Looks like fusion sageuks are going to be all the rage this summer. And this one’s even got an added summer-horror kick to it, to liven up the landscape. Shin Mina (My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho) and Lee Jun-ki (Iljimae, Hero) will be making their drama comeback together this year in a fusion retelling of the folklore ghost tale Arang Magistrate Story, or Arang for short.
This will be Lee Jun-ki’s first drama back from army duty (aw, they grow up so fast) and Shin Mina’s anticipated return to the small screen since her insanely popular turn as a modern gumiho. It’s a little typecasty to go from mythical nine-tailed fox to vengeance ghost, but I don’t think this supernatural creature’s going to be chowin’ down on meat or playing hoi-hoi anytime soon.
The drama is based on famous folklore, as all ghost stories are: During the Joseon era in the city of Milyang, Arang was the pure, beautiful, good-hearted daughter of a magistrate. (Magistrates figure into a LOT of Korean folklore, as they are the local men of power, and often depicted as abusing said power or meeting some untimely demise.) She grew up without a mother, and was raised by a wicked caretaker who conspired to have her be raped and ruined by a servant. He attacked and she resisted, so he stabbed and killed her, and left her body to rot in the woods.
Her father the magistrate just believed that she eloped with a man (dishonorably, of course) and so resigned his position swathed in shame. Thus the legend goes that every time a new magistrate comes to Milyang to fill the position, Arang’s vengeful ghost shows up to tell him her story and he flees in terror. She just wants you to hear her, ’cause girl was PURE, and her daddy DIDN’T LISTEN. Yunno, ghosts are misunderstood like that.
But one day a new magistrate comes to town — a young man by the name of Lee Sang-sa. Arang appears to him like every other magistrate before him, but this man doesn’t flee, and instead sympathizes with Arang, and promises to find her killer and avenge her death. Cue drama. Not bad for a ghost story, eh?
So Shin Mina will be playing Arang, of course, and Lee Jun-ki the new magistrate Lee Sang-sa who I’m assuming does more than just sympathize with her, making for an epic I-love-a-ghost-but-we-can-never-be-together tragic love affair. Sounds awesome to me, since you can’t get any more epic than Dead Girl Loves Not-So-Dead Boy.
At the helm is PD Kim Sang-ho, of Can You Hear My Heart, Hon, and Fantasy Couple, and writing is Jung Yoon-jung, who has no credits to her name. I’m excited for some spooky summer fun, so hopefully it’ll deliver in epic proportions. Arang will air on MBC in July.
Via Star News
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Excited! Totally love Shin Mina
LOVE her too. She’s awesome! And LJK… heavenly… *hearts stop. Two beautiful people… one movie… my heart.. *gasping for air…
*sigh.
K. Back to reality.
i just wish the story line is as good as the actor/actress.
dont dissapoint me pls…im begging u
Finally, Mina has a project and bonus, it’s with Lee JunKi. I cannot wait for this project, I wish they would hurry and cast the supporting roles and finalize the story. Filming to start in May and airing in July, good luck to the staff, crew and cast with the summer weather.
Arang hwaiting!!!
Shin Mina is going to be type casted in non human characters… LJK is just gorgeous, and he has the perfect acting skills to play this. Almost summer. Time surely flies.
I don’t think Shin Minah is in any danger of being typecast as nonhuman characters, lol. She’s done a lot of projects before Gumiho and she’s proven herself to be a versatile actor.
I was actually more worried that she might be typecast in roles that required her patented persona blend of cheerfulnesss, naivete, and eccentricness, because she was soooo good in those roles in the Naked Kitchen and Gumiho.
I’m sure she will do a good job in this drama b/c she was pretty good in her previous melos: The Devil and A Love to Kill, and I’m sure she’s improved a lot since then.
Yes, I more scared of that too. She’s also like that in the film My Mighty Princess. She was also really good in there. But, wait, it’s also semi-nonhuman character.
I’ve seen My Mighty Princess, what a horrible movie. SMA’s acting there was just so so IMO. SMA’s acting experience might be varied especially in movies and I’ve seen some of them. But the funny thing is each of her character (on those movies) couldn’t captivated me yet. Even for an interesting movie like “Sisters on the road” I can’t sympathy for her character. I was drawn in by Gong Hyo Jin’s character instead. Someone has mentioned that SMA is a versatile actress but for me she’s just kind of actress who’s just act and didn’t give a “soul” (immerse) to the character she portray. So I’m not surprise if she got more awards for her modeling/CF than for her acting.
My Princess was shown on our local TV station last year and immediately after that, the drama, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho. I liked MP, but stopped watching My GF is a Gumiho after the 2nd episode.
Oh, no. Again? I mean, I am so excited for this. But the emotional stress and heartbreak that Gumiho gave me when I wasn’t sure if they’re going to be together in the end or not, GAHD. I can’t believe I’m going to experience that once again! I mean, she’s a ghost!
I need to emotionally prepare myself for this.
Hopefully, this will be awesome!
Romantic ghost stories are awesome.
Did not like end of 49 Days but was still awesome.
Just has to be good if all the actors are good.
Well (I didn’t like the ending of 49 Days either) but I think I’d be OK with it if LJK died in this drama (assuming that they’re going to be in a romantic relationship. Isn’t the creepy, lol? Dating a ghost?) because 49 Days was about coming back to life, getting a second chance (but ultimately still dying, grr), but in this ghost story she stays a ghost, so I guess some epic storytelling and reasonable reasons to die (or her being reborn. eep my imagination is running wild.) will satisfy me. ‘Cause I still want them together, and it seems like death is the way to solve that. Even though death doesn’t mean happiness/being together (as Scheduler said before in 49 Days)
This is the first upcoming drama that has me anticipating it this year….so excited for this!!!
That’s a totally gorgeous pic of Shin Mina!
Omo! I can’t wait for this drama! I hope it’s good.
YEA YEA ~ I agree you 2 too!
Wow, the ghost story sounds awesome! And I’m happy that it’s the “Hon” director at the helm, since that show was appropriately creepy and well done.
I’m not much into fusion sageuks, but since it has got an added dose of horror, count me in.
Yes! I’m glad it’s the Hon director too! The show was subtly creepy, through the use of clever angles and editing, while being beautiful cinematographically at the same time.
I’m not into fusion sageuks too, but I’ll try this out cos’ of the leads…
Not sure how take this story but I really like the two main leads. Oh man… is this the year of fusion sageuks or what?, not that I’m complainning because thats what brought me to K-dramaland in the first place.
Holy schmidt!
I think the photos need to be MUCH BIGGER!
Can’t you just post his photo as the entire post?
Oh, YES!
Once he takes his army abs out for the first time!
Post the photo LARGE.
When does this air, I’ll make a countdown chain…
They both need a really good drama.
We need another TBDandW for LJK!
They’re reserving the headline-grabbing-size photos for hand towel-related stuff.
On a towel-unrelated note, I love the story and can totally see Shin Mina adding a fun twist to the mopey-pure-misunderstood-ghost thing.
Can we please have her abusing her walk-through-walls privileges to sneak a peek at the Joseon-showering Magistrate?
i second the abuse of ghostly powers! im super stoked about this one.
and passed!
i third it! ghost powers were made to be abused!
I feel like she is going to be typecast in supernatural roles now. let’s hope it does come to that
Can she make his towel fly off? That’d be cool.
we can only wish! unfortunately, they wouldn’t be able to air that
I’m pretty sure he’ll have splashy lusty baths. He’ll climb out of the wooden tub soaking wet, abs drip-drip-dripping, grab a towel, tie it around his head and saunter out. I love this new towel headgear idea and I hope it appears in every fusion sageuk.
But I think this is going to be a sad show. Just reading it makes me want to cry. She made me cry buckets in Love to Kill. The plot reminds me of this Thai? movie I read about, which I didn’t watch, but was critically acclaimed. About a righteous wife who was raped and murdered while her husband was away. Her husband returns, unaware that the wife he is living with now has died and is,in fact, a ghost.
YY! Why must you lure me with promises of towel and tub comment goodness then make me cry with plot synopses like that?
WHY?!!!!
(
YY if you ever come across the name of that movie, please find me and share!
The Thai Movie – Nang Nak.
I think the wife died during delivery but came back as ghost to wait for her husband.
Wow, This is going to be awesome! ..I hope.
Oh, I want this to be GOOD…
Has anyone ever see the movie The Ghost and Mrs. Muir? Or watched the tv show from the ’60s?
My love for ‘I’m in love with a ghost’ stories goes way, way back.
Yeah, but Greer had to die to get with him…..
Wait a minute – was it Greer or the ‘Laura’ actress? Now I’m totally confused…
It was the Laura actress, Gene Tierney.
I’m so glad she didn’t end up marrying Uncle Neddy – much better choice to wait and die and end up with the Captain in the afterlife
Sigh…I need to watch it again. It’s time.
I saw the tv series and absolutely loved it. I think the ghost name was Lucy Muir though … not sure where the Laura or Greer comes in.
Yes, Gene Tierney played both Mrs. Muir in “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir” and Laura in the film of the same name (love both films, BTW). In the former, her name was Lucy Muir but the Captain found that too tame, he called her “Lucia.”
I think this is going to be a fabulous show – two talented actors, both with a great look and presence about them, and director with chops…sounds very promising.
Laura’s a different movie and I think Greer is Greer Garson, another actress – but as they said just above, the actress was Gene Tierney.
OMG story sounds so good and plus my favorite leading actor and actress!! A must watch. Thanks for sharing the info …I check back hourly just to see any new news!!
This news me likey
AHHH! Something else to look forward to for the summer.
Super excited!!!!!!!
Does that mean we get see Miho I mean, Mina in pretty simple white dress again ? And Junki with his mane of glory ???
ME EXCITED .
AHH! ! ! ! Lee Jun Ki ~ He’s finally coming back to K-Dramaland after his military service for 2 years, yay!! I am glad to see this 2nd picture of Lee Jun Ki (he’s handsome now), yups!
Shin Mina look so adorable~ish (by her 1st picture) & I am very curious to watch what this new drama look like and both of actors might have a good chemistry together, ofc. ^_^
lee junki is back!!! let’s hope he has longer hair in this coming drama to cover them ears……
YAY!!! Excited. Love Shin Mina!!!
I will definitely be watching this show. ^.^
Sounds like a lot of fun! Not the biggest fan of LJK but Shin Mina?! Can’t wait to see her on screen again!!
Not LJK’s fan too, but love SMA!
Really looking forward to this.
I’m always on board for movies and dramas that take their inspiration from folklores =D
I think the army toughened up Lee Jun Ki.
His looks are killer. ***swoon***
aw. that’s a really nice picture of SMN
I have to remember the “Chinese ghost story” with Leslie Cheung. One of my all time favourites ^^
Shin Min-ah with Lee Jun-ki?! I’ll definitely keep an eye on it.
Cannot wait to see this drama!
JEE JUN KI? not so excited for that, but i am excited for shin mina. hope jun ki ends up wowing me. i dig the premise.
If you want to be wowed a head of time, watch Time Between Dog and Wolf with my fav LJK!!
So true! Time between dog&wolf and Iljimae captured my heart!! Forever junki’s fan.. Cant wait for thus drama.. ^^
…. OH. MY. GOD???!!!!!
SOMEONE HOLD ME.
Can I have her face please?
It’s the perfect mix between beautiful and cute, especially those freaking dimples.
Ghost and not-so-dead boy? Aw, how are they going to do it? Heh
I agree! I totally have a girl crush on her.
July is so far away but I’m so in with this drama that what I can do more than wait? Obviously watch other dramas.
No, seriously this amazing. Love the sypnosis and Jun Ki so ahhh! can’t wait!!!!
What a cool pairing! Me likes
Also, the story sounds great! I hope this new writer can deliver!
If you left out Shin Mina’s name, I would have thought Lee Junki (!!!) was Arang *snickers*.
LMAO !!!. Too funny !!! ^^
i am excited for more korean dramas with sci fi elements and i am one of the many fans of shin mina thanks to “my girlfriend is a gumiho” i remenber that drama from the 2010, good memories
Finally I am excited about a drama and I have to wait till July!!!!!!!!!!!!:(
It’ll be my birthday present! How appropriate!
This writer wrote 2 seasons of Byul Soon Geom (별순검) (2007/8, MBC) (aka Chosun Police / Korean Traditional Scientific Investigators). I watched Season 1 – pretty good story.
Hi there, who are you?
Where did you watched/downloaded Season 1? I’ve been looking eeeeeeverywhere for it. I really need more Ohn Joo Wan in my life.
Please don’t tell me you have the DVD…
Hey Linda,
was season 2 and 3 good? I’m supposing you’ve watched season 2 and 3 since you seem familiar with the series? I need a little mystery to spice up my TV schedule right now so I was wondering if you would recommend it.
And I’m sorry I tried to look for Season 1 but did not see it…only season 3.
Yay! I have such a girlcrush on Shin Mina and the plot sounds interesting.
And kind of familiar, as I’m sure I read something about ghosts and magistrates recently (hopefully it’s a folktale and not, you know, some sort of news item. er, unless it was published in The Onion, because that would kind of make sense.).
Ah, found it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janghwa_Hongryeon_jeon
I just thought i misread the article title!! Lee JunKi is my first actor crush ever and just a few days ago i told my sis that for his upcoming drama, i wanted an actress that would be a good match for him and that Shin Minah (who i LOVED in A Love To Kill and The Devil) was like.. THE ultimate choice!
I’m so happy right now i could die =D
UGH, yeah Junki was also my first crush. EVER. and still is I love him so much (and I actually was at one time within probably 5-6 feet from him! Yeah saw him at an event
)
THE FIRST TIME I AM ACTUALLY EXCITED DUE TO THE PLOT MORE THAN THE ACTORS/ACTRESSES!!!
tho dont get me wrong…….Shni-min-ah and lee-jun-ki ARE FREAKIN AWESOM.
Wow, I was just thinking about pairing Shin Mina and Lee Jun-ki the other day!!! Creepy
Maybe, not so creepy b/c I love them both and have been dying to see them in a new drama.
Oh my god…SO excited. Yay! I’m a July baby so I guess this is going to be a real treat for me. Lee Jun-ki and Shin Mina? (and horror? I like it as long as it doesn’t go grotesque and those creepy faces. and DOLLS.) Is probably the best coincidental birthday presents I’ll ever get.
Oh man, so happy! *does happy dance
Me too! We can celebrate together as we watch! Love LJK! Love Shin Mina!
I know right? Love the lead casts.
They’re so…awesome. lol. Can’t wait for Junki’s Mane of Glory, hope it’s a little different from Iljimae so we get to see something new (Omg on a side his note I dig his hair in TBDAW so much!) And Shin Mina, playing a ghost? I’m in. 
Sigh, my ever-growing list of dramas to watch…
both were too DAZZLING for me to look at!
it seem like I am looking in a “SPARKLING SPARKLING” characters…
anyway, I missed the both of them!!!
I will be watching this one!
definite watch! ^____^
i’m sold by the bg story and oh who am i kidding the cast!
Woot Woot! Lee Jun Ki!
OHMYGOSH I AM SO FRIGGING EXCITED.
Number one, I frigging love Shin Mina. One of my female biases. She’s just so gorg and adorbs and everything amazing. God she is so cute. I just want to pinch her cheeks. Also, I loved her expressions in Gumiho, and I’m confident she’ll be able to play the role well.
PLUS! Lee Jun ki would look good next to her. (LOL I should say, Shin Mina looks good next to him, but, no, she’s my bias, not him). I like the plot already. It’s cute. And sad. I just hope the executions will be as good as it’s actors.
Nonetheless, this and The King (Or King 2 Hearts, whatever, lame name) will be the ones I’ll be pining for this year.
eeeee shin min ah. *-* ..oh man that story sounds violent. ):
So… Arang = Moaning Myrtle?
So, this is for sure? Man, why does she always have to be in such supernatural stories..lol. Wonderful leads though!
I am not into horror but might just get convinced to watch this … being LJK’s comeback drama.
I’m curious about how they will have a romance since Arang is already dead. I can sense a not so happy ending for this. HWAITING!
Shin Mina! Finally.
There was a movie starring Im Ju Hwan title Arang too some years back. About a ghost girl out for revenge after she was murdered by a group of boys. Correct me if I’m wrong. Does the word ‘arang’ mean revenge in korean? Ghost movies are always so sad: ‘Ghost’ and ‘Sixth Sense’ are among the saddest movies I’ve ever seen. Ghost romances are even sadder. I’m going to watch this.
Don’t forget Casper! That last dance was sweet but sad. :’(