A Thousand Kisses releases its first stills

86 August 4, 2011August 4, 2011

by javabeans

Y’know, I wasn’t sold on the noona-dongsaeng pairing of Ji Hyun-woo (Birth of the Rich) and Seo Young-hee (Bedevilled), but they’re looking cute and comfy with each other in these first stills from MBC’s upcoming weekend drama A Thousand Kisses.

It looks like the drama’s playing with the question of age differences in romance, and promo descriptions state that it’ll explore a variety of love relationships. The main pairing, above, explores the younger-man-older-woman dynamic, with Ji romancing a divorced single mom. Seo Young-hee’s character is the hard-working type who’s faced a lot of bitterness in her life, while Ji Hyun-woo plays a former national soccer player who’s now a sports agent. And if anyone can do the doting dongsaeng role, it’s Ji, who combines leading-man status with boyish charm.

But main couple aside, I’m more interested in some of the side characters — namely, Ryu Jin (Baby-Faced Beauty) and Kim So-eun (Fine Windy Day). Furthermore, cranky grandpa Lee Soon-jae (My Princess, High Kick Through the Roof) even gets his own loveline with a May-December romance, featuring “80s flower heroine” Cha Hwa-yeon (Love and Ambition, Thorn Birds).

The older couple boasts a 25-year age gap; Lee Soon-jae is 75, while Cha Hwa-yeon is 50. In the drama, he plays the chaebol head of a resort group who falls in love with his caregiver, and they marry. The drama touts theirs as a moving love story showcasing “beautiful melo acting.”

Meanwhile, the chaebol’s son also has a May-December-ish (March-August?) relationship with a much younger woman as well; in real life, 17 years separate Ryu Jin and Kim So-eun. When I first heard about their pairing, I wasn’t sure whether I ought to feel a little uneasy about the matchup of a 21-year-old with a 38-year-old (especially since, in Korea, 20 is barely legal), but now that I see that age play is a theme here, I’m ready to go with it.

Ryu Jin plays the cold and haughty planning manager at his father’s resort, who has a strained relationship with his father marked by lingering resentment — he feels Dad showed little kindness to his mother, who died of a hereditary illness.

Kim So-eun melts that icy exterior with her optimistic, affectionate nature. She’s a guest reporter for a magazine who doesn’t remember her own mother’s face, having been raised by her older sister (Seo Young-hee) and grandmother. My favorite part about her description: She falls for him at first glance and, thanks to her proactive personality, tackles her crush head-on. Rather than suffering from lovesickness on her own, she goes after him assertively, and wins him over. Yay for K-drama ladies who act, rather than mope!

A Thousand Kisses replaces weekend drama All That Glitters and premieres on August 20.

Via Osen

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1 joeydragonlady

August 4, 2011 at 5:11 AM

Sounds interesting!

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joeydragonlady

August 4, 2011 at 5:13 AM

Wow, I was first...anyway. I am kinda into the youngerman/older woman theme. While waiting for
Jang Geuk Seok's You're My Pet which is along the same line.

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Pearly

February 14, 2012 at 5:02 PM

Oh my God! This korean drama is superb! Amazing cast and the story is brilliant. All these age differences were wiped out :) Now love conquers all despite which era you are born.LOL ^___^ I will miss this kind of drama. THUMBS UP TO THE WHOLE CREW.

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2 angelpur

August 4, 2011 at 5:11 AM

mm, seems to be a lot of older-woman and younger-man kdramas going around lately (bfb, royal family ect) but I'm fully on board with this one! Cast looks great, and I think the most interesting pairing will be kim so-eun and ryu jin <S

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3 chuachumill

August 4, 2011 at 5:38 AM

ryuuuuuuuuuu jinnnnn!!hoorraayyyy!!

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Haru

August 4, 2011 at 7:28 PM

HELL YES :D
OMNOMNOMNOM :>
I LOVED RYU JIN in BFB *__*

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4 flora

August 4, 2011 at 5:40 AM

I love Ji Hyun Woo but didn't like his romance in The birth of the rich.Hope Ryu jin's character will be more interesting here than in Baby faced beauty.

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5 Linda165

August 4, 2011 at 6:05 AM

Yay! I'm excited!!! two of my favorites K-actors: Ryu Jin and Kim So-eun. He is sooooo cool and she is sooooo cute, I think they'll look good together. I'm more excited about them that about the main couple.

Lee Soon-jae's been busy this couple of years and OMG! YY is going to through a fit, her oppa is having a love story, without her...

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6 naila

August 4, 2011 at 6:10 AM

I love Ryu jin, I am also looking more forward to his part of the story than the other characters (which I also love...but it's Ryu Jin).

I am still waiting to see a Drama with him as the lead and getting the girl while being the lead.

Looking forward to this drama...

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7 coffeelover

August 4, 2011 at 6:14 AM

im not familiar with the actors, aside from kim so-eun and Mr.Lee soon-jae, but im looking forward to this drama...i hope this would be good..this would be like my cyber AA , haha...for i am in a may-december relationship too...(ryu shin- kim so eun to be more specific)...

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8 Lahlita

August 4, 2011 at 6:27 AM

Dude, noona-dongsaeng is totally where it's at! Those storylines just don't get old for me, partly because of my own experiences, but also because there's something about guys who buck the tradition. I've found that guys who approach an older woman have this confidence and, je ne sais quoi ... quelque chose d'autre that I find such a turn-on. They want you, end of. And props to the actors. They look really comfortable together. Beautiful chemistry.

But I'm a hypocrite because the love-line between Kim So-eun and Ryu Jin is giving me the heebie-jeebies, even as I understand that age-play is a theme here. We shall see.

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9 please

August 4, 2011 at 6:36 AM

can anyone tell me where i can get the princess' man recap???????? PLEASE....please..please....pleaseeeeeee :-)

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R

August 4, 2011 at 7:23 AM

Hey I don't know about other episodes but I came across this ,check it out

http://keracho.tumblr.com/post/8214171207/the-princesss-man-ep-4-recap

http://www.squidoo.com/the-princess-man#module151564302

hope this helped:)

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Cynthia

August 4, 2011 at 8:46 AM

DramaCrazy.com has them.

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10 myra

August 4, 2011 at 6:40 AM

Why don't you say something about ojakkyo brothers? the premiere is this saturday and thay have some nice trailers, too...and why don't you recap protect the boss?

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Arhazivory

August 4, 2011 at 8:46 AM

lol. They can't possibly write about e v e r y drama.

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myra

August 4, 2011 at 9:49 AM

It's just that they had city hunter recaps - which ended last week - so it's not like there will be more dramas to recap, it's still the same number, so I had hopes!

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myra

August 4, 2011 at 9:53 AM

OH, and today is my birthday, and I love ji sung, and I really wanted this like a birthday present! By the way, isn't it great that I'm born the same day as jang geun seok?!!!

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11 MeOnly

August 4, 2011 at 6:42 AM

I love love All that glitters .. luckily this one looks interesting..

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12 yukisama69

August 4, 2011 at 6:44 AM

I've seen this mentioned around, but never gave it much thought. Now that I read your opinion, I might just have to check this out. Looks interesting. ty

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13 Aphrodite

August 4, 2011 at 6:46 AM

Ruy Jin again the second lead? Poor Ruy, he won't get the girl.... again!

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14 princess'man

August 4, 2011 at 6:48 AM

can anyone tell me where i can get the princess' man recap???????? PLEASE.... :-)

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R

August 4, 2011 at 7:26 AM

Hey I don’t know about other episodes but I came across this ,check it out

http://keracho.tumblr.com/post/8214171207/the-princesss-man-ep-4-recap

http://www.squidoo.com/the-princess-man#module151564302

hope this helped:)

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princess'man

August 4, 2011 at 9:30 AM

Thanks Million to u Dear :-)

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15 ck1Oz

August 4, 2011 at 7:29 AM

Oh my it slipped under my radar.
I've read it...gives me the 'uncomfortable feeling' but might have to check this out.

If after all Kim So-Eun falls first for Ryu Jin-how can I miss that?After all I loved him in My Country Calls.

Man...it's still going to be difficult to follow this drama though even though it may be fantastic.It's not my favourite theme not when the age gap is HUGE!!

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16 eliza

August 4, 2011 at 7:32 AM

The storyline has been done before, many times in fact, but for some reason I still feel excited. I think these actors will be able to bring a new perspective to the age difference set up and I am looking forward to watching!

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17 ohemgee

August 4, 2011 at 8:20 AM

OMO!

i am SUPER excited for this... everyone looks so adorable--i can't wait for love to conquer all-- including age! ;)

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18 Uca

August 4, 2011 at 8:21 AM

I wonder how the chemistry between Kim So-eun and Ryu Jin will be.

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Uca

August 4, 2011 at 8:30 AM

I have good feeling that it'll be awesome! August 20! come faster! I miss Kim So-eun S MUCH and the man in Loving You a Thousand Times and My Country Calls!

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Alexis

August 4, 2011 at 8:57 AM

Yups yups, I really agreed with ya! Ooo, I felt like something's funny & bit of strange inside me cuz' of Ryu & Kim So Eun, oh yeah. =)

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czh78

August 4, 2011 at 9:11 AM

she was good in her previous drama Good Day For The Wind To Blow where the partner was about 10 years older than her. I believe she will have good on screen chemistry with Ryu Jin as well. Not to mention how cool Ryu is. I am shipping the already.

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Uca

August 4, 2011 at 9:27 PM

She has that strong power to make great chemistry with every actor. I think.
Kim Beom, Yoo Ah In, Jin Yi Han, Jang Geun Seok etc. HA

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belle

August 4, 2011 at 9:45 PM

I still think she looks best with Kim Beom. Though it's been a couple of years already, I'm still hooked. SoEul FTW!!!

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Uca

August 4, 2011 at 9:49 PM

SoEul mate there? SO AM I! HAHAHA

19 glencorajane

August 4, 2011 at 8:29 AM

you are right. i love all the side characters but am a bit doubtful of the main leads chemistry!

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20 jess

August 4, 2011 at 8:42 AM

sounds like a great drama!!! ^^

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21 Arhazivory

August 4, 2011 at 8:48 AM

Omo omo. I wasn't very interested before (mildly because of Ryu Jin) but this sounds good and I feel a good vibe about it. The stills rock too. :D

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22 shammah

August 4, 2011 at 8:51 AM

kim so eun did well on with jin yi ha, who was 9-10years older then her both in real life and the drama. i think she is going to do very well on this one.

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23 Cynthia

August 4, 2011 at 8:52 AM

Looking forward to seeing this one - most importantly because I'm currently living the main couple situation (son, 25 - "girl"friend, 38 **sigh**), and on a more shallow note, I love KSE and hope that this role brings her a higher profile.

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24 Cam

August 4, 2011 at 8:52 AM

Aigoo, aigoo, this is REALLY fascinating, hehe. ^__^

................BRIIIING IT ON!!!!!! =D

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25 Banu

August 4, 2011 at 9:02 AM

Ahhh he is so handsome ^__^

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26 Anvesha

August 4, 2011 at 9:21 AM

For some reason rather than the main lead I'm more into So Eun and Ryu Jin love story. I think it will be nice.. that as main story would've been nice since noon-dongsaeng stories are quite common. But I like Ji so let's see..

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27 Anvesha

August 4, 2011 at 9:24 AM

For some reason rather than the main lead I'm more into So Eun and Ryu Jin love story. Althought te age gap does seem quite a lot, i hope yhey reduce it in reel life??then I think it will be nice.. that as main story would've been nice since noon-dongsaeng stories are quite common. But I like Ji so let's see..

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28 Yee

August 4, 2011 at 10:02 AM

Aww, cannot wait till it comes out! Especially with kim so eun and ryu jin's story.

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29 cheerfulgal

August 4, 2011 at 11:20 AM

ryu jin i luv him since really really like you but how come he never got any lead roles? always a second? wahhhhh i'll surely watch this coz of him & ji hyun woo...this sounds interesting!

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30 danna

August 4, 2011 at 11:22 AM

Please tell me that Kim So Eun fall for Ryu Jin not Ji Hyun Woo, effectively making her NOT your typical kdrama second lead!..also, the drama is being called a thousand kisses..hope it delivers at least a tenth of that... :P

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danna

August 4, 2011 at 11:26 AM

O ok I just re-read the article more clearly now..so she is getting paired with Ryu Jin...Yippee

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31 Yer Vang

August 4, 2011 at 11:26 AM

Awh, i wanted Ryu to get the girl this time but they (the main characters) look soooooo cute together.

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32 tinnybo

August 4, 2011 at 11:29 AM

The issue for me is how long will this drama be or in other words how many episodes? Right now i am at the edge of my seat with "My love By My Side" and don't get me wrong i am loving it because it is an excellent drama, but I don't think i can get emotionally involved with another long drama. I didn't it with "Can you hear my heart" and that wasn't so bad cause it was only 30, but now i found out "My Love By My side" is 50 episodes. I think i am prefering those dramas with shorter episodes like "You've Fallen for me".

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33 wonbinlover

August 4, 2011 at 11:34 AM

Sounds interesting but I hope they don't drag out everything if its going to be a long drama. I'm all for the older woman younger man storyline since my fiancee is younger than me :)

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34 Kay

August 4, 2011 at 11:47 AM

i so ganna watch this drama

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35 MeeisLee

August 4, 2011 at 11:48 AM

I'm actually really looking forward to seeing Ryu Jin and Kim So Eun. I liked him in BFB, and I like KSE. So it seems to be good from both ends. Weekend dramas do have a tendency to be lengthy, but as long as it doesn't drag, I wouldn't mind sitting through 50 episodes.

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36 Kimmi

August 4, 2011 at 11:57 AM

i just want to keep looking at ryu jin XD

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37 Doonala

August 4, 2011 at 12:17 PM

wow i can't believe Seo Young-hee is the same one in queen sunduk.. she look gorgeous here!!

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38 Noelle

August 4, 2011 at 12:49 PM

I love Ryu Jin! His relationship in the show doesn't bug me. What's the legal age in Korea? Is it 18?

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39 mikiadashiwa

August 4, 2011 at 12:50 PM

i think ji hyun woo did the older woman, younger man idea in My Sweet Seoul....

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40 dulcedeleche

August 4, 2011 at 12:51 PM

i wasn't a fan of noona dongsaeng until PSH's performance in Queen of Reversal....*sigh*

now i'm totally on board. Is this a mini-series? The plot seems like it'll end up as one of those long-ish dramas...

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41 jomo143

August 4, 2011 at 2:24 PM

YY-
He came back from the dead again again for you
"cranky Grandpa Lee Soon-jae!"

So nice for you...

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42 jomo143

August 4, 2011 at 2:26 PM

Oh! I love Cha Hwa-yeon! (Thornbirds)
What a gorgeous and graceful lady.
She is also in Protect the Boss right now.

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43 noodles143

August 4, 2011 at 3:40 PM

JI HYUN WOO!!!
SO HOT!

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44 Yvonne

August 4, 2011 at 4:50 PM

I am excited about the pairing of RJ and KSE! Woohooo!

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45 Saki

August 4, 2011 at 5:27 PM

ohmygosh finally a show im excited about this summer! i like age differences. it shows how unpredictable love is when they fall for an unusual match.

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46 reesh

August 4, 2011 at 5:32 PM

whew! ryu jin at last got the lead role...i always pity on him since most of his drama's role in the past was 2nd lead..i'm glad he's the main lead now. i'm excited to watch this drama. thanks for the news!