Drama Casting & News
Jung So-min cast as lead in Playful Kiss
by | July 15, 2010 | 103 Comments

Well, she’s no Park Bo-young, but of all the possible names in contention to lead Playful Kiss, new actress Jung So-min is my favorite choice. It’s being reported that she is the final choice for the lead role opposite Kim Hyun-joong (and let’s hope that after all the hoopla surrounding casting rumors, this one finally sticks).

Jung has some CF work to her credit, but the currently airing Bad Guy is her first screen credit. Despite her relative inexperience, she has been the recipient of a lot of praise for her acting in that drama. In fact, immediately after the drama premiered, there was a wave of press about her predicting that she was poised to become a star. (Read more about her in a recent interview.)

In Bad Guy, Jung plays the youngest daughter to a super-rich chaebol family, who is used as a pawn in Kim Nam-gil‘s revenge. The character of Mo-nae is at times sweet and other times bratty, but Jung brings a lovely presence to what could easily be an infuriating character. (I understand some find Mo-nae annoying, but I love her. I even love her when she’s being a spoiled brat, which is just so appropriate for her role, and her adolescent dramatics make me laugh.)

She has also been called a “Little Yoon Eun-hye” because of her facial resemblance to the star, although I find the comparison only really works if you look at the bottom half of her face. In any case, Jung has shown that she can effectively act both flighty and earnest and, most appealingly, is very natural in her acting. I look forward to watching her career develop (and predict it’ll skyrocket after Kiss).

Playful Kiss follows Road No. 1 on MBC and premieres on September 1.

Via SBS

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103 Comments
  1. ILoveGHS

    i’m happy with the lead girl choice. excited now!!!

  2. Ella

    Ohhhh, good choice! Now if only the lead actor… just… yea.

  3. aX

    “She has also been called a “Little Yoon Eun-hye” because of her facial resemblance to the star…”

    … NOT SO MUCH but I am willing to give her a try. No idea who she is though…

  4. unny

    I’m happy with her too! Glad it’s not another idol. Idol on idol is just too much. Also I’m glad she’s not super young. If Sulli had been cast, I wouldn’t have watched. I love Sulli, but an 1986′er with a 1994′er is a bit disturbing. I hope Jung So Min portrays a better Xiang Qin because frankly It Started With a Kiss pissed me off because the girl had absolutely no life besides her beloved Zhi Shu. It’s totally unrealistic.

  5. LadyIgraine

    I didn’t really like her acting in Bad Guy…but I’m willing to give her a second opinion.

  6. Sveta

    Anyone know storywise how far tehy will take the story?

  7. eLle

    Its sad but all the feelings I can muster for this is just…..not good ones. Im still so fiercely bias its pathetic. Ehh w.e. I hope it does great. She looks pretty cool. Definitely has the look thats required of the lead.

  8. otk

    now….if only HJ drops out ……xDDDDDDDD LOLLLLL

    JKing~! (to the fans)

    I hope his acting improved.

  9. Cam

    Oh gosh! =)

    I still like her because I had been reading the interview about Jung So Min — at first, I thought she seems like she might look like she’s very snobby or trying to show off, you know…….but I did realized that she’s not like that and she reaaalllly got a good talent is — acting! And, she’s acting like herself to show her true self, but she’s so adorable, lolz. =)

    I was bit of worried about Playful Kiss drama because of that actor Kim Hyun Joong — but I am glad that Jung So Min already got into this drama, yeaa! ^___^

  10. 10 bluemoon

    Yes, I love her. She was my favorite choice too after all the names being put out there. She is great in Bad Guy, and I also believe that her career will skyrocketed after Playful Kiss.

    She is doing a great job in Bad Guy so far.

  11. 11 missy

    all i can say is wow.

  12. 12 ali

    omg i’m so glad. I can really see her as the main girl

  13. 13 dannaluk

    yes!!…i’ve been waiting for news on this since the beginning of this week…I really like her….and think she can pull it off….I’m glad they didnt go for Sulli or Park Eun Bi…they’re just too young….and since PSH and PBY couldnt work..this is fine….nw I’m just hoping Kim Hyun Joong has really improved and can make it work…bt i think Kotoko is the harder role to play..so I think Jung So Min has the real challenge here

  14. 14 last_thread

    getting in before park bo young/park shin hye/whoever else we thought it might be stans get here.

    huzzzah! a fresh(ish) face :D

  15. 15 Dlover

    hmm might just give playful kiss a look just
    because of jung so min shes soo cute ^^
    still the male lead is still makeing me put off from playful kiss TT

  16. 16 dodo

    Oh yes, now Playful kiss out of my awaiting list =.=

    I can’t bear her acting in Bad Guy, I skipp almost her scene 8-}

    Oh I like Huyng Joong :(

    Anyway, I am not going to watch this drame, with Jung So Mi in this =.=

  17. 17 Gork

    jung so min looks good but im still so bothered by kim hyun joong’s casting that i don’t know if i am willing to watch this drama, LOL

  18. 18 Leona

    when I saw the title my only reaction was YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
    now i’ll go to read the article…. and hope this is not a rumour because she is already booked(as far as I know I hope I’m not imagining things) for a movie or smth

    but she is a new face and young and in apropiate age with Kim Hyun JOong (and she s not an idol …waw too many points to this sweety

    btw usually I’m not a Korean actresses fan… I just love the boys (arrrrrrrrr) and some of the stories and their cinematography is quite impressive sometimes

  19. 19 Orion

    Well, the list of reasons why I don’t want to watch Playful Kiss just got bigger by 1. I don’t really care for her. Only seen her in Bad Guy (which I dropped quickly) and I really wasn’t impressed. Considering who the male lead will be, I’m sure she’ll do fine though. Any actor looks good next to this guy. Sorry, that’s just my opinion of his acting skills.

  20. 20 danni

    I really like JSM in BG, but I’ve never been able to get into Itazura na Kiss. Still, I might check out the first episode to see how well she does. I think JSM has the right kind of innocent image to pull off the character.

    Yoon Eun-hye look-a-like? Really? I can sort of see it, but the two don’t really remind me of each other.

  21. 21 OM

    Meh nothing could make me watch a group 8 version of a show thats borders on annoying continiously. The only saving grace of the show could have been the acting but with KHJ that boat was sunk.

  22. 22 jo

    hm, maybe she’ll save the show but……*sighs*

  23. 23 jons

    Did not see this coming. I still wanted pby but I’m really hoping she can Dave this show

  24. 24 Nhu

    I can see the resemblance too, at certain angles, though as you say it’s totally lost when you see her eyes. Anyway… That’s SOME hope for the drama, right?

    Unfortunately, I still mourn my Lee Min Ho and Lee Bo Young…

  25. 25 JR

    I just can’t feel anything about this because i’m still disappointed they casted Kim Hyunjoong. Poor girl is going to have to carry his dead weight. I wish her luck.

  26. 26 Basuha

    Love it, I thought of her myself originally after seeing her in Bad guy, but thought she could;t do both drama. Now I’m more disappointed that it not Si Won because I can really see the chemistry happen between them….

  27. 27 valmalove

    I am soooo looking forward to the drama.

    I was happy when her name started to surf up and its better to have the leads close in age.

    She has a fresh face so best wishes to both!!

  28. 28 Ashley

    Now this drama has hope! Yes!

  29. 29 sunshine

    Wow, I can’t believe she managed to get a lead role so quickly (even though it hasn’t been finalized yet).

  30. 30 kaedejun

    oh yeah – THIS IS A GOOD ONE. at least they chose a decent actress instead of just another idol star.

  31. 31 Hannah

    she’s cute, and i think she can pull it off.

    i am actually realy excited for this drama. it is going to be so much fun!

  32. 32 jt

    save the drama jung so min.

  33. 33 ank

    Hmm I haven’t seen her in Bad Guy yet so I’m not sure. Hopefully she’ll have chemistry with KHJ. I’ll watch an episode or two then decide whether I want to continue or not. I’m a fan of HJL, but acting wise — Kekeke No comment!

  34. 34 eclipse

    There`s a little hope after all for this drama..But still…if only they recast the lead actor, that would be great. :P

  35. 35 loveydovey

    i like her. she’s too good for kim hyun joong though….

  36. 36 wellington

    an excellent director will always bring out the best (or maximize the potential) of any actor or actress, regardless of.

    if KHJ is not really great in acting, then it will be a challenge to the director to bring out the best from him.

  37. 37 dannaluk

    @36….my thoughts exactly…and this director is pretty awsome…which gives me hope for this drama

  38. 38 your conscience

    didn’t really want to watch the series cos of kim hyung joon
    we all know he sucked really bad with his stiff acting in BOF
    and his acting then hasn’t changed much
    he still has this aura around him that makes him arrogant

    i still dont know why he can get so many cf when he cant act
    now that jung so min is in the cast
    i guess i have to watch it
    but i cant wait for the UBER AKWARDNESS to ENSUE
    you know what i mean
    you just cant wait for it

    ive been watching jung so min in bad guy and her role hasn’t done much since her character has already been developed but i wonder how she will do on this
    hopefully this doesn’t impact on her class and schedule at acting uni so we’ll see how she goes

    when kim hyung joon got the lead it fell from a 5/10 to a 1/10
    and now that jung so min is it, its going from a 1/10 to a 3/10
    sometimes i dont know why they couldn’t get jung hong wha from cn blue or the guy from YOU’RE MY ANJELL

    atleast these guys have better acting chops than this wannabe, runaway, loser
    you know it, he said it himself so dont criticize me
    again another singer actor wannabe, boooooooooooooooo

  39. 39 Obsessed

    WHOOT! I think she’s effin’ brilliant in Bad Guy! I think she portrays her character quite well. She won me over in the first fee episodes :) Her character is getting more annoying, as Mo Nae is getting more impatient, but I still love JUNG SO MIN!! <3

    But *sighs* if only if Kim Soo Hyun had gotten the part. I would've died from excitedness.

    This is reeally mean, but I kinda hope this happens:
    -Day 1 of filming-
    KHJ trips outside of his house. An obsessed fan (ME!!! Yes, I'm a KHJ fan, just don't dig his acting) "happens" to find him and carries him to her house and treats his injuries. She then locks him inside her house. (MUHWAHWAHWA)

    The director is in search for a main guy lead and then KSH comes walking out with sexy rays of light poring out of his pores *0* & then he becomes the main lead and the obsessed fan marries KHJ and everybody in Dramaland lives happily ever after

    The end :)

  40. 40 zaha

    I think it’s the fact that KHJ is the male lead that I might avoid this drama, even if this actress is in it. Unless a miracle occurs and they change the male lead, I might watch it.

  41. 41 koalabear

    I’m hoping her casting is already final since yesterday’s news on Jung So-min being a candidate as the female lead in Playful Kiss, I’m rooting for her already since she has really shown much promise in Bad Guy even if some hate her character, she gives fresh air to the dark plot of the drama. Anyway for sure she will be a huge star after this drama, just hoping that Kim Hyun-joong’s acting will improve this time around…

  42. 42 sora

    I was not expecting this, but oh well. Just gotta wait and see how things unfold later on I guess…

  43. 43 theedie

    but…there’s still Kim Hyun-joong in it…. *conflicted* >_<#

  44. 44 Ladymoonstone143

    I am so happy it is for her. Wise decision of the management because with the lead actor..they need someone that can be a big help with the drama. I think she is one of the hottest young actress nowadays. I love her natural beauty and acting…

    I am keeping my fingers crossed that KhY have improved after BOF…really keeping my fingers cross……and most of all..that they will have chemistry together. As long as they got chemistry…I think they can pull it off….

  45. 45 T

    Hmmmm… I can’t see it. I actually though Yoon Eun Hye would have been great for the part…though I don’t think she was ever a contender for the roll.lol We’ll see. I LOVE the Taiwanese version here hoping this one is as good if not better. I would love to see them remake Mars I think they could do a fantastic job with that drama:)

  46. 46 Thu

    She does have her times when she looks like Yoon Eun Hye. She seems pretty fit for the role. She does a great job of annoying the shit out of me and Ariel Lin’s character in ISWAK was very annoying but you loved her.

  47. 47 Brittany

    Yes! New(ish) blood!

    I’m glad Jung So-min has been casted as the leading female. I’m not a big fan of “type casting” so I wasn’t thrilled when I heard PSH might get the lead because the character in this upcoming drama is very similar to the one she played in YB. (absent minded) I’m more excited to see what a new actress, that has never played a role like this before, is going to bring to the table.

    ^I hope all that mumbo jumbo made sense. To sum it up, I am very happy with this news. :)

  48. 48 poo

    I am finding the pair really interesting now…Itz a weird combo…makes me wanna watch it…young n fresh pair…love it!

  49. 49 rianna

    Sorry but… DNW!

  50. 50 soysauce

    That’s a really bad picture of her, but I think she can pull it off.

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