Tree With Deep Roots Press Conference

Have I mentioned that I’m excited for this drama? No? OK, let me officially state that I’m excited for this drama. Murder? check. Mystery? check. Historical? Ehhhhhh – half-check. Han Suk Gyu? Double check.

The cast – Han, Shin Se Kyung, and Jang Hyuk were present at the press conference held on the 29th at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Seoul. Jang Hyuk admitted that he was going to turn down this drama at first because he thought his character was boring. He thought that there were other more interesting characters in the original novel this drama is based on. However, when he read the synopsis and script, he realized that his character was richer and more dramatized, and works as a narrator for the storyline.

Han Chae Young’s Fall Bazaar Photo Shoot

Han Chae Young isn’t Korea’s “Barbie Doll” for nothing. She models for a European luxury brand Derercuny and the photo shoot was themed after an Italian film, and showed off her intense eye makeup.

Damn, I actually wish I could pull off sexy smoky eyes like that. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. Her legs are unreal.

Birdie Buddy: Episode 14

Not an exciting episode, but again the focus was on Hae Ryung. Though Lee Da Hee isn’t a bad actress, I think her storyline has just gotten to a point where I just don’t care. It’s always her fighting with her mother, and she keeps holding a grudge against Jung Woo. Most of the other characters have moved on, but I feel like she’s still revolving on the same plane.

Nevertheless, her actions are simply setting her up to be Mi Soo’s great rival.

News Bits: 9/30/11 Edition

Cha Tae Hyun is a father again! His baby daughter was born on September 29th, four years after his son was born in 2007. Congratulations!

He will start filming a new movie – “Gone With the Wind” – next month. Looks to be a historical comedy as the movie synopsis describes it as thieves stealing ice from an ice house.

Park Shi Hoo, Serial Killer

Park Shi Hoo, Serial Killer.

Park Shi Hoo, Convicted Murderer.

Park Shi Hoo, Best Selling Author.

Park Shi Hoo, My Boo Can Do No Wrong.

Birdie Buddy: Episode 13

Advantages of this drama: the 45-minute episodes help make the drama feel fast paced; the length of the drama (24 episodes) allow for a slower but better character development. Case in point: I hate Jung Woo’s actions and conflicting feelings, but I can understand them better because nothing’s rushed.

Disadvantages of this drama: too much of Sae Hwa being stubborn; the plots keep recycling in some way – competition, setback, withdrawal, resurgence. And the mother just keeps cycling between controlling and frustrated.

Park Shi Yeon is Getting Married!

Looks like the Coffee House actress is getting married!

The date seems to be set for November 19, and while it’s been rumored, I have seen four separate articles about it, so I’m kind of thinking it’s true. Park Shi Yeon is set to marry her boyfriend of four years, who works in stocks and securities. (One article says they’ve been together since March, so it’s likely that they’ve known each other for a while, and only became serious recently.) The location will be at the Seoul Hyatt Hotel. Of course – if this ends up being complete gossip, my only response is: “Where there’s smoke, there’s fire…”

Congratulations to the actress! I’m happy to see that she’s found happiness!

sources: star news, ggam news via naver, sstv, sports seoul

Lee Jia Attends Script Reading and Kim Bum Frolicks

Lee Jia attended a script reading of her new drama Me Too, Flower, once known as Return of the Queen.

The script reading was held at MBC’s Ilsan Dream Tower and included Kim Jae Won and Han Go Eun (A Man Called God). No disguise – however short her ponytail or her cap – could completely disguise her. The reading, which went from 3:00pm to 6:00pm, reportedly went by smoothly. And by smoothly, of course I also mean that her scandal and her costars’ possible preconceptions about her didn’t affect the atmosphere.

A Look at a Tree With Deep Roots

A Tree With Deep Roots airs on October 5 on SBS, and stars Shin Se Kyung, Jang Hyuk, and Song Joong Ki. A historical-mystery-thriller, it follows Kang Chae Yoon (Jang), an investigative officer, who tries to solve a series of murders under King Sejong’s (Han Suk Gyu) reign. His court lady So Yi (Shin) is a mute due to a traumatic experience, and helps him create the Korean alphabet. She is also the one who may know why the murders are occurring. And then you have Song Joong Ki as the teenage King Sejong.

I’m only writing about this because I actually find the trailer and premise intriguing. I have this feeling it might be another The Princess’ Man, which is a ratings hit. It will go up against the latter half of Can’t Lose and Glorious Jae In, so I’m thinking that it’s going to get a lot of viewers. Yes, Glorious Jae In is helmed by the team that brought you Baker King Kim Tak Goo, but you can’t discount the plot of this one, which is far more interesting than watching a baseball player make his comeback after meeting a nurse. Tree is also brought to you by the writers of Queen Seondeok, so…

Also – did you know that there is a 1983 drama with the same name, also based on the reign of King Sejong? It aired on MBC and starred Han In Soo (Yi San, Stained Glass) and Kim Young Ae (Royal Family, Athena). I’m not sure if the story is the same (I doubt it) but it’s kinda cool if this one is a remake. This drama is also Han Suk Gyu’s comeback after 16 years – his last drama was Hotel in 1995. Baek Yoon Sik (of Harvest Villa) also makes a cameo.

Below are some photos during shooting, as well as a teaser trailer.

News Bits: 9/24/11 Edition

OMG. JOO JI HOON. Comeback!?

SBS has announced that they might air Daepoongsoo (tentative title), a 50-episode historical drama about the founding of the Joseon dynasty with Joo Ji Hoon headlining. It was supposed to go up by the end of 2011, but might be reconsidered for the end of 2012 since production is still in the air.

This would have been Joo’s comeback after he completes his service in November. He had also halted his acting career in 2009 due to being caught for illegal drug use.

I would be SO excited, because I really like him. He knows how to emote, and is the first (and rare) actor who made me cry while watching a drama (it was Goong). But since this is really way off in the future, I won’t keep my hopes up too high, since casting changes are sudden and fickle.

Oh who am I kidding? Kyaa!