The Goddess of Melodrama herself, Hallyu star Choi Ji-woo (A Star’s Lover, Air City, Winter Sonata) is planning a return to the small screen with the drama Medical School. Well, the title is informative, I’ll give you that, but not so punchy. (I assure you, it’s the same in Korean: 의과대학). I can’t say that I’m all aflutter for a medical melodrama (been theeeeere, done thaaaaat), but I’m happy to hear news that Choi Ji-woo is returning to television.
It’s one thing javabeans and I always say that we love about the K-drama system: that miniseries mean big stars can commit to TV shows without signing away years of their lives, which means they can regularly return to the medium that launched their careers. (See: Lee Byung-heon in IRIS, Bae Yong-joon in Legend).
It’s been two years since her last drama, 2009′s A Star’s Lover, but she’s since starred in the film Actresses alongside heavy-hitter Go Hyun-jung, who is, at least in the last few years, out-shining Choi as the hottest act in town. Perhaps this drama will be the commercial success that she needs to put her back in the game. (Not that, you know, she’s starving or anything.)
She’ll first be starring in the Japanese melodrama Winter Cherry Blossom on TBS, and then move onto pre-production for Medical School. Looks like there’s a chance we’ll see Choi Ji-woo back in K-dramaland before the year is out.
Via Hankook Ilbo
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Thats awesome
CJW looks great in the pic above
You got to be kidding!! Those fake smiles are not awesome!!
omg yes they are you have no ideea… she is sooo beautiful in this picture :X
Look at those duchenne smile and you call it pretty?
What?? She’s a classic beauty.
Ok, classic beauty only when she smiles genuinely. She freaks me out every time when she put up those fake Mickey Mouse look and smile.
Her current friendboy looks like Pluto.
Haha, you mean Pluto the philosopher or the dog?
no offense, but I can never understand all this hype about her.
Aye! Second that!
third that!
fourth that. her acting doesn’t engage, it always feels flat.
no. i can’t see her being compared to go hyun-jung. she really isn’t in the same calibre. I’ve never finished any of her dramas – boring. she flat, flat flat
I hated her in winter sonata. Didn’t feel pity or anything. She was annoying and dumb there, just cried and never talked back when someone was asking her…. grr
Eh…Actresses lessened my intense dislike of her though this will probably flare it up again
5th? She just bores me to tears. Not engaging/compelling as an actress.
6th! ㅋㅋㅋ
7th. Too many tears makes me exhausted.
8th..She is beautiful but very boring. She is the opposite of Go Hung-jung imo.
Joins anti CJW club as well.
Haha…never knew she has so many antis. Are you all just jealous of her?
YES!!!!!!
My first Kdrama with her was in STAR’S LOVER. It wasn’t perfect but I actually really enjoyed it & her character!
you took the words right out of my mouth; never liked her
Hype is the exact word on description. It has nothing to do with her profession, her acting.
Disagreed. I do not think her clientele buy into hype. Most of her fans are middle-age ajuhmas. They are not youngsters, but nevertheless still love her blindly.
i was waiting for news about her!
loved her in Winter Sonata, even though i couldn’t finish the drama because it was too depressing
yayy! xD
love her in stairway to heaven the most!
all-time favorite drama that i can watch over and over again (:
Weird face, too much plastic surgery eww…
She is ok for age. Still quite pretty at yesterday Dior event in HK. Nevertheless, it is obvious that age is catching upon her. She looks much older than her age.
May be some botox, Her face looks so rigid now!!
just name someone who is not aging…
your’e hating words is getting boredom..get a life and be happy rather than hating someone you barely know
Hello quack, quack, quack!!
It is rather more of advising words than hating someone you barely know. Once someone start to point out the truth it is labeled as jealousy. Then who praises her know her better than anyone? In most cases loving words created just to make superficially glee to their so called Princess JiWoo, are also boredom too. I wonder how some flowerpot women can go on fantasizing themselves with CJW and her male actors. They use the excuses on her kissings,hugging, hopping on top of a male actor. Cf is a good excuse for her spicy mood. Somewhat that her flirting is good for craving on something with the aging flowerpots that they can’t get it in real life. Now it is time for them to use superlative, from great chemistry to greatest chemistry in her up coming medical drama. How about physics, sex gravity pulling CJW to act more sex scenes. That is CJW’s loving fans need most out of her.. sex and stupidity.
my mom just rewatched Winter Sonata the other day and I was wondering when Choi Ji Woo will return to the small screen.
(man the music for Winter Sonata is just awesome and Choi ji Woo and Bae Yong Jun looked so young and human back then.)
Haha…young and human then? You mean they are now old and inhuman. I guess, their look are getting quite strange, they are growing old so “unnaturally”, you know kind of trying to preserve their look through the Madam Tussauds way.
Poor BYJ, I just hope he does not turn out like Christoper Reeve. he really needs support, otherwise, it seems hard for him to withstand such “fame”. it is better for me to shut up and not divulging too much heavenly secret!!
she looks better than byj, health-wise…
BYJ is so fragile. I guess he just have to manage with the pain in the neck for the rest of his life.
aha! Best medical drama. One lying in bed with pain in the neck and another doing surgery on his ….. neck. Where can you get this kind of natural act more than this? Hope she won’t do surgery at the wrong place… like heart.
It seems that minniemouse is a pain in the butt!!! LOL
Do you know what is menopause?
No, Mickey does not need to go through one, but very sure you Minnie will go through menopause!!!!
Man she is amazing!
The melodramas that she starred in made me cry so hard!
I think she is a good actress. I would love to see her in something fun, because alot of people can’t stand melodramas.
Wow her highness is back! Thanks JB….though none of the above commenter know her status in kdrama, (I’m not a fun of kdrama for nothing) but she’s a pillar why kdrama came to be known in every part of the globe. Well who wouldn’t remember Winter Sonata or Stairway to Heaven? Though my taste of drama already exceed the like of Cinderella story, which sometimes is her role. I knew she’s big start on her own right. Like Kwon Sang Woo she need a good story, not that she needed it but funs want good story to go with the big star like her.
Finally!!!!!!!!!! I love cjw
was she cast in winter cherry blossom in TBS? it is showing right now in japan but i didnt see her name on the cast list..
i like her a lot with LBH. but her acting kinda remain flat after winter sonata and beautiful days
It is a cameo.
It’s good that she’s back!!
My super fav. actress returns !!! ( hope it’s true )
2 Years is such a long wait but so glad that my princess finally has some news about her next project ha ha….It’s still not yet confirm so we have to wait a little bit.
PS. better to be clarify that she is not starring in Fuyuno Sakura ( Winter Sakura ) TBS Japanese Drama but she go for a cameo role in 2nd episode which already on-air last Sunday…..coz she has a very good friendship with Kusanagi Tsuyoshi ( Male Lead )…..and even she came for 32sec…it’s nice appearance indeed!!!
I loved her in Winter Sonata , Stairs way to h…heaven but after that mehhhhh felt like her acting was the same in every drama. You know, face expressions, gestures.
And plus at her age…well the title doesn’t help either “Medical School” O_O! No clue… very few Kdramas have good English titles, as if I know Korean, lol.
I have to say I liked Winter Sonata and CJW pretty much….it was in my earlier kdrama days…but she left quite an impression on me…
I haven’t seen her in anything since then though…so maybe this would be a good watch.
The cherry blossom jap drama she is only a cameo. Love her miss her acting . Melodrama is her forte!!
I see many people dislike her, but I like her. She’s like a Korean Nicole Kidman. And that’s a lovely picture of her.
I agree.
I 100% agree:)
Me too, wonder why people dislike her. She seems to be nice in her own way.She leave a strong impression in me in winter sonata That is how I fell in love with Kdramas.
they’re just jealous and no life..so they hate every single thing in the world…especially their looks in the mirror..rather than to blame themselves being too ugly because they’re too evil, they’re just hating everyone they can spell their name it
Really? I think she’s more of a Cameron Diaz or Jennifer Aniston.
“I think she’s more of a Cameron Diaz or Jennifer Aniston.”
Eh. Would say that applies more to an early Chae Rim or early Ha Ji Won.
Choi Ji Woo’s more of a Nicole Kidman, in that both actresses tend to have elegant, glamorous public images . . . that and they choose roles where they suffer a lot.
She might be pretty but she’s a mediocre actress who could
definitely do better. That being said I’d label her as a hmm…A Kate Hudson or possibly a Renee Zellweger.
CJW really need to reinvent herself in acting.
She just stopped growing in her acting skills after Beautiful Days.
Hope she acts a character her age and not in the twenties.
It is difficult to watch an actress in her mid thirties trying to act young girly character.
That’s her dilemma. I guess she is trying to make a change in Air City, but failed quite badly. that’s the difference between an actress having good theoretical depth (like LYA) or a woman with a story (like hyunjung) as compare to CJW who has none. moreover, it is none of her fault, but more of satisfying her fans fantasy of keep her a princess.
Wonder when she will really grow to be a serious actress? Or never?
She likes to be girlie actress with cute facial expressions. She can’t help it. It is one of her favorite selling point. This time will be the same.
Not girlie anymore, ajuhma playing cute kind of minniemouse smiles.
love choi ji woo but isnt she a lil too old to be playing a student?
i mean she didnt evn look like a student in the winter sonata era..
nor did bae yong joon for that matter
So True!
Not student, I guess, may be like BYJ role in Kirin, High Dream or some sort of a professor (I doubt she has the depth) or a specialist. It will be interesting to see how she demonstrates team work!!
no have any clear information till now only temporary name of this drama Medical College….from what I heard if she take this role she will be surgeon doctor….suggest to wait for more info…..anyway it’s still not yet comfirm heehee.
Since she has gone through so much pain of unnatural or untimely dead of so many of her friends, i guess she can portray the role well.
psychologist or pandemic specialist will be interesting…
If she would play a doctor of urology and encounter all kinds of wonky, wacky situations…I’d watch
Haha….where did you get urologist idea, from Everyone has a secret with LBH?
she is an awful actress and she tortured us enough with her melodrama
But you chose to watch, so stop complaining!!
amazing news !
she is probably the best korean actress!
Good to hear that Choi ji Woo is going to make a movie. She’s missed already in the movie industry. Looking forward to see her again.
It is a drama, not movie.
I hope her leading man is BYJ or Lee ByungHUn.
You can rule out BYJ. He is going through rehabilitation. As for LBH, he is too busy with other projects, I guess.
hehe…may be LJW upon his discharged from army!!
Do you want her to lose her investment in one shot? Her drama ratings ended up with 7 % even with reputable good actor YJT. I can see another round of Alone in Love running around and seducing SYJ to love him. That actress doesn’t seem she needed to act at all. She hated him at her guts.
May be you’re right. Old mama introducing her baby boy lover to the public. Thanks to the paparazzi. Japan will buy it any cost. Medical doctor actress should know the side affects on BOTOX. It can turn her skin into leather back turtle.
Er…you are just jealous of her.
Errr.. you too. Waiting for too long to sharpen your fingernails.
Hehe…waiting too long? What say you, do not understand….
wow…yuo’re a very dream like couple…
Welcome to Disney, make it a trio…Quack! Quack! Quack!
Some of the comments are really rude. I watched all her dramas. She is awesome. In fact she acts really good. You guys should try her older dramas like first love, stairways to heaven and winter sonata too.
Also, she is the only reason why i started watching korean dramas and i am really happy to see her again…..
Hehe…guess, I am one of those who are rude. Sorry. Just being honest, that how I think. Not tactful I know!! : p
Choi Ji Woo got to dance away from her Queen of Tears for her drama Star’s Lover . . . well, about half of the show at least. Still, that show still asserted her Hallyu popularity, and it’s why she got another lead part in J-drama.
As for her upcoming K-drama, I’m guessing she’s look for her Kim Eun Jung transition from “pure” romantic heroine to ajumma heroine.
“but she’s since starred in the film Actresses alongside heavy-hitter Go Hyun-jung”
Choi Ji Woo was a surprise in Actresses. Maybe it is her nature, or the character she was playing, but she gave an, socially anxious performance that was like nothing she’s done before.
She did not take any part in j drama after rondo. The recent role is a mere 32 second appearance in episode 2.
Socially anxious? I guess you have watched any of her participation in various variety shows about 10 to 15 years ago. In particular, the show when she was chased by ghosts, skeleton and vampires. She was simply awesome and appeared to have a natural talent in acting when she is really frighten….hahaha….sorry, still find it amusing, when recalling how bad she screams and tears….
“The recent role is a mere 32 second appearance in episode 2.”
Ah, gotcha.
“Socially anxious?”
Her performance in Actresses was very eccentric. You expect a little bit of diva, but her character was a little OCD and awkward in a compelling sort of way. I really enjoyed it, because it was just SO not my image of her in a reasonable imagination.
I bet you did not watch the original raw Korean version. you have watched the edited version that shown in the DVD. I actually hated the original version, CJW is simply so fake. Moreover, I also don’t like the way she kept adjusting her hair which I find it irritating. The way she laughs killed me! I actually like GHJ in the raw version.
but, in the original version, CJW has been restore back to the princess like version. So, it is much easier to get accepted by her fans. whereas, GHJ is somehow standing out as a villain.
Sorry, DVD version, her diva like was restore back to please her fans.
What is OCD?
Forgot to add, I do not find GHJ acting much good apart from opening her big eyes. Even her acting in the periodic drama is mediocre as compared to Hong Kong actresses who used to portray Empress Wu. moreover, GHJ is really not pleasant to watch for a long period of time. Whereas, CJW is more pleasant looking as long as she does put up those fake smiles. I rather she stopped smiling and look natural!!
“Forgot to add, I do not find GHJ acting much good apart from opening her big eyes. ”
In spite of her nation’s actress status, GHJ’s acting has always been about her mannerisms. The way her eyes blink slowly and brows do pushups or how she slows down her speech to an e-nun-ci-at-ed exclamation point. How her voice will swoop up and down like a cackling bird with indignation and then occasionally she’ll flitter between ingenue curiosity and ajumma judgment within the same passage.
I love it. I love it all.
OK, point taken.
Go Hyun-jung is the undisputed female champ of acting! I don’t care what anyone else says…
She just oozes commanding presence, when she’s in a scene you know it even before she arrives, ‘cos she OWNs it! Rawr!
But, she is not pleasant to look at. Her face is like a meat ball on top of a pancake.
LOVE choi ji woo!!! i hope this one will be a commercial success, as she hasn’t had one since stairway to heaven?
Winter sonata anime was a commercial success in Japan, especially the prequel, Tokyo Dome event which had a full house 50,000 seat effect.
Star’s Lover ended up a solid Hallyu hit, huge in Japan and popular in Taiwan. Personally, I think it’s a good companion piece to Secret Garden, since both shows revolve around very neurotic guys who nonetheless charm the devil out of everybody.
Choi Ji Woo is in a unique situation where she doesn’t really need to be a ratings star in Korea anymore, because she is THE Hallyu actress. She is an archetype, almost like the Hallyu Bella — the unassuming, humble woman who takes the road less traveled to find true love. Star’s Lover was essentially dead on arrival, but the investors were already selling the show internationally due to her name.
Star’s Lover is CJW’s acting at her best!!!
“Less traveled to find true love”.. at age nearly 40. Such a unique hallyu STAR never found one till now. Pathetic crying oldie. The lesser road partner is also an actor very young and knows tactics very well how to seduce a woman. She should keep him at home in the japanese glass closet so that another attractive, pretty young actress eagle won’t sweep him away from her. One kiss will turn the table on getting very old hallyu star. It will happen anytime in Choungmoro.
Agreed with you on this point.
Ah! At least I got one point to crack the egg.
Man, Micky Mouse is all OVER this post.
Love your dedication.
As for the actress, I’ve never seen anything with her, but I do recognize her. Though there have been a lot of medical shows, I like that this is about school. I don’t know, I just like school shows … learning … ect. I like drama nerds. (Skks superfan!)
And I don’t think she looks that bad…though a little too old to be in medical school. I don’t know her real age though.
Hahaha…Mickey is having holidays, catching up on the news and started watching Giant!!
….but, you know, you can go to medical school whenever, so that might be cool if she was an older student. I’d like that angle.
CJW is turning 36 th year. she is a rabbit.
36. Yea that would definitely be a cool to have her as an older student amongst younger cocky smartypants medical students.
Ajuhma against sponge ball square pants.
Those rudely bashing this wonderful actress are obviously morbidly jealous of her huge popularity and incredible beauty! It puts me in mind of the scene in ‘The Actresses’ where Go Hyun Yung, in her confrontation with the “hallyu queen” had the audacity to poke CJW in the face, which she later admitted was done in jealousy over Ji-woo’s incredible beauty. Take your long distance cyber-bullying pokes to your black hearts content. Then go home and confront the dried up old hags facing you in the cracked mirror of your own tormented souls…
Wow.
Lol that last line cracked me up.
GHJ did not poke CJW on her face, she poked her on her forehead!!
i so love choi ji woo cause i discovered her when i first fell for Kdramaland and i just love Star’s lover she was cute there i see why people here dislike her still she is a great “cryer” and i love her acting !!!!! can’t wait for her comeback
But GHJ really killed me in QSD she really is the A-List!!!!!
Did CJW breakup with her boyfriend?
Mind your own business. That ‘s her private life!!
After seeing this article, I went back for some nostalgic moments with Stairways to Heaven. (I personally love the younger Jung-Suh and Song-Joo better. They’re so much more adorable!)
I think the reason why so many of you think she’s a bad/boring actress is because she’s typecasted into the same melodramatic kind of roles. Some people think to be a good actor or actress, one has to conquer many different types of roles, genres, etc., but I personally disagree with that. So what if she sticks with one type of character? If that’s her forte, then let her do it. Even if she’s not the best, she’s obviously not bad at it either.
Also, melodramas used to be very popular back in the days, and probably what started the worldwide popularity of Korean dramas. (I think melodramas are also the reason for stereotypes of Korean dramas being only about cancer and car accidents began). As a leading face in this particular genre AND part of the starting wave that made Korean dramas so popular and widespread, I think that’s why Choi Ji Woo’s so popular.
She is a specialist, agreed. People cry freedom, she cries to fame!!
“I think the reason why so many of you think she’s a bad/boring actress is because she’s typecasted into the same melodramatic kind of roles. ”
That and this demographic tend to be allergic to melodramas. The one criticism of Choi Ji Woo’s acting that has stuck most of her career is her line deliveries. She mumbles a bit, and her readings can be flat when the situation isn’t “dramatic.” I really noticed that with her performance in Star’s Lover. But, I’d argue the same can be said about Soo Ae’s body of work.
However, Choi Ji Woo is also one of the most emotionally available actresses around. It’s difficult not to have good chemistry with her, because she always listens in her scenes and stays true to that moment. When she gets cast opposite a big presence like Lee Byung Hung or Yoo Ji Tae, she makes it look so easy. She has as strong a relationship with the camera as anybody. And, yes, she cries pretty (though I would argue that Soo Ae is the prettiest weep artist in all of Chungmuro.)
I totally agree with you , i don’t like her drama but i appreciate her acting . When i watched the young pretty actress crying in Giant i trully wished if she could cry emotionally as CJW .
You are right, she cries pretty. Not messy, like most of the girls, ladies, aunties. Sigh, even my little niece is so messy, when she cries!!!
To CJW, don’t get discouraged with the negative comments. I’m glad you’re coming back. After watching “Winter Sonata”, I became addicted to K-Drama that I even bought the original DVD and soundtrack (feel nostalgic every time I listen to the music even if I don’t understand the lyrics – that’s how beautiful it is!). I’m looking forward to this new drama. The “Winter Sonata” has been credited to have a major part of the Korean wave, both in Korea and in other countries as well. It would not have been so if you, BYJ and the other casts didn’t portray well the characters. So what if you’ve been typecast for melodrama? That’s your forte, so be it.
For those who want to know why Winter Sonata is a big hit, check it out on
http://koreanfilm.org/tvdramas/wintersonata.html
To all the negative critics, I respect your thoughts, but let’s admit it – the Korean wave would not have started if CJW didn’t give justice to the role of Yu Jin.
Agreed!!
For me CJW is the real hallyuwood star! I fell in love (and got addicted to all k-dramas) after watching Winter Sonata.
Oh I turn into a Japanese housewife whenever I think of Winter Sonata. The show has this eerie power over me. I can watch it many, many, many times and for whatever reason, I always find something new.
I think the last time I saw it, I was surprised how genuinely good Choi Ji Woo’s performance of Yun Jin was. For all intents and purposes, her portrayal of the character was that of a human being who fell into a long, long depression, yet was still highly functional. Not really feeling. Not that engaged. Kinda going through the motions in work and family. Everybody telling her “why can’t you snap out of it?” and CJW would give the glance telling the same message again and again — “I’m trying damnit!!” Her relationship with Lee Min Hyung is like her process back into feeling again.
Agreed. BYJ caught my attention first because he looks like my elder brother. But, then I found CJW is really attractive and addictive!! Hehe… :p
Agreed.She is one of main actors that contribute to introducing Kdama to the world.Like it or not.I can rewatch Winter Sonata so many times also mainly because of her longing and true love for Jung Sang.
Im with you.
For me her dramas are kind of 50/50. I liked her roles in Stairway to Heaven, Rondo and Star’s Lover, but was bored with Winter Sonata and Beautiful Days. Too bad she wasn’t doing something more like a romantic comedy rather than melodramas all the time.
choi ji woo onie i love you,and your drama.best acteress in world for me
God made each and everyone of us in His own image, so nobody should judge anybody. If you judge somebody unfairly, you’ll be judge unfairly. There’s only one judge and He will judge us when we leave this earth, so be kind to one another. So many disasters are happening, signs of warnings.