Lee Hong-ki is mostly famous for being a member of the popular pop/rock band FT Island, but he’s looking forward to returning to acting, which he’ll do in SBS’s trendy idol-star drama You’re Beautiful [미남이시네요], his first drama gig in five years. (He has made cameo appearances on dramas and sitcoms, but his last drama role was in MBC’s 2004 series Freezing Point.)
I’d say most of the press attention is focused on its leads — Jang Geun-seok as the idol band leader and Park Shin-hye as his crossdressing teammate — but with FT Island’s popularity, I’m sure there’s a vocal minority who’s excited for Lee Hong-ki.
Lee says that partly due to his membership in an idol group, he felt comfortable approaching his role as an upbeat character of an idol group: “The director, Hong Sung-chan, told me to just be as I usually am and to use the way we normally talk in our dialogue, so I didn’t feel a lot of pressure.”
The idol group within the drama is called A.N.JELL (which makes me cringe a little, but I suppose it’s not any worse than real band names like 2NE1). Lee Hong-ki’s character is named “Jeremy” and is a gyopo (Korean living abroad) from England. His father is an upper-class Englishman while his mother was once a famous model, and he grew up well-off.
Lee says his fellow FT Island bandmates are cheering him on, and are looking at his role with particular interest because they also have an interest in acting. He described the pull he feels to both being a singer and actor: “When I am performing as a singer, I feel a thrill standing onstage, and as I act, I feel affection for the television screen.”
I wonder if Lee Hong-ki’s casting was at all influenced positively by another actress, Choi Ran, who is a Hong sisters favorite. Choi has appeared in three of their dramas: She played Jae Hee’s mother in Chun-hyang, Lee Dong-wook’s aunt in My Girl, and Jang Geun-seok’s loyal servant in Hong Gil Dong. She also played Lee Hong-ki’s mother in 2004′s Freezing Point, and has also been cast in You’re Beautiful as the aunt to Park Shin-hye’s twin characters.
Speaking of whom, You’re Beautiful is also drawing attention for its writing team, the Hong sisters (Hong Mi-ran, Hong Jung-eun) who have now penned four successful romantic-comedy dramas. While their dramas have had their flaws, I have greatly enjoyed them all, and consider their writing style to be at the top of the trendy genre. They don’t give up on their characters halfway through or cop out of storylines, which unfortunately is not always true in other trendy dramas. They also have an ability to keep twists funny and the pace fast and exciting, and have been lucky with casting charismatic lead actors with strong chemistry (Jae Hee, Lee Da-hae, Lee Dong-wook, Han Ye-seul, and Kang Ji-hwan, among others).
I hope their streak extends to You’re Beautiful, which premieres on Wednesday, October 7.
Via Joy News
RELATED POSTS
- Jang Geun-seok gets into character for You’re Beautiful
- Park Shin-hye is Jang Geun-seok’s girl in You’re Beautiful
- Hong sisters idol drama to be led by Jang Geun-seok
- New idol star drama in the works
RECENTLY RECAPPED
he’s kinda creepy i the first picture…but this drama could be interesting
A.N.JELL is a pretty weird name, but 2NE1 isn’t as weird as the new groups that are coming out — HAM, a girl group, and MBLAQ, a guy group. I guess people really like initials.
Hong Mi-ran, Hong Jung-eun = favorite. <3
Just as long as there’s no Engrish. Just the clichéd description of aristocratic English makes me cringe enough… still, may be interesting(/lol-worthy)…
Oooh Hong-ki, I’ve never seen him act but he is my favorite in FT Island. The guy has got pipes and singing talent that can make you feel emotional. Eehh, you think 2NE1 is a funny name? haha I thought it fit pretty well since it sort of means “winner”.
LOVE the Hong Sisters. Their romantic comedies are always a sure bet for me. Reasons are that they always bring out the best in their actors even when they lack something and the storyline is too hilarious. It starts on October, close VERY close.
The weirdest band name out there is f(x) which sounds like a math problem to me. And the Korean show their love for androgyny by having one of the girls dress and act like a guy. So A.N.J.ell isn’t really cringe worthy. Kinda realistic since Korean bands sometimes have odd names.
i kindda like the name 2NE1. it’s unique. you guys dont think outside the box man……. f(x), B2ST,MBLAQ,FT ISLAND are all normal and sound cool to me. the wierd ones are SISTAR and MISS A. MISS A sound like a solo artist than an idol group…. SISTAR is just plain wierd…
lol @ the 2NE1 comment.
I really enjoyed watching their four dramas and I hope this one is a winner too.
hey javabeans,
are you going to write a review of Heading to the Ground?
dunno if I should watch the drama!
what is A.N.JELL suppose to mean anyways?
and whos the dude on the right?
he kinda outshines me dearest jang geun suk
he’s cute by the way:D
He’s my favorite pretty boy.
@8
I think A.N.JELL is supposed to be some weird form of the word “angel”
He’s a really good singer, sometimes too dramatic in some sad songs . Good luck on his acting career!!!
@Linh: the band was probably named ANGEL before, but there is a band ANGEL in real life, so they might change it just for the sake of the copyright
Omo, Choi Ran is acting in another Hong Sisters drama? Yay! ^^ But how about Ahn Suk-hwan?
Can’t wait for this drama. 17 days to go! ^^ Hong Sisters are my all-time favorite.
2NE1 isn’t that bad…..compared to groups like HAM (now that’s a pretty crappy band name…their debut song is called T.T Dance ~yep, said like it’s spelled…I know I laughed too)….
but anyway Hongki is a cutie, can’t wait to see what the Hong sisters will bring next, esp since the kdrama scene is really boring right now
ooh i’d wanna watch this drama for sure, considering it’s the Hong sisters penning it, as well as the cast! Park Shin Hye, Jang Geun Suk, Hongki! Hongki is <3, I just adore his singing.
Anyway, this is a new idea, isn't it? I've never watched a drama about an idol group, nor heard of one. And ya, A.N.JELL is quite the typical krn band name, so it's not out of place…there's some many more odd ones, like HAM (Heart And Mind) as someone said before, another's SHU-I (So Hot Union of Idols XDDDDD). I'm half expecting some group to pop out called Q=MCdeltat or something weird like that now, since they even have calculus coming in [f(x)]
I think 2NE1 is not that bad too, maybe because I’m bias :p ToAnyone or New Evolution of the 21st century, I love both meaning.
I’m really looking forward to this drama. I hope they will focus on the life of idol group, with all the practice, deal with dramas, competition,… not just love life
2NE1 isn’t so bad. Tons of more embarrassing names out there -> Twinky.
I keep on thinking of those fried twinkies -_-
Than theres B2ST. And the rumored TouchS.
A’st1. Etc. At least A.N.Jell sounds easy to pronounce. How do you pronounce
Whatever reason for Honki’s casting, at least he can sing.
…
Actually, he can sing better than Jang Geun Seok, but why is Jang Geun Seok the singer o___o?
But whose the guy on the far left?
He sort of sticks out – everyone else has an expression and some style. But he’s bland .____.
The cross-dresser. The emo. The pretty boy. Whose the guy suppose to be? Don’t tell me its a chaebol of a large Korean corporate that has decided to live on his own and join a band!?
All trendy-dramas have chaebols ….. -.-
looking forward to this drama!! I’ve always enjoyed romcoms especially from Hong sisters! Hong Gil Dong, My Girl & my ultimate favorite! Fantasy Couple <3
2NE1 isn’t that bad of a name haha. A.N.JELL mm I kinda like it.
The new girl group f(x) which pronounce “affect” is just a bit weird… I’m pretty sure people that don’t know will just think calculus and pronounce it f of x >__>
Well aniwhos, I’m looking forward to this drama (:
I like the meaning behind the name 2NE1 *but I’m bias ! LOL* but like everyone has said before hand there are worse K-pop idol names out there plus I personally like A.N.JELL
.. As for LHK I’m excited his in this drama, his one of the main reason why I’m watching out for this drama..
HUH!!! How do you get “affect” from f(x)? Yah, I’m one of those calculus people who thought it’s pronounced “f of x” . I don’t get it, there has to be a reasoning behind the name, but I’m just lost where the meaning went…
Hehe about the comment of emo Jang Geun Suk. From that picture, he does look very emo-ish. And Hong-ki (far right) looks goofy. Who is the guy in the far left?
Hahaa, I was ready to defend 2NE1, but almost every commentators already said that!
MBLAQ is weirder. f(x) is okay – we have mall here named exactly like that, so I wonder that SM Ent people had ever been here in Jakarta…:D
I like Lee Hong Ki- I wish more FT.Island members could join this show! Hahaha.
I like him better than Jang Geun Sukh. So I hope he gets more screen time!
hahah, i’ll watch this. as long as they don’t make hongki speak english, because as much as i love him, he just should never be allowed to speak english. hahah.
@22 goldlilys, the na,e f(x) [which i totallllyyy thought was f of x, too] has a silly meaning. The “f” stounds for like, flower or female or something. And the “x” refers to not only the “x” choromosome in females but also a ‘variable’ meaning that the members have a lot of talents….. i dont know, it’s pretty dumb. I’ve noticed that nearly all K-Pop group names are kind of weird/lame, it’s just no one cares. Because come on. Five Treasure Island? Super Junior? HAM? 2NE1? 4minute? They’re just weird…. hahah. but whateverr.
HONG KI!!!!!!!!!! i like his voice
another Hong sister’s drama….very interesting…
i like Choi Ran too but where’s her soulmate a.k.a Ahn Suk hwan??
f(x) is pronounced as affects. i think it’s the name that stands out. it may be dumb but see, it got you talking bout it right? yeah the f stands for flower, x stands for variety.
2ne1 is fine, imo.
HAM is just too much though. I was reading through omgkpop and saw a comment saying about what their fan club name could be…bacon..i LOLed all the way.
but is this new? consider the previous band names.
G.O.D = groove over dose
Baby VOX = Baby voices of xpression
Fin KL = Fine Killing Liberty
and the best:
H.O.T = high five of teenagers
What is high five of teenagers you tell me??
@ retsnom_Adedekutsu & gethuk: I totally agree. Someone please tell me there can be some part for Ahn Suk Hwan.
@26 chajjye
What about SS501, I heard it meant Super or Superstar Singers and since they are a 5 member grp thats the meaning of “5″ and I think “1″ stands for being 1 team or group. What about TVXQ/DBSK/Tohoshinki – what does it mean, anyone?
Come to think of it Korean idol groups really have “interesting” (polite way of saying ……..) names, hmmmm.
@budsdiana: TVXQ/DongBangShinki/Tohoshinki = Gods of the Rising East
@chajjye: Bacon!? lmao!
—
Most of the time, whenever names are picked, there always has to be a name or reason behind it -__-
this is also one of the dramas i am looking forward to since it is by the Hong Sisters!!!!!
I have bought all their dramas in dvd (original copy!! do not support piracy!!!) – mY GIRL, COUPLE OR TROUBLE, SASSY GIRL CHUN HYANG!!
so far I haven’t found an original dvd copy of HONG GIL DONG with English subtitles and region 1 or all code..
@anonymous:
that’s y clazziquai, loveholic, w&whale, epik high are all cool. hah. they aren’t idol groups.
well. i would say the better ones are:
Shinhwa
2PM + 2AM = OneDay
S.E.S = sea, eugene, shoo (simple name)
fly to the sky (a little lol-worthy but much better than the rest)
…
but back to the topic: hong ki should be the one singing. he wins jgs anyday.
LOL! Especially about the HAM clubs being called bacon! Regardless of the band name, I’ll still watch! I’ll going to give this at least two or three episodes to see whether to continue to watch it because I’ve really enjoyed all the previous Hong sisters’ dramas (especially Delightful Girl Chun-hyang and My Girl).
the ‘other guy’ in the picture (&by other guy, i mean the one who isn’t jang geun seok or lee hong ki) is named Jung Yong Hwa. Have I ever heard of him? No. hahah. I only know his name because I watched the SSTV segment where they played some songs & introduced themselves. (link to youtube video of this is my name… (: )
i love hongki! im cheering him on! i love geun suk toooooo!!! =] hehehe okay. i LOVE the whole cast!!! can’t wait!!! =D
OOOOOOMMMMMMMGGGGGGGG Jeremy he is the best actor ever sure he have to acte cuz he is the best looove u alot ** laughs ** u are soooo good at acting like kids u look soooooo cute hahahah …. the best ….
wow/// cool… i am freze
heoow….guys…it’s just his opinion…2NE1 doesn’t suck but they’re name is maybe weird for him…don’t quarrel with him??!!duh and FT ISLAND’s name is cool…even they’re song’s now for me….both names are cool…and they’re song too…so please watch…this in the net it’s really a cool drama..ANJELL…hehehe:)) love FT ISLAND…and JANG GEON SEOK:)
AN.JELL stood for ANGEL and 2NE1… if you read them out loud slowly… its “twentyone”
your so cute…………………
this is the best drama ever the year 2009 was rocken cuz of this drama …………
will there be You’re Beautiful [미남이시네요)2. if so,il be delightful to watch it!! cute charcters.