Gong Yoo’s ‘Han Gyul’ Exactly as Writer Pictured
Can you tell I’m having a slow work day? LOL. Just one more Coffee Prince-related post before the weekend! (I swear, I’m Coffee Prince-ing myself out.) I found this interesting article and (what else?) felt the need to share. I love this kind of behind-the-scenes writerly stuff. Full credits and source behind the jump.
==========================
Gong Yoo’s “Coffee Prince” Character Just as Writer Lee Sun Mi Imagined
Love rectangle created for a fresh take of the romantic novel for television broadcast
By Reporter Nam Eun Ju
August 10, 2007
Looking back at July, there was a writer, Lee Sun Mi (36), behind television programming every day from Monday through Thursday. As the original novelist of “Kyung Sung Sad Story,” adapted into the Wednesday-Thursday drama “Kyung Sung Scandal” [aka "Capital Scandal"], which just finished its last episode on the 1st, romantic novelist Lee Sun Mi is also penning scripts for the Monday-Tuesday series “Coffee Prince Store #1,” of which she is also the original novelist, screenwriting under the pen name of Lee Jung Ah.
I met the writer behind the romance drama in Seoul’s Hongdae.
(Random) SONG OF THE DAY
Mono Diary - “달콤함에 빠지다” (lost in sweetness) [ zShare download ]
The writer who’d imagined the “sad story” around the independence movement, as well as the cafe operated by pretty-boy “princes,” said she is “addicted to stories that willingly sacrifice a bit of reality for the sake of romance.” Even while writing within the standardized format of romantic storytelling, she attempted to cross the lines between period piece and fantasy, and of course also genres such as homosexual love stories. After taking a position at Shin Young Media in 1999, during the eight years in which she wrote twenty romantic novels, she wrote with the intention of not repeating her settings and subject matter.
Of course, she had a strategy to survive in the romantic fiction world of broad, superficial romances that appeal to upwards of ten thousand people. “It’s a double-edged sword. The reader does grow weary of the patterns of romance fiction, but without those elements, you turn those readers off. In trying to explore something different in all my material, Coffee Prince is a novel I wrote keeping in mind the feel of popular Japanese novels, which fall somewhere between romance novels and pure literature.” However, romantic fiction is a genre that the writer herself enjoys, and so her main characters have not deviated much. Indeed, Sun Woo Wan of “Kyung Sung Sad Story” and Choi Han Gyul of “Coffee Prince” give the impression of reflecting the writer’s own preference for strong, masculine men.
In their respective dramas, those two have certainly been transformed into lighthearted, cheerful personalities. Although the original author is involved in these adaptations, she has been the one to urge the director to make cuts, saying, “If you can make it better, it doesn’t matter to me what you do.” She says, “Kang Ji Hwan (playing Sun Woo Wan)’s image was a bit more refined than in the novel, but Gong Yoo (playing Choi Han Gyul) was undoubtedly that character. He came across both like a youthful boy as well as a man, as well as being difficult to please… Even without having signed the contract, afterward when I was adapting the story, I only had Gong Yoo in mind as I wrote.” For him, Coffee Prince wasn’t just a novel to be unraveled with words. This was depicted in the 12th episode aired on the 7th, when Han Gyul (Gong Yoo) finds out that Eun Chan (Yoon Eun Hye) is a girl, and at the end of their fight, they officially embark on their romance. While this was the final wrap-up of the original story, the drama still has four episodes remaining in which to create something wholly original. “I thought the novel might exceed the first volume so I wrapped it up rather quickly, and felt some disappointment. I missed the opportunity of exploring aspects of developing the romance between the two main characters in the second half of the book.”
In the novel, Han Gyul seems to change suddenly, but, “in the drama, he goes through the process of naturally changing into someone who’s able to express his inner emotions.”
What does the writer feel fits her best, between being an original novelist and the writer of an adaptation? After Coffee Prince, Lee Sun Mi intends to try her hand at writing an original script. “In the drama, we’re creating dramatic threads and love triangles and rectangles that weren’t present in the original work. There may be those who are dissatisfied, but criticism is something I should willingly accept in order to create interesting, fun melodrama. Marriage? Putting aside what I’ve read, I’ll have to meet someone I like enough to go out with, I suppose.”
Source: Hankyoreh :: Hani.co.kr
‘커프’ 작가 이선미씨 “공유씨 상상속 주인공과 똑같아”
로맨스소설가 출신으로 방송가 새바람
“재미를 위해선 사각관계라도 만들 것”7월 한달을 돌아보면, 월요일부터 목요일까지 안방극장의 뒷편에는 이선미 작가(36)가 있었다. 로맨스 소설 작가인 그는 지난 1일 막을 내린 한국방송 수목드라마 <경성스캔들>의 원작자(<경성애사>)이며, 문화방송 월화드라마 <커피프린스 1호점>에서는 원작자이면서 이정아라는 필명으로 이 드라마의 대본도 쓰고 있다. 방송가에 로맨스 드라마 바람을 몰고 온 이선미 작가를 서울 홍대앞에서 만났다.
독립운동가들의 ‘애사’를 상상하고 꽃미남들을 ‘왕자다방’에 모았던 그는 “로맨스를 위해 기꺼이 리얼리티를 희생하는 중증의 이야기 중독자”이다. 로맨스물의 제약과 정형화된 구조 속에서도 이 작가는 시대물과 판타지는 물론 근친애, 동성애처럼 장르와 사랑의 층위를 넘나들며 바지런한 시도를 해봤다. 1999년 신영미디어 공모전으로 등단한 뒤 8년 동안 로맨스 소설 20편을 내면서 소재나 배경이 반복되는 일이 없도록 마음을 썼다고 한다.
물론 “1만명이 전체 시장을 움직이는 넓고도 얕은 로맨스 소설계에서 살아남기 위한” 생존전략이기도 했다. “양날의 칼이에요. 로맨스 소설의 전형성이 독자들의 권태를 부추기기도 하지만 전형성이 빠지면 외면당하죠. 작품마다 새로운 것을 시도해보는데 <커피프린스…>는 로맨스 소설과 순수문학 사이에 있는 일본 대중소설 같은 느낌을 추구해봤던 소설이었어요.” 그러나 로맨스 소설은 작가의 자기만족이 큰 장르이기 때문에 주인공의 캐릭터는 크게 변하지 않는다고 했다. 과연 <경성애사>의 선우완이나 <커피프린스…>의 최한결 등 그의 남자 주인공은 작가의 취향을 반영하듯 강인하고 남자다운 인상이었다.
그런 그들이 드라마에서는 어김없이 가볍고 경쾌한 인물로 탈바꿈했다. 작품을 사수하는 원작자가 있지만 이 작가는 “여기서 더 나아질 수 있다면 뭘 해도 상관없다”며 감독의 칼질을 부추기는 원작자다. “강지환(선우완 역)씨는 소설보다 세련된 이미지였다면, 공유(최한결 역)씨는 영락없이 그 사람이었어요. 청년 같고 소년 같고 남자답고 까칠하고…. 계약서에 사인도 안했는데 이후 극본은 공유씨만 염두에 두고 쓰게 되더라고요.” <커피프린스…>는 그에게 그저 ‘소설을 말로 풀어내는 일’만은 아니었다. 지난 7일 방송된 12회에서는 은찬(윤은혜)이 여자라는 것을 알게 된 한결(공유)이 다툼 끝에 정식으로 연인관계를 맺는 과정이 그려졌다. 원작에서는 마지막 장에 해당하는 이야기라 남은 4부는 온전히 드라마만의 창작분이다. “소설은 1권을 넘어가는 분량이 될 것 같아 급하게 끝맺은 아쉬움이 있었습니다. 후반부에서는 주인공들의 연애가 무르익으면서 사랑의 여러 고비와 국면을 그립니다.” 소설에서는 한결이 갑자기 변하는 것처럼 나오지만 “드라마에서는 내재된 감성을 표현할 줄 아는 사람으로 자연스럽게 바뀌는 과정이 나온다”고 한다.
원작자, 각색자의 역할을 해본 그에게 가장 몸에 맞는 옷은 무얼까? 이선미 작가는 <커피프린스…> 이후에는 아예 원작 없는 대본작업에 손대볼 계획이다. “드라마는 원작에는 없었던 멜로라인과 삼각, 사각관계를 만들면서 중독성을 퍼뜨리죠. 못마땅한 사람도 있겠지만 재미있는 멜로를 위해서라면 어떤 비판도 감수하겠어요. 결혼요? 읽던 이야기를 엎어두고 만나러 나갈 정도의 사람이 있어야지요.” 글 남은주 기자 mifoco@hani.co.kr, 사진 정용일 기자 yongil@hani.co.kr
RELATED POSTS:
Tags: Capital Scandal, Coffee Prince, Gong Yoo, Kang Ji-hwan, scriptwriters
Have a nice week end ! see you next ep ! ^^
Wow, i’m so glad that out of the many fine actors in Korea they’ve chosen Gong Yoo to play the role of Han Gyul. I mean, his facial expressions alone is enough to blow you away and when he delivers his line you can feel the emotions and all. I’m totally hooked, and can’t wait till the next episode…….
It’s good that she thinks he is the perfect Gong Yoo fits the role perfectly, cause I do too! :p
That was an interesting read (thank you, javabeans!).. In terms of finding a lifetime companion, I’d imagine Ms. Lee Sun Mi as someone who is difficult to please, you know.. being a romance novelist and all ^^.. But good luck to her for all of her future projects, whatever it may be.. who knows, she might score another Coffee Prince or even bigger and better script/book in near future.
Thank you for the behind-the-scenes peek, Javabeans! It’s great that the writer participated in the screenplay and had an actor in mind for one of her main characters (awesome choice too!). Makes me wonder what she thinks of YEH as EC!
For all the Coffee Prince fans out there who wants something to help tide them over for the weekend, I found that someone had made little music videos for each episode of Coffee Prince (except epi05). Now you can watch your favorite scenes over and over again! YAY! These MVs can be found on his/her YouTube site: http://youtube.com/user/lcharmiel In the description for each video, s/he also provides a link to download the full video! Double Yay! Have a great weekend everyone!
i was actually wondering who else did they consider for the role and i’m surprised to know that it was written with him in the writers mind already — and fits perfectly really…
but still among other korean actors if it wasn’t made for gong yoo who do you think would be fit for the role as well? i’m thinking of Song Seung Hun, Kim Rae Won, Song Il Gook, Jae Hee but they are just a “maybe” it’ll work —- of course and again the role fits perfectly for GONG YOO….
And same here Javabeans…. I’ve been trying to get that Coffee Prince-ing out of my mind while waiting but I still can’t help it… Yesterday I started to watch it all over again from Episode 1 and been checking d-addicts for the subs for 11th and 12th cup but no sign of it yet for both… hmmm i’m totally stucked! Can’t get my mind off of it….. and i can’t wait for monday’s episode…. this is totally addicting! (your site is even my homepage now! LMAO)
Anyway, thanks for all your updates javabeans!
have a great weekend to you and to all the followers of dramabeans!
I always love reading about writers. Thanks for the post.
What drama are you going to watch after Coffee Prince?
just as coffee prince-d as everyone else! absolutely hooked on anything coffee prince. seriously. and i’ve been reading the book (in english, check out xanga.com/coffeeprince) and i do tend to picture gong yoo as hang gyul when reading. i think he’s really nailed down the part and gives it a certain kind of charm (admit it, all the gals reading this blog swoon over this guy!). thanks javabeans for giving us our much needed coffee prince fix (summary, articles, and what not!). more more more!
i, too, appreciate reading about what happened behind the scenes. that’s why i appreciate those kind of special features in my DVDs of movies. yay.
i am very grateful, javabeans.
Thanks Javabeans it is nice to have something to tide us over.
Wow. Gong Yoo looks hot in this picture! I didnt know about him before Coffee Prince. He’s definitely a very good actor. He is able to transform from a fun guy to a very serious and sensitive kind of person in his acting. Thanks to the writer for writing a very nice story!
Once again, THANK YOU Javabeans for all your postings. Yes, Gong Yoo fits the character in Coffee Prince out to out. A very fine and talented actor. The writer deserved a smack on the back for writing such wonderful novel. Yo…everyone, hang loose over the weekend. For me, I’m hanging out with Coffee Prince and drowning in happiness. Cheers!!!
I didn’t know who Gong Yoo is before Coffee Prince…I’m last introduced to Kdrama about 5 yrs ago , now I’m a big fan, I’m a non-Korean , living in America. I’d seen a numberous of handsome K-actors , Gong Yoo was not a stunner at first glance for me but he won me over w/his acting skills , I’m his biggest fan now . Thank you Korea for sharing w/the rest of the world that love is universal , its can transform in any languages . And thank you Dramabean and the writer of this site , I’m addicted to your columns . Here’s looking forward to your success.
Thanks for sharing. It is interesting to find out some details behind the scenes. I wonder though if like in the US, the leads audition before the director and screenwriters before final casting is made. In which case, if Gong Yoo was the first choice, did he have a read through with other actresses before they decided on YEH?
Just some of his films that I know:
Spy Girl ( I love this movie!)
S Diary
One Fine Day
She’s On Duty
Hardtack Teacher and Star Candy
My Tutor Friend (but i cant recall seeing him there… gotta watch it again!)
WOW, javabeans, thanks for this insight on Coffee Prince’s writer. And also thanks for all the other postings too (the novel, drama summary, etc). I didn’t realise the writer for the drama and novel are the same person - no wonder
tuesdhei -> My Tutor Friend ??? Is he in it ?? O_O
wow, so glad they chose GY for this role
he certainly fits it to a T
YEH had to “audition” for this role, there was an article about the character of EC offered to someone else (can’t remember the name, sorry) but the girl’s company didn’t take it coz of that girl’s shampoo contract (so she can’t cut her hair)?
i’d say that it’s a blessing in disguise (just like when YEH wasn’t able to do QSS) coz i believe CP is much more suited to YEH
and there’s also some BTS pics of YEH shooting last Friday so i think she is ok now (health wise).
and the PD and the writer, they are both amazing! as well as the whole cast and staff, kudos!
thanks javabeans for giving us a Coffee fix. much appreciated!
gong yoo is perfect as HG. he’s able to give life to the character. he is quite loveable and endearing. i think this is the best kdrama i saw of him. better than biscuit teacher and star pupil. love him =)
Thanks for translating this article for us. Somehow I’m so happy to learn that the writer of the novel and the screenplay are that same person - makes me less anxious about the direction the remaining episodes will take.
Yes, he was in My Tutor Friend. The leader of the gang that captured Kim Ha Neul at the end.
I want to share with everyone a video of Gong Yoo singing at a recent fan event. Although not perfect, I thought he was acceptable. We love him anyway now.
I’ll post this on my blog, please leave comment! 
I’ll also post a short preview of Coffee Prince ep 13.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2ZkruByBeN8
hey javabeans!!! thanks so much for all CP’s news u’ve posted before. as always i enyoy reading ur posts while listening to the cool music u upload.. but this time i don’t why, since yesterday i can’t download the song of this post. i think it was the same for all the songs(in all the posts), but it’s only in this one.
is something wrong with the link ? can u check please:)? thanks in advance :):):):):)
Hi JB,
Thanks for all the news and info on CP while we’re waiting for next week. On a side note I think Kang Ji Hwan in Capital Scandal is also another good actor. Just like Gong Yoo, Kang Ji Hwan is not all that good looking but their acting is very good. I hope you’ll be posting Capital Scandal too. Have a good weekend!!
MinMey “i think it was the same for all the songs(in all the posts), but it’s only in this one. is something wrong with the link?”
Works for me. But the initial buffering time was very long (around 3 mins) because of the load on the site. Could it be that the other songs that work fine for you are ones you listened to on an earlier visit? In which case, those older songs will be stored in your browser cache, and so play instantly, whereas the new one has to be fetched firt time round from the dramabeans server.
Gramps, thanks for replaying i think the problem was the link and not the sever. Anyways it’s fixed and i can download it
thanks
Hello Javabeans! thanks for the info it brighten my day…this addiction is awesome….It’s good to know that the writer is the same for both…and too bad that the writer ended the novel with him realizing he as a she. But hey it helps the drama be more interesting and in the novel the reader can debate if they finally get together or leave it at that…get it?….(rambling words in my brain….)
Have a good weekend!
have you read about the news? this will be gong yoo’s last drama…. after coffee prince he’ll be doing his military service — ugh and that’s two years… at the peak of his career right - that is just really — ugh!!!
here’s the link>> http://asianfilms-ent.blogspot.com/2007/08/gong-yoo-leaving-to-serve-his-military.html
To: 17 LW
I just checked, he’s there alright, “as the bully” (supporting cast only) he played as the school gang leader who got beat up by the lead actor in the beginning of the movie…
do watch “HARDTACK TEACHER AND STAR CANDY” — IT’S A MUST SEE DRAMA!
here’s where you can watch “HARDTACK TEACHER AND STAR CANDY”
http://asianfilms-watchonline.blogspot.com/2007/08/biscuit-teacher-and-star-candy.html
She’s so lucky! Many writers will create with a particular actor in mind. She got her wish!
Hi!!!!Gong Yoo I come from Thailand Bkk, I be satisfied you so much. I hope you have series on TV and movie and I hope hear from you soon, Gong Yoo fighting fighting. Pim
i’m glad to know that the author liked Gong yoo to play as the coffee prince. He is just SO PERFECT for the role!!nobody could do it right but him!hope he will be more famous because of this show..More Power to Coffee prince and of course goodluck to GY! wooohooo!!!
Hi!!! Im Liza from Philippines I like Gong Yoo’s “Coffee Prince” He’s very cute and a good actor. I like him grabeeee
Hi, Im Reggie from Philippines. I love watching Knovela but not as crazy as this. At first glance Gong yoo was not that a goodlooking guy as i thought. My god when i finished watching the CPrince, His the man that every woman will be dreaming off. His really a guy next door. A very very good actor actor as well. Gong yoo fits the role perfectly. Little sad coz Gong Yoo will going to the military service. Hope the two (Yoon Eun Hye and Gong Yoo) will do more series like this again after the two years of service in military of GY.
More power and God Bless!!!!!!
Fall in love with Gong Yoo after watching this drama, that I’m currently trying to watch every single movie/drama he’s in. Yes, he is not that good looking but there is just something about his facial expression; his shy smiles, the way his eyes tears up, when he eyes roamed about….sigh!
My second favourite moment in CP was after Eun Chan’s confession and this is what he have to say
“I need someone who trust me, and even though the whole world laugh at me and call me an imbecile. I need someone who can tell me, Choi Han Keol just haven’t the oppurtunity to prove himself; Choi Han Keol does what he puts his mind to; Choi Han Keol just havent found his way yet, but when he do, he’ll be able to make something out of himself. I need someone who can trust me like that, not someone like you who deceives me even while we’re in love. Who is afraid of being abandoned”
The way he delivers the line, make me root for him, whereas before I was like “Dude, get off your high horse! So she deceives you…big deal! Who has never told a lie in this life? She has her reasons - but now she comes clean..so get over it lah!” Hahaha…..
ang gwapo mo talaga gong yu crush nga kita eh!!!!!!!!
how i wish gong yoo is my boy friend..hehehe! it will always remain as my dream!!! but how can it be..gong yoo is out in showbuzznesss for 2 years because of his military service!! i’m really dsapnted!! i’m really looking 4ward in seeing him in an another koreanovela with yun eun hye..but, unfortunately!! he’s out 4 2 years..i’d reali cry wen i knew dat story..huhuhu!!oh,,well…gong yoo i love u… bby d’ way i’m ur no. 1 fan her n d’ philippines…
Wow!!! im not a fond of watching koreanovelas but i think after watching coffee prince I’d be watching more koreanovelas…i love the fact that its a heavy drama…Coffee prince is a feel good series. it makes me feel good whnever im watching it. it lightens up my mood.
I also love Gong yoo!!! gosh!!! i love his character in Coffee prince, gong yoo and eun hye really look good together. they are a good tandem.
i love how all the cast of Coffee prince brought to life each characters….
good job!!!
thanks to the writter of Coffee prince too. you have conceptualized an amazing masterpiece….this is the kind of love story that id let my kids whatch in the future!!!!
i love Coffee Prince!!! i love gong yoo!!! hahahah
ang gwapo mo tlga sobrang cute…………………….., pa
I really loved the story even though its a bit short, i think!…..i wonder if there’s 2nd shop of coffee prince….i wish your planning to write the second part of it with my fingers cross. I really have sleepless nights just to wait for the next episode and imagining what will happen next. I love the characters….I was intrigue what will happen for the other character in the movie I hope they too have their lover on the next part. I really admire writers who can make this kind of drama. Hope i can hear from you!
iuhutyh
hay naku ang gwapo mo arthur choi (gong yoo) i hope na sana after 7 years mkta kta kc pupunta koh dyan sa korea
i love you gong.from kim
hay naku…ang cute talaga ni arthur…hay….!!!!
hi gong yoo how are you??
i do hope that you are in good health. i am Kaye one of your fan here in Philippines. i wish i can see you or may i say i can meet you someday. i hope also that you can read this message. Many people in the Philippines love your drama espiecially the coffee prince. Most of the Filipino love it. And yoon eun hye i like her role in that drama she is so funny..
but sometimes i was crying because it really touches..
more power to you..
also to yoon eun hye..
God bless you…!!!
hi!you are my most vip idol in the philippines!
i realy love the coffee prince drama…. everytime i watch it… i just hope.. that love story will never end.. congratulation to the team… u guys make my day…
hello everyone, i am a filipina fan of coffee prince. i really love the show and i hope there’s a part 2 when gong yoo come back from his military service. i don’t want any actor to portray as but he only. eh and gy are really good loveteam. i like their chemistry. i hope that by 2010 there’s a coffee prince 2. thank you very much, hope you grant my request…..
Hi!
Hope you read this, im mariana from the philippines, i love your movie ‘coffee prince” and its because of you.i watch more of your movies like one fine day, s-diary ang spy girl .you are really a great actor.hope to see you in person.
god bless!
Hey Javabeans..
Thank you for the information about these two..
I’ve been really obsessed with Gong Yoo before because of Coffee Prince or it’s his character Choi Han Kyul that I’m in love..
And now, I’m more obsessed with Kang Ji Hwan..
Thanks for loving him also..
Keep on posting facts about them…
Cause it really makes my heart happy..
Especially, after knowing that Kang Ji Hwan is an awesome child to his parents..
You’re really making me fall in love more with him..
Keep up the good work and post lots of info about this two hot guys…
This is very first korean series that I like very much. Gong you is the best actor. He can play in many roles and his acting for this serie make people understand Choi Han Gyul easily.
He is very cute guy….. I will waiting for coming back from MS.
MISS YOO SO MUCH
YAY!!! In my opinion, He was made to play Han Kyul and he’s so cute and talented! Oh! Love the blog. keep up the good work! Fighting!
I love Coffee prince.I’m falling in love him.He so cute when he smile.
Gong Yoo.. i love you eiei
hi your my one idol!!! keep it up for your a good actor
wow!! my gosh!!!he’s so handsome!!!
gercektende cok yakısıklısın tatlım
gong yoo ur the best!!!i wish someday ill meet you!!
u are so cute goo yong!!!someday il go to korea justn to see you(^_^)
u are so cute goo yong!!!
i love you
goo yong!i hate you coz ur not here!!i wish someday u will come here in tha phil
!!
i just want to say ilove you gung yoo
Gong Yoo is simply gorgeous!! He’s my Coffee Prince ever! Waitin for his nx show… take care in army!
hii..gong yoo
i’m from indonesia, i very like your film in coffee prince
i wish are someone like you can love me,
may you be my friend?i hope you want be my friend,
your accting is good, and i hope you get the best…