are marked *
beantown
August 2, 2017 at 2:02 PM
He was perfect in that role!
Required fields are marked *
sicarius
August 3, 2017 at 12:14 AM
Was thinking about when he'd return to dramaland just yesterday... and low and behold, this!
Required fields are marked *
3 bqk318
August 2, 2017 at 8:11 AM
Seems like guys from scandals now being comeback.
Required fields are marked *
astromantic
August 2, 2017 at 11:38 AM
Next up: Lee Jin-wook? LOL
Required fields are marked *
Nessie
August 2, 2017 at 2:45 PM
Well Park Shi Hoo had a comeback didn't he?
Required fields are marked *
hades
August 2, 2017 at 1:46 PM
I'm guessing that it might have been a struggle to get over that scandal. He was cleared, so hopefully this drama is good and gives him a bounce back.
Required fields are marked *
annnsow
August 2, 2017 at 2:19 PM
They were all cleared... how convenient.
Required fields are marked *
mindy
August 2, 2017 at 3:14 PM
These cases can be tricky because recently there have been sooo many. I have a hard time believing that every single one is true but I like to think the majority are. I hate thinking of someone giving real victims a bad reputation by filing false charges but it does happen, especially when it involves celebrities and the accuser has something to gain. In most cases we cannot know everything that actually happened so again... it's tricky. If you want to take a moral stand and shun every actor accused of sexual assault, go ahead, but your watch list will be severely depleted.
Required fields are marked *
callie
August 2, 2017 at 9:39 PM
I mean... I'd rather watch that list deplete than support predators. Korea doesn't have a shortage of actors, and most aren't abusers.
pogo
August 2, 2017 at 3:54 PM
iirc in this case, the police themselves cleared him, it's not like Park Shi-hoo's case where the apparent facts were rather different and the issue ended in a settlement.
Required fields are marked *
annnsow
August 3, 2017 at 2:05 AM
There is always a good reason. My limited knowledge of how patriarcal societies tend to handle crimes against women tell me that I have enough to doubt the fairness of a judiciary system like the South Korean one. Especially when I see what is the reserved punishment for a rapist that gets actually convicted... a joke, really.
annnsow
August 2, 2017 at 2:20 PM
right? They went on "reflection time", or something.
Required fields are marked *
4 blo
August 2, 2017 at 8:15 AM
I guess we'll never how a drama will turn out until we see it, even with the right PD/cast. The setup sounds very typical but the details interest me. Is it going to lean more towards slice of life? Well I would love to have Lee Min-ki back in a drama. hmmmm
Required fields are marked *
5 whoopeeyoo
August 2, 2017 at 8:23 AM
HALLELUJAH YES! Hopefully Lee Min-ki comes back to kdramaland ASAP because I miss him so much!!!1111 I'd reserve judgment until I get to see the drama but just please, Lee Min-kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii aaaaaaaAAAAAAAaaaaaa
Required fields are marked *
6 Pickwick12
August 2, 2017 at 8:25 AM
I'm shamelessly all for the contract trope...
Required fields are marked *
merisoo
August 2, 2017 at 10:19 AM
S-A-M-E.
Required fields are marked *
fay17
August 2, 2017 at 3:23 PM
And cohabitation ones too ;;) ^^
Required fields are marked *
7 jin
August 2, 2017 at 8:30 AM
Did his scandal ever get resolve or are they just assuming it's been enough time for people to forget?
Required fields are marked *
vongole
August 2, 2017 at 8:38 AM
He was declared innocent by the police. According to his agency, the person who filed the charges withdrew her statement and apologised. She apparently named him by mistake!
Required fields are marked *
dramamama
August 2, 2017 at 10:07 AM
I remember reading that she accused several people and those people were still investigated. No other details turned up.
Required fields are marked *
8 sparklebean
August 2, 2017 at 8:36 AM
Yay! Spellbound was one of the first k-movies I watched. Excited to see him return to the small screen.
Required fields are marked *
hades
August 2, 2017 at 1:48 PM
Was that any good?
Required fields are marked *
h3lla
August 2, 2017 at 3:16 PM
Hmm good question. I watched it a few years ago and it has the markings of a mid-00's drama: charming beginning, intriguing increasingly angsty middle, whiff the landing. Worth the watch though, it was breezy and not a huge time commitment.
Required fields are marked *
hades
August 2, 2017 at 3:31 PM
Hahaha. I love your description! Yeah, it really does suck when things start off nice and then go to shit or, they just completely mess up the last two or three episodes. *Cough* Dal-ja's Spring *Cough*
I'll check it out though. Thx.
Required fields are marked *
9 wapz
August 2, 2017 at 8:40 AM
What happened to the scandal btw? Was he proved innocent? I think that time had accusing every other male artist infact.
Required fields are marked *
hades
August 2, 2017 at 1:51 PM
https://www.soompi.com/2016/07/13/lee-min-ki-acquitted-sexual-assault-charges/
Required fields are marked *
10 paroles
August 2, 2017 at 8:43 AM
I think the quirk is a play on falsifiability. That is, you can prove that "all crows are black" is false by observing a crow that's of a different colour, but it'd be near impossible to prove that the statement is true. I'm not sure how the same logic can apply to something you like or dislike though. It's bizarre.
Required fields are marked *
bbstl
August 2, 2017 at 9:24 AM
Oh, interesting. I think his character sounds intriguing.
Required fields are marked *
hades
August 2, 2017 at 1:54 PM
I can see him fitting perfectly with that characterization. I'm just hoping that he makes a good decision to either take or leave it. If it's a no go, I just want to see him ASAP!
Required fields are marked *
11 mindy
August 2, 2017 at 8:54 AM
Oh yaaaay! I was so disappointed last year when he didn't end up doing Tomorrow With You (presumably because of his now-resolved scandal) but in hindsight I'm glad he didn't do it. I liked TWY more than the average viewer but I do think it'd be a waste of his talents. I hope this drama is good. Lee Min-ki is one of those actors who is positively electric on screen. I can't take my eyes off him! He has that screen presence that not every actor has.
Required fields are marked *
hades
August 2, 2017 at 1:59 PM
I really like Lee Min-ki, but I too am glad he didn't get the TWY part. That show was the first time I saw Lee Je-hoon and I can't possible see anyone else playing the part of So-joon. I also agree that Lee Min-ki has that captivating presence, even when he's stoic.
Required fields are marked *
12 merisoo
August 2, 2017 at 10:18 AM
Lee Min Ki!! It's been so long since I got to see that beautiful face in a drama. I'm already on board.
Required fields are marked *
13 giocare
August 2, 2017 at 10:23 AM
Oh man just looking at him takes me back to that scene in Shut Up Flower Boy Band. I can't believe it's already been 5 years.
I really hope this show sheds light on the pros/cons woman face as a result of marriage; like father is strange did
Required fields are marked *
14 korfan
August 2, 2017 at 10:47 AM
I've often heard some people say that they know what they don't like more than what they do like. Sort of like they have a better understanding of their dislikes rather than their preferences.
It sounds like the protagonist in this drama might be this type of person. It certainly makes for an intriguing character.
Required fields are marked *
spazmo
August 2, 2017 at 12:47 PM
i have to agree -- while i have no answer to "what is your favorite _____?", i have none picked out, but can tell you a slew of ones that i like...
and yes, i can easily tell you what i dislike -- it is a matter of knowing what i like when i see it or find it, rather than being able to describe specific attributes or qualities. is it not wanting to pigeonhole a specific singular thing?
hmmm....
and btw, i'm a designer.
*winks*
Required fields are marked *
fay17
August 3, 2017 at 6:12 AM
I kind of feel the same way! And my profession is related to design fields too lol. I pretty much know about all the things I dislike, unless I am face to face with things I like/ love, it's hard to pin point for me to tell in words what I'm looking for. Lol I never thought that the drama is talking about the same thing until you mentioned it.
Required fields are marked *
spazmo
August 2, 2017 at 12:48 PM
oh, and Lee Min Ki is ONE OF MY FAVORITES!!!
Required fields are marked *
15 isa
August 2, 2017 at 10:51 AM
Good LORD that man is so freaking pretty. Like, I am discombobulated every time I see him. My hands literally start to shake. Please, yes. Make it so. I don't care if its the most poorly executed thing to ever happen in the history of the world I will be THERE for it.
Required fields are marked *
hades
August 2, 2017 at 2:06 PM
He does have pretty features. Especially those lips. ?
Required fields are marked *
fay17
August 2, 2017 at 3:25 PM
I will go yeo jin style and wear a lipstick if he's ever in front of me I think :D
Required fields are marked *
16 Peridot
August 2, 2017 at 11:12 AM
I'm going to wait for more information to come out before committing myself to this drama. It would be nice to see Lee Min-ki on the small screen.
Required fields are marked *
17 TheImprintOnMyNose
August 2, 2017 at 12:08 PM
He was good in that movie with yeo jin goo, Shoot me in the heart. He always plays unforgettable characters.
Required fields are marked *
18 aznative
August 2, 2017 at 12:10 PM
Huzzah! Let this happen, please!
Required fields are marked *
19 beantown
August 2, 2017 at 2:06 PM
Comment was deleted
Required fields are marked *
20 annnsow
August 2, 2017 at 2:22 PM
He was one of my favorite Korean actor. Too bad.
Required fields are marked *
21 Lord Cobol
August 2, 2017 at 3:08 PM
Watch too many dramas?? YOU?
Required fields are marked *
22 h3lla
August 2, 2017 at 3:30 PM
Lee Min-Ki and SUFBB literally ruined my life. It was my first drama ever and I've been a goner ever since, so I'll definitely be watching this.
About the writer though. I have a lot of issues with them. I loved Ho-Gu's love when I started it but by the end I was seething mad. Their treatment of sexual assault and homosexuality and the characters dealing with these was just so cruel it made me feel icky. They were used as plot points and punchlines, respectively, and it soured me on this writer.
Required fields are marked *
h3lla
August 2, 2017 at 3:34 PM
Not to mention, FBRS was also one of my firsts, so i didn't know I had second lead syndrome until I was holding Lee Ki Woo's heart in my hands while the lead gallavanted off with a high schooler...#neverforget. The worst part of that drama though is I remember being deeply uncomfortable with the way the male lead treated the lead (blanking on names). He called her literal poop and was so condescending, even after he decided he loved her.
I don't even k ow what I'm saying anymore. I just have a lot of unresolved beef with this writer. These dramas were so promising and then ended up a crime against common decency. I'm going into this peeking through my fingers...what way will yhey find to disturb me next?
Required fields are marked *
PurpleTeapot
August 2, 2017 at 7:53 PM
I haven't seen FBRS, but I watched Hogu's Love and I have to say that the way the writer handled the two issues you mentioned does appear insensitive on the surface, partly due to the mode of comedy sustained through the series.
But if you think about it more carefully, the writer's critiques of prevailing, discriminatory attitudes towards sexual assault and homosexuality underpinned this guise of conventionality. That is to say, she showed the discrimination that someone who has gone through sexual assault and someone who is struggling to come to terms with his sexuality experience. But just because she portrays these discriminatory attitudes, doesn't mean she agrees with them.
She never took either issue lightly—the way KC's colleagues behaved towards him and the ridiculousness of their comments (he wears pink, he must be gay) was quite clear. Some humour arose from his confusion over his sexuality, but the feelings he experienced were never the butt of the joke; his fear was real. Same goes for DH, the emotional turmoil she went through was portrayed very acutely.
Required fields are marked *
h3lla
August 10, 2017 at 4:20 AM
PurpleTeapot, I understand what you mean. The sensitive treatment of both those issues is what made me fall for the drama in the first place. I mean, I was deeeeply invested. I found the approach refreshing, and I appreciated how the prevailing social attitudes towards homosexuality, in particular, were lampooned. No argument there.
I stand by what I said about them being used as punchlines and plot points, though. The lawyer character's sexuality was used as the punchline of the whole drama. Yes, his fear was real, but when he realized he wasn't gay (a realization that left huge gaping plot holes, but whatever I guess), the reveal was framed as a big gasping sigh of relief. As if he'd been misdiagnosed with a terminal illness and found out he'd be okay after all. I found that offensive. Homosexuality is not a disease and it's irresponsible to present it that way. That's my qualm with the cross-dressing trope in general. Specifically, with this drama, the writing really had to twist itself in loops to reach the conclusion that he wasn't gay, and they didn't all the way succeed. So all that celebrating felt, to me, undeserved and hollow.
Now let's talk about the female lead. Her situation was handled with the gravitas that it warranted. But that's all it did: lend the story gravitas. We were made to feel for her all throughout the show, but her story was never resolved. She wasn't allowed to deal with her trauma in any meaningful way and she never found closure. Literally, the show ends with a chirpy, "we can appeal!" vibe. What is that about? I felt my frustration mounting as the show ran out of time and she still hadn't told anybody in her company what had happened. She didn't really seek help with anything other than the baby until the end. Only the last few episodes dedicated time to her getting justice... and they left it open-ended. So the viewers can be horrified with her and angry for her but we're not allowed to see the conclusion of her story? What other story were you telling that was so important? The I'm-secretly-gay-but-actually-no-I'm-not-thank-GOD story? The writer could've kept it.
tl;dr: The show suckered me in with its refreshing sensitivity then slapped me in the face with the retraction of all the work it did. I think about this drama a lot and I still get angry. I feel like I fell for the long con lol.
Required fields are marked *
23 callie
August 2, 2017 at 4:35 PM
I've always thought Lee Min Ki should player the younger version/brother of Kim Sung Oh in something. They look similar to me.
Required fields are marked *
mango
August 3, 2017 at 12:44 AM
It's the eyes. They both have such beautiful eyes !
Required fields are marked *
Sera The Ms Temper
August 3, 2017 at 12:54 AM
They are! Seo In Guk also has similar eyes right?
Required fields are marked *
Sera The Ms Temper
August 3, 2017 at 12:53 AM
Many years ago, I used to confuse them both! lol.
Required fields are marked *
24 yayabean
August 2, 2017 at 6:25 PM
I loved him in Oh Dalja's Spring.
Required fields are marked *
25 Sera The Ms Temper
August 2, 2017 at 11:16 PM
The news is out, Jung So Min is up to play his leading lady. I'm still not really warm up with this girl, sometimes she is decent, but in Father Is Strange, her weaknessess are quite obvious especially in emotional scenes with Lee Joon. She reminds me of Suzy sometimes. If they both confirm this drama, I hope I can change my mind about her. Lee Min Ki is one of my fav actor, and I wish his comeback drama is a good one.
Required fields are marked *
fay17
August 3, 2017 at 12:34 AM
her weaknessess are quite obvious especially in emotional scenes with Lee Joon.
----This, I also felt she had limited acting range, and it was hard buying her in a meek nerdy kind of role. She gives this bossy vibe like her character from 'can we get married,' but her acting is nothing to write home about, so I am quite disappointed. :(
Required fields are marked *
Sera The Ms Temper
August 3, 2017 at 1:02 AM
Yes, agree with you. I have seen her from Playful Kiss and few other works, while she is not a bad actress but nothing is memorable about acting. Her emotional scenes with Lee Joon - it seems to me only Lee Joon is acting while she isn't. Her struggles to keep up with Lee Joon is pretty obvious. If even with Lee Joon she can't be on par with,I don't know if she can reach the same standard with Lee Min Ki.
Anyway, I heard they both confirmed. I was hoping Lee Min Ki to get Shin Min Ah or maybe Gong Hyo Jin as his partner - it's his comeback after so long though. More than the partner, I hoped the script is good enough.
Required fields are marked *
fay17
August 3, 2017 at 1:44 AM
GHJ , damn now I really would have loved to see them together ?. Yeah let's hope the script is better. IMO, LMK is quite good an actor, so he needed someone his caliber. I have also tried to watch her scenes on FIS, and it those kind of fell flat, because of her acting, she does give Suzy vibes in this regard, :/. Maybe this is the year of weaker pairings for me lol. I don't get though why they don't choose stronger actresses, when there are so many to choose from.
Required fields are marked *
Sera The Ms Temper
August 3, 2017 at 2:53 AM
First Jo Jung Suk, next Lee Min Ki ?
rowanharper
August 3, 2017 at 4:32 PM
Oh my gosh! She does remind me of Suzy! They are both so pretty, but the way they hold their mouths open when they're supposed to be feeling emotions like anguish or anxiety are exactly the same haha. They both have a certain level of charm but are still a little wooden when it comes to expressing a rang of emotions.
Required fields are marked *
26 sicarius
August 3, 2017 at 12:11 AM
PLease. I went on a SUFBB gif binge yesterday and most of them were of him...
Required fields are marked *
27 drawde2000
August 3, 2017 at 12:44 AM
I guess he is ready to get married of he insists on picking dramas that revolves around it.
I'm not sure about this yet, partly because Tomorrow With You took me by surprise when it did capture married life when I thought it is about time traveling. So,if this new tvN drama is literally about married life, then what's the surprise there. I'm hoping it would be more than that.
Required fields are marked *
28 zgs1994
August 3, 2017 at 4:22 AM
Byung Hee yaaa. Your guyliner and larger-than-life presence gave that drama life!
Required fields are marked *
29 tokkita
August 3, 2017 at 4:40 AM
This is awesome news! I can finally recover from his role in SUFBB haha. Byung Hee T_T
Required fields are marked *
30 kororo
August 3, 2017 at 6:31 AM
I'm so happy ! LMK back in dramaland !
Required fields are marked *
31 mon avis
August 6, 2017 at 11:34 AM
Finally! Been waiting forever to see him back in a full length drama! What took them so long to cast him again as lead? He's one fine actor with great comedic skills.
Required fields are marked *