In the Know with Purplenette
Nail Shop Paris
Jun Ji Hoo (NewTales of Gisaeng, God of Study), Song Jae Rim (The Moon that Embraces the Sun, Flower Boy Ramyun Shop), Thunder (MBLAQ), and Park Gyu Ri (Kara) will star in the upcoming drama, Nail Shop Paris. It is directed by Park Soo Chul who also directed Monster. It is written by Sung Min Ji. It started May 3rd on MBC Queen and will be 10 episodes. Han Soo Young (A Thousand Days’ Promise) and Kim Chae Yeon (Sweet Springs, Break Out) are also cast.
Hong Yeo Joo (Park Gyu Ri) is a blogger who decides to work as a nail artist for a nail salon that hires only “flower boys”. So, guess what? Right. She dresses as a boy to get the job. Jin (Thunder) is the youngest flower boy employed in the shop. He is cheerful and sociable. Behind his cheerful character is a life of struggle and hardship. He is raised by his mother who is also a medium. He has inherited his mother’s talent which makes him a good listener and he uses his supernatural abilities to help his customers. He becomes good friends with Yeo Joo and bothers her to get close to her best friend, Ji Soo (Han Soo Young) because she works at a TV station. Ji Soo and Jin eventually become a couple. Alex (Jun Ji Hoo) is the eldest flower boy nail artist. He takes on the role of teaching Yeo Joo. Kay (Song Jae Rim) is the third flower boy and the tough guy of the three. Sounds like there will be plenty of romance and bromance.
Ugly Alert/Bravo My Life
Kang So Ra (Dream High 2, Dr. Champ) and Im Joo Hwan (What’s Up, Tamra, The Island) star in SBS’s Ugly Alert on May 20 after The Birth of a Family. This will be Im Joo Hwan’s first drama since being released from the military. It is directed by Sin Yoon Sub who also directed Rooftop Prince. It is written by Jung Ji Woo who also wrote I Remember You and Gloria. Other cast members are Choi Tae Joon (The Great Seer, Padam Padam), Shin So Yul (Cheongdamdong Alice, Reply 1997), and Choi Yoon Young (My Daughter Soyoung, King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo).
Na Do Hee (Kang So Ra) is the straight-laced daughter of a fashion company built by her grandfather. Gong Joon Soo (Im Joo Hwan) has a rough childhood living with a swindler father after his mother runs away. His father is in and out of prison which forces Joon Soo to stop studying in 3rd grade. He then masters the art of sewing while in prison for a murder that his brother committed. He meets Do Hee and works in her store. Gong Hyeong Seok (Choi Tae Joon) becomes Joon Soo’s step-brother due to his mother marrying Joon Soo’s father. They have a confrontational relationship and also both love Do Hee. Gong Jin Joo (Choi Yoon Young) is a younger sister to Joon Soo and Hyeong Seok and is caught between their rivalry. Shin Joo Young (Shin So Yul) plays the 2nd daughter of a Tycoon that works on a PR team for a fashion group. She is in love with Hyeong Seok. This is a daily drama about family that is not blood related with different lives coming to understand and heal each other.
This sounds really interesting and I’m a huge fan of Kang So Ra. I can see myself watching this.
Passionate Goodbye/Rockin' on Heaven's Door
Lee Hong Ki (You’re Beautiful, member of F.T. Island) will star in Passionate Goodbye premiering on May 30 in South Korea and in June in Japan. The film also stars actors Ma Dong Suk (Shut Up: Flower Boy Band, Dr.Champ), Im Won Hee (Syndrome,Mr. Idol), Baek Jin Hee (I Summon You, Gold, Jeon Woo Chi) and Jun Min Suh (Rooftop Prince, Missing You).
Choong Ui (Lee Hong Ki) is a troubled celebrity who gets into trouble with the law. He is forced to do volunteer work at a health-care facility for the terminally ill. He comes to terms with his own psychological wounds while helping the patients continue their dreams.
I Hear Your Voice
Lee Bo Young (My Daughter Soyoung, The Equator Man), Yoon Sang Hyun (Secret Garden, Take Care of the Young Lady), and Lee Jong Suk (School 2013, R2B: Return to Base) are cast in I Hear Your Voice on SBS that will be airing in June after Everything About My Relationship. It will be directed by Choo Soo Won who also directed Cheongdamdong Alice. The writer is Park Hye Ryun who also wrote Dream High and Nonstop 5.
Jang Hye Sung (Lee Bo Young) is a tenacious public defender who is so rude and prickly that she has no friends. Park Soo Ha (Lee Jong Suk)is a boy with a supernatural power of reading people’s minds. Soo Ha has a mysterious charm and is manly as well as innocent and cute. The writer says that the drama is a “fresh fantasy romance about a public defender heroine and a man-boy who has the supernatural ability to hear people’s thoughts”. Cha Gwang Woo (Yoon Sang Hyun) is a public defender who was once a police man. He takes his job seriously and fights for the rights of the accused. He is a romantic macho man and love rival of young Soo Ha.
Hhhhmmmm…I find it a little off that Lee Jong Suk and Yoon Sang Hyun will be rivals in love for Lee Bo Young. That is a major age gap. However, the story sounds fun and I like the actors. I will probably watch it regardless of the age difference.
The Queen's Classroom
Ko Hyun Jung (Dae Mul, Queen Seon Duk), 13-year old, Kim Hyang Gi (The Grand Heist) 13-year-old, Kim Sae Ron (Missing You, The Man From Nowhere), and 15-year-old, Seo Shin Ae (Incarnation of Money, High Kick Through the Roof) star in MBC’s drama The Queen’s Classroom airing in June after When A Man Loves. It is a remake of the Japanese drama Jyoou no Kyoushitsu. The director is Lee Dong Yoon who also directed Feast of the Gods and Hero. The writer is Kim Won Suk who also wrote Friend, Our Story and directed Sungkyunkwan Scandal. Julien Kang (To The Beautiful You, Goodbye Dear Wife) is also cast in the drama.
Ma Yeo Jin (Ko HyunJung) is difficult and cold elementary school homeroom teacher. Sim Ha Na (Kim Hyang Gi) is the head of the class and clashes with Yeo Jin. I could not find the character names of Kim Sae Ron and Seo Shin Ae, but they are also students in Yeo Jin’s class. Justin (Julien Kang) is an English teacher in the school. The story is about the conflicts and struggles between a cold-hearted female teacher and her students over a school year.
I’m not really into school dramas, but I think the young cast in this drama is stellar. I may check it out.
The Goddess of Fire, Jeongi
Moon Geun Young (Cheongdamdong Alice, Mary Stayed Out All Night), Ji Chang Wook (Five Fingers, Bachelor’s Vegetable Store), and Lee Sang Yoon (My Daughter Soyoung, The Duo) take leading roles in MBC sageuk drama, The Goddess of Fire, Jeongi which will start airing in June after Gu Family Book. The director is Park Sung Soo who also directed Breathless and Delicious Proposal. It is written by Kwon Soon Gyu who also wrote Warrior Baek Dong Soo. Lee Kwang Soo (Innocent Man, Bachelor’s Vegetable Store) is also cast.
Yoo Jeong (Moon Geun Young) is the first woman to ever make ceramics in the Joseon Dynasty period. She is taken to Japan during the Japanese invasion and demonstrates her superior pottery talent there. Prince Gwanghae (Lee Sang Yoo) is the ruler of the Joseon dynasty who is a lover of the arts and admires Jeong’s talent. He also falls in love with Jeong. Although I have searched diligently, I could not find a name for Ji Chang Wook’s character. The only information I could find was conjecture that his part is of a Korean that she meets in Japan. I found some information that Lee Kwang Soo plays Prince Gwanghae’s older brother. I’m sure there will be more information in the future considering this drama doesn’t come out until June. I will make sure to update when I find it.
Yet another sageuk drama. I can’t promise that I will watch this, but I’m sure all you sageuk drama lovers out there are happy.
Scary/Horror Stories II
Beginning
Park Sung Woong (Bridal Mask, King of Baking, Kim Tak Goo) is cast as Department Head Park and Lee Se Young (Missing You, The Great King’s Dream) in the Beginning story of Scary Stories II.Escape ("Talchool")
Ko Gyung Pyo (Flower Boy Next Door, God’s Quiz Season 3) is cast as Ko Byeon Shin and Kim Ji Won (To The Beautiful You, What’s Up) is cast as Sa Tan Hee in one part of the Scary Stories II directed by Jung Bum Sik. The plot is a teacher in training finds himself locked up in a different world after he follows a strange story heard from a student.Accident ("Sago")
Baek Jin Hee (I Summon You, Gold,Jeon Woo Chi) is cast as Kang Ji Eun, Kim Seul Gi (Flower Boy Next Door, 21st Century Family) is cast as Yoon Mi Ra,and Jung In Sun (Café Noir, The Ages of Heroes) is cast as Gil Sun Joo in another part of Scary Stories II directed by Kim Whee. The plot is about three friends who go on a trip and get into a car accident. Since then they go through horrifying experiences.
Cliff (“Jeolbyuk”)
Sung Joon (Can We Get Married,Shut Up: Flower Boy Band) is cast as Dong Wook and Lee Soo Hyuk (What’s Up,A Tree with Deep Roots) is cast as Sung Kyun in yet another part of Scary Stories II directed by Kim Sung Ho. The plot is about two friends who climb a mountain and find themselves in a life or death situation.
Cruel City/Undercover
Just wanted to let you guys know that Undercover has been changed to Cruel City. If you look for it subbed, then you should check under both names. It starts May 25.
There are the dramas and movies coming your way. What do you think? Do any of them interest you?
