I’m a little surprised at this news, and not because Big Bang member Daesung has been cast in premier writer Song Ji-nah‘s upcoming drama series. Rather, I’m a little taken aback at the subject matter — the drama is called What’s Up and is set in the musical department of a university — because writer Song is best known for her serious dramas on epic scales. Stuff with ambition and heft, like Sandglass, Eyes of Dawn, Legend, and most recently the dark thriller Story of a Man. A campus drama called What’s Up isn’t even on the same scale with the rest, in terms of scope, although that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Just unexpected.
Song confirmed the news on December 6, praising Daesung by saying, “He sings well, has a good personality, and is adorable. The other cast members are also incredibly cute.” She stated that the drama is about half cast so far, and it looks like they will probably find the rest through an open audition.
What’s Up had borne the earlier title Zero Plus and is a sort of sequel to her 1999-2000 drama KAIST, which starred Chae Rim and was set at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology. Daesung’s role is of a student in the musical department. The drama is aiming to air in the first half of the year.
Tags: Daesung, What's Up
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is this the drama that apparently TOP of big bang was supposed to be in and now Daesung is taking over instead? i didn’t realize who the writer was, but this just makes me 10000 times more excited for it, if it is!!!
whoo hoo! perhaps it will deal with the real trials and tribulations of what it is to go through music school and be a musical genius?!!
good for daesung
im excited to see this
woo daesung….m really excited for him….hes good singer….
cant wait…..^_^…..
bigbang…..fighting
daesung is such a dork
but also a good singer…so i hope he does well!
Big Bang, variety show, and hosting duties, Daesung has such a wonderful, sweet charisma. I think it’s a better fit too. It may just be me, but it would seem kinda strange to see TOP without a gun in a show. (Now if they call this show Agent Zero Plus and have TOP play Gilbert Arenas, well hey there’s an idea . . . )
“A campus drama called What’s Up isn’t even on the same scale with the rest, in terms of scope, although that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Just unexpected.”
It’s welcome though. The one thing that I think K-drama did better 10 years ago was depict student life. (Also, Kaist was like a magnet for would-be stars, essentially introducing a generation.) LOVE to see if Seo InYoung gets a role.
I’m kinda disappointed that Daesung’s the lead and not some other male idol singer that I like. It’s stupid but I have this really long list of k-pop artists I want to see in a drama and Daesung is nowhere in it = (
I’m not gonna judge before watching this drama but am a bit disappointed with the casting.
baka~~~
I agree!!!!!
with you dae!
What an awkward picture you put of him…
I love that kid. He really adorable and he has a great voice. I’m looking forward to how his acting chops are.
Is it just me, or are there far more women in writing and directing roles in Korea’s tv/movie industry compared to America’s?
I’m happy for Daesung and I’ve excited to see him act. I was slightly disappointed when I read that TOP turned down the role because I was excited to see him in something without a gun, but I think Daesung is an interesting choice and the drama sounds like something I’ll enjoy.
Wow am I sensing You Are Beautiful undertones here? Interesting
I know I’m being quite facetious; haven’t caught the drama you see..
@8 ditto. I wonder too.. hopefully someone can shed some light?
Ah, I love Daesung. He’s so adorable! Can’t wait to see him in this drama.
ive seen dae sung in family outing he is so hilarious..!.and def has the chops i think..looking forward to seeing him in this new drama
Ohhhh! He’s like an angel with Cherubic voice! I’m so happy for him and myself!
@ 5 belleza
Big Bang, variety show, and hosting duties, Daesung has such a wonderful, sweet charisma. I think it’s a better fit too. It may just be me, but it would seem kinda strange to see TOP without a gun in a show. (Now if they call this show Agent Zero Plus and have TOP play Gilbert Arenas, well hey there’s an idea . . . )
You are sooo right as usual!
OK i’m so in. I LOVE Deasung so much!~ He’s just too adorable even though he’s not a hottie. I will show my support!!!
Daesung is so funny and has a great voice. I wonder if his character will be similar to himself and be funny too.
Anyway, although TOP & Daesung are both from Big Bang, they have very different type of charisma… so I wonder how a role that was offered to TOP also fits Daesung? Maybe they changed the character a bit in order to fit Daesung?
Anyway, this seems like an interesting drama to watch! Great drama writer and a charismatic person like Daesung playing the lead.
wow Daesung, after Family Outing now we can see him acting in drama. He have a great voice and cute personality, hope he will do great job in drama
JB, as far as I know, Song Ji-nah’s KAIST is a collection of short dramas. Each drama features a different story about “students” of KAIST. Each story starred not just Chae Rim as you wrote in your article, but a host of other Korean stars (different story, different set of actors) who are now in their late 20s to 40s (as belleza wrote “introducing a generation” of Korean stars). Among these Korean stars are Jo Hyun Jae (3Dads 1 Mom, Seo Dong Yo, Love Letter, 9-Tailed Fox, Untold Scandal, GP506), Kim Myung Min (White Tower, My Love By My Side), Lee Na Young (Ruler of your own world) , Kim Min Jung (Fashion 70s, New Heart), Park Jin Hee (Money’s Warfare), Kim Joo Hyuk (Lovers in Prague), Yun Jung Hoon (Jejoongwoon, East of Eden), Lee Kyu Han (Kim Sam Soon), Han Sang Jin (Sons of Sol Pharmacy). Anyway, here’s a link to KAIST’s page for those interested http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Kaist
I’ m so happy for Daesung being cast as the lead for this new drama. =D
I hope it’s a comedy and that he can will get to sing a few songs. I love his voice (it gives me chills of the good kind). Wish him lots of luck in this new series. <3 <3 <3
Are you guys sure he was cast as the “lead”? I don’t see that anywhere in the article.
ah daesung ♥
such a sweet, funny guy whose amazing voice goes sometimes sadly underused and therefore unnoticed. i'm definitely looking forward to this. hopefully we get to hear some powerful vocals too (:
thanks for sharing this jb!
nodame cantabile-esque? not a fan of big bang — pretty neutral but music’s always a fun element to have. Glee for example, is much love!
I think he will do great in acting. Daesung is a sweetheart.
Fighting!
I absoultely ADORE Daesung..he’s so lively and funny~ goodness, I wonder what kind of role he’s going to have in the show….but I’m super excited…..his personality makes up for everything lacking in looks (not that he’s bad looking, just he’s been deemed by so many in the kpop industry as the “ugly” one…drive me bonkers)
yaaay my favorite member in big bang
am sooo excited to see what he will will be bringing on
KAIST was said to be popular when it was shown. Contrary to what people believe, it was actually on this show that Chae Rim got popular in Korea, not All About Eve. And yes, it was a drama showing the student life of KAIST students but it was apparent on the first epis of the drama that the story focused on the characters of Chae Rim, Lee Min Woo and Kim Jung Hyun. Chae Rim left the show after epi 21 but the drama continued until epi 81.
Lee Eun Joo was also in this show.
“Chae Rim left the show after epi 21 but the drama continued until epi 81. ”
That’s worth mentioning — if it’s a true KAIST sequel, it’ll be a long running show with people coming in and out of the show. Just a good way to introduce up-and-coming talent too young or green to seriously feature in primetime dramas.
@Belleza
Agreed.
Chae Rim left, I think to do another drama, or because so much was on her plate at that time she was getting sick already. Then the story shifted to Lee Eun Joo’s character.
It would be nice to see Chae Rim guesting in What’s Up, showing homage to KAIST. Maybe the writer can say to Chae Rim that its time to pay back for leaving the show before. lol.
And oh, Lee Byung Hun also guested in KAIST as the blind tutor.
He looks liek Brock from Pokemon
o_o
@28: LMAO brock from pokemon?
Nothing’s really wrong with Brock though. x] Dae Sung’s such a cutiee. Can’t wait to see this drama, and I’m crossing my fingers in hope that the acting will actually be good.
My bad, Chae Rim was in KAIST in more than 21 episodes. Maybe until half-way of the series.
All I care about in this cast is Im Joo-Hwan!!! I want to see him all over again in this drama.
If you haven’t seen Im Joo-Hwan (aka. Park Kyu) in Drama – Tamra the Island, then you don’t know what I am talking about! A brilliant Actor!
im so happy! if it is big bang i will see it all! i love him! he’s so funny and adorable!
dae sung! dae sung! dae sung!
I have just watched this show and I’m very disappointed that there was not enough parts of Dae Sung. I was hoping the story were more focus on Dae Sung parts. It feel like there might be a sequel when i watched the last episode.