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The cast of new daily drama Smile, Dong-hae

KBS’s daily drama Fine Windy Day (or Good Day For the Wind to Blow) is nearing its end, and its replacement drama will be Smile, Dong-hae [웃어라 동해야], which begins its run next week.

Here’s an introduction the young up-and-comers who comprise the cast, led by Ji Chang-wook, whose casting I’m happy to see since he played such an endearing role in last year’s hit weekend drama Sons of Sol Pharmacy. (He played the timid youngest son with “sissy” interests like sewing and quilting, who ended up raising his best friend’s daughter while just 20 years old.) He followed that with a supporting role in Lee Jun-ki’s Hero, and now finds himself in his first leading role.

In Smile, Dong-hae, he plays the titular character of Dong-hae, whose “beautiful but mentally deficient” mother was adopted to the U.S. and raised him as a single mom. Dong-hae moves to Korea with his mother because of the woman he loves, who then betrays him. He looks for his father, who is a total stranger to him, and in the process finds a different love and puts together a new family in this “touching story.”

Smile, Dong-hae is written by the “hitmaker PD and writer combo” Kim Myung-wook and Moon Eun-ah of 2009’s popular You’re My Destiny, which had ratings that surpassed 40%. It’s also the drama that my mother calls “the worst written drama of all time, ever.” (But she watched every episode and then liked to grouse about it. It had that oddly addictive combination of ridiculous storylines and makjang elements that made you want to see what happened even as you cursed at your TV.)


Oh Ji-eun

Like Ji, Oh Ji-eun is familiar with weekend family-drama success; her role in Three Brothers as Lee Jun-hyuk’s love interest raised her profile significantly, and she’s just now starting to shed the label of “rookie actress.” Oh will play a lively, easygoing woman who works as a kitchen staff member at a hotel. She grew up poor after her father went bankrupt in her childhood, and therefore will do anything within the boundaries of the law to earn some cash. She falls in love with Dong-hae.

Then there’s Clazziquai’s Alex, who has been taking on more acting roles recently, last seen in MBC’s romantic comedy Pasta. He’ll play a supporting character who is a poor student preparing for state exams.

Park Jung-ah is another pop-singer-turned-actress (of girl group Jewelry), whom you may remember as Jenny Ahn in SBS’s Prosecutor Princess. She changes up her image a little in taking on a character with a quirky, mischievous personality, who’s also a smart television announcer.

Lee Jang-woo is another singer-actor of the group 24/7, but who may be more famous for his recent revelation that is is the cousin of Fly To the Sky’s Hwanhee. He’ll develop a love triangle with Park Jung-ah’s and Ji Chang-wook’s characters, and plays an uber-confident, ambitious hotelier. Coincidentally, like Oh Ji-eun he was also in Three Brothers.

Last but not least is Joo-yeon, another idol-star singer (this drama’s really teeming with them, isn’t it?) of the girl group After School. She’ll play Park Jung-ah’s younger sister, an immature girl who’s got a knack for causing trouble. According to her management, “With this drama, Joo-yeon will be continuing as a singer while acting, doing both at the same time. She’s showing fierce determination toward her first acting challenge.” Not only that, she’ll continue participating in the KBS variety program Invincible Youth; in order to allow for her to also shoot a daily drama, the variety show agreed to work around her schedule.

Smile, Dong-hae premieres on October 4.


Park Jung-ah


Alex


Lee Jang-woo


Joo-yeon

Via OSEN, TV Daily, Review Star, Yonhap News

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A agree with your mom, but I know when to turn the show off. Show sounds makjang-a-riffic. Well, at least Ji Chang-wook is getting a job... in a sea of pop stars.

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("A" should be "I" up there...I hit submit too quickly..)

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This drama sounds interesting... I instantly thought of 'Smile, You' though when reading the title haha

He's the guy from Death Bell 2 right? He has this somewhat refreshing charm about him that I really like. Although this drama is kind of packed with idols, I think I might give it a shot considering I don't know any of them really well. I might be in for a surprise. (A good one I hope.)

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-GASP- I didn't realize it's a DAILY drama. I'll have to skip this one unfortunately. I like endings and daily dramas seem to go on forever.

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Might give it a try just because of Ji-Eun, Jung-Ah, and of course, Joo-Yeon!! :)

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you know who else was in 24/7?
Hyunwoo and noh minwoo, both of Pasta and the latter of My Girlfriend is a Gumiho! THe entire group has now become actors.
2 Pasta connections in this drama, a good start! haha.

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I lost interest the moment I read who the writer was. I love daily dramas, but I couldn't stand You're My Destiny. I definitely won't be watching this drama based on that writer alone.

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heh, didn't know lee jang woo is hwanhee's cousin... now that you mention it, i can see the resemblance... a little. hope this will turn out to be good.

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Ji Chang-wook... i adore him in Sons of Sol Pharmacy .. he did a terrific job playing young daddy to baby Hana ... so sweet ... nice to see him back

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What time does this broadcast (in Korea)? I get confused about all the different broadcasting times...

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2025hr Mon to Fri KBS1 if it follows the last drama.I had to watch the last few episodes..

Man it's not going to be another 173 episodes is it?I am not Korean and it's killing me watching live streaming without subs...aaahhh..

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looking forward to it...i always love weekdays drama and the last one that i watched was "likeable or not." after that the weekdays dramas got really bad, i was actually looking forward to kim so eun's drama but her lead is less than stellar.

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What the hell?! Kim So Eun's drama is still airing? I thought that ended months ago.

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Yes unfortunately. It's one of the worst daily dramas I have ever had the sad experience of seeing. I only watch the Monday episodes to see Jin Yi Han and Kim So Eun...but the past three months have been made up of the same crap. Nothing is being resolved...and it's just getting crazier. Kim So Eun's character apparently has amnesia. ::scream::

It's a vicious cycle of getting exasperated and skipping two weeks...and then watching the most recent episode to find out what other crazy things have happened...and then hating myself for watching it.

That being said......a big UGH at the "hit-maker team". The only good thing about this drama to me right now is Ji Chang Wook. ::sob:: why did he have to pick a daily drama......T_T

Okay. I shall stop being whiny. Hopefully this will allow the entire cast to improve their acting chops (esp Alex, PJA, and Jooyeon?) Visually they all look nice. XD

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lmao...i thought it ended too..
over here in america it's barely hitting the half way point XD gosh i stopped watching i don't like LONG dramas esp, if its a daily cause they are usually LONG XD

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I'll admit, I was addicted to the first half of You Are My Destiny, but after watching 80 episodes, I just couldn't go on. So much angst! And just when you think you have it all resolved, someone else comes along to screw things up! Daily dramas are just too long for me.

Though that was the drama that introduced me to Lee Ji Hoon and Lee Pil Mo. <3

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YES! Lee Ji-hoon! Lee Pil-mo! Underrated singers as well. :P

Did you watch Sols then? Lee Pil-mo was that annoying second brother.

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Ah, no I didn't. I did watch Lee Pil Mo in The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry, though. Another noona-killer role for him. ^_^

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Hi, I have a silent reader of your blog for more than a year already. I was wondering about Ha Ji Won's drama-Secret Garden. Did it start filming already? And if so, when would it air? I am so excited to see her acting in a drama again and I can't wait for her drama to come out.

Thanks, Javabeans.

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i agree with #2! that was my first thought too. but everything went out of the window when i saw who the cast members are :D (a good thing, not to worry)

i think they're fun choices! i adored JCW in Sons of Sol Pharmacy, and Lee Jang Woo as well in Three Brothers (Oh Ji Eun too). and Alex! i haven't got to see him in a drama as yet, so this will be interesting. i'm excited!

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I really like Ji Changwook .. but .. I don't really like the sound of this drama .. :|

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"It’s also the drama that my mother calls 'the worst written drama of all time, ever.'"

Haha, that's exactly how my mom described Baker King Tak Gu, but she watched it till the end despite my insistence on quitting if she hates it so much. Sigh, the curse of the makjang dramas.

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what IS wrong with KTG? i'd asked a colleague that a few days ago when we came to the topic of current kdramas and he (yes, he) completely canned it. i think KTG is one of the better ones i've seen this year, IMHO! my mom and i love watching it every week.

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KTG is all sorts of kdrama cliches all rolled up into one. I tried to slog my way through it because I was hoping for some character development but halfway through, I just said to hell with it. The food porn was not worth it.

It's a fun drama to laugh at but completely predictable in all of the worst ways. Like one of those situations where you go, "He's going to touch her hand and she'll like it and then she'll be pregnant."

And then, lo and behold, it happens.

It's well shot, the actors, for the most part are making do with their frustrating characters and the food is great.

But to me, it was a drama that was asking too much. How much did it want for me to suspend belief? I get that in the drama world, there's little things that can be overlooked but makjang dramas like KTG just kill me because of how convenient EVERYTHING is.

And it didn't help that every time the characters would seem to progress, the show would bring in a new twist that would throw the progression back to square one. It made the characters feel hollow and stupid and so clockwork.

THAT, to me, was what was wrong with KTG.

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what IS wrong with KTG? i'm just wondering.. it's not a direct question to anyone in particular.

had a convo with a colleague about current kdramas and KTG came up, but he (yes, he) completely canned it. is it really that bad? i thought it's one of the more interesting and unique ones this year. my mom and i look forward to it every week ;)

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I really liked Ji Chang-wook on Sons of Sol pharmacy and on Hero (hee, his love story!), but if I watch this, I'll watch it for Alex. Now, guys, play nice: I claim Alex, ok?

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Sere, I don't think you should ask-just claim him with a very possessive "MINE!" before anyone else does. LOL

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xDD
omgsh...i clickdd the link cuz i though SuJu's Donghae was in the show..i did flips&flops around my room squealing..but than after i opened it...man was i dissapointed..xD sigh ..so sad
-sadie

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I KNOW! At first I thought the drama name is Smile. And then Donghae was acting! LOL. So much for our ELF hopes.

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ME TOO! I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I saw Dong-hae (-_-'). But I read that it was part of the title ^^ Donghae will have a drama next year, though, with fellow SuJu Choi Siwon...

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hehehe!!!! me too!!! i was desperately finding out if its him..but it turn out its only the title...ha!! but this fmaily drama seems a very promising one since most of them are singers turn to actors...i have very high hope of their success especially Jo Yeon, i've never seen her before but i hope she gets to pair up with Alex! this will be awesome couple. But the lead male and the female lead Oh JiEun...they both are really matching...handsome and pretty! i'm soo gonna watch,..can anyone tell me where can i watch this show?

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Wow Ji Chang-wook looks so grown up here!

You're My Destiny was so bad, but so addictive. I would watch it avidly, but then HATED myself for wasting all that time watching such a badly written drama. It was like a form of masochism. I made myself stop after like episode 80 (give or take 10...it all became a blur...).

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I'm looking forward to Lee Jangwoo. He is just freakin adorable. And his voice is SUPERB. Great vocals. I wouldn't mind him crooning me to sleep. ;)

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I might watch, but I admit it would mainly be to see Alex, no matter how small his role ends up being. I have had such a crush on him since his days on We Got Married!

Now you have me intrigued about Sons of Sol Pharmacy. It sounds like one I would like. I'll have to check it out!

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OMG. YUMMY!!!!!!!!

I have a love hate relationship with daily dramas due to its makjang elements that makes me want to curse at the TV even if the main couple becomes endearing. But it's also easy to pick up where you left off. The plots are almost similar, so you can after a while, guess where this is going. And you get to learn Korean faster since its 100+ episodes of the same things being said. LOL. Reminds me so much of Taiwanese dramas. Not the idol dramas.

I didn't like You're My Destiny at all since they dragged the MIL-plot too long that I really don't understand why on earth is she still hating the daughter-in-law after so much time spent together. -___-

But ALEX! and Ji CHANG WOOK! Can Alex please sing in the show. I want to hear him sing!

Who's gonna be the mom?

I miss Sons of Sols so much. I think it's still one of the best written dramas ever. So endearing, so funny and hardly slow. <3 <3

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"And you get to learn Korean faster since its 100+ episodes of the same things being said. LOL."

Wow, I think you've just given me an incentive to start daily dramas...but I'm not sure if I'm ready to throw myself into a masochistic pit::gulp::

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Ha, ha, ha The most rational important main reason to learn Korean ---> to watch and understand 100+ episodes of Makjang drama so you can curse at your TV well.

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Your mum is right. YAMD was the worst daily drama I'd ever seen. Only to be topped by current drama FWD.

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OMMMMGGG, Finally!! I had been wondering what he was up to. I'm not happy with the casting of so many singers, but I guess as it is a daily drama, nobody's really expecting quality. Hee, as long as I get to see my Ji Changwook!

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"my mother calls “the worst written drama of all time, ever.” (But she watched every episode and then liked to grouse about it. It had that oddly addictive combination of ridiculous storylines and makjang elements that made you want to see what happened even as you cursed at your TV.)" LOL to that.

Recently, I've been googling what's Makjang drama supposed to mean (curious cause seem many people that hate to love it) and have not been satisfied with the result (you know, I understand but that blurry understand). And that describes all. This is the best site for kdrama addict EVER

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It's a daily drama? damn i thought it was jst a weekend drama that means this is gonna be long jst like all the other ones...only reason i'll give this drama a chance is because of a playgirlz & i support all after school members so yeah I'm watching for Jooyeon but I doubt I'll keep watching it on a daily base. I'll get tired of it & then tune it out til the very end.

Your mama is right. You're My Destiny was the WORSE drama I have ever seen. it was too long, too boring & it repeated itself. I'm not even a fan of Yoona or SNSD bt I watch jst to give her a chance but omg i lost interest..srsly I can't stand LONG dramas. ooh the curse of makjang dramas...never again would i put myself through something like that again

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one more them just to on the safe side and accurately Ji Chang-wook and Oh Ji Eun are the main leads right! Tell me it is.

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I hate that Moon writer. All she writes about is men and women cheating on their significant other and torturing us with stupid plots and subplots and each character repeating the same lines. Moon even forgets what she wrote in earlier episodes so the story doesn't even make sense in later episodes.

There is no originality. She takes lines and characters from other dramas and just change the actors and bachground. If you don't beleive me watch: Term s of Endearment and Three Brothers. They are almost identical!!!

I liked Oh Ji Eun in Three Brothers, but I will not watch this one because I know what's coming!

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i hope super junior member leeteuk siwon kyuhyun and donghae give a chance to do a korean drama!!

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