Drama Casting & News
The King gets name change, begins script reads
by | February 20, 2012 | 121 Comments

The new drama starring Ha Ji-won and Lee Seung-gi, formerly titled The King, has undergone a name change which just makes me scratch my head: the drama will now be called King 2 Hearts. Really? Really, Show? Does it not matter to you that YOU MAKE NO SENSE? Sigh.

I guess they’re going for a deck of cards theme, like a king and a two of hearts, but that doesn’t make it any better. You could at least have gone with King of Hearts or something that didn’t look like a text message gone wrong. Is it asking too much to just come up with a friggin’ title that makes sense in Korean, instead of mangling two languages in the process? You’re breakin’ mah heart, Show, and you haven’t even begun!

The photos from the script read show the leads getting into character, alongside supporting actors Yoon Jae-moon and Lee Yoon-ji. I’m just glad Seung-gi finally got a haircut, ’cause he’s been sporting some questionable ‘dos on 1 Night 2 Days. The drama takes place in an alternaverse where Seung-gi is a prince (so… not really that bizarre a bizzaro-world) and Ha Ji-won the North Korean intelligence agent-turned-professor engaged to be his princess bride (okay, I take it back). Obviously it’s a political marriage, but they’ll find that politics doesn’t necessarily preclude romance.

The 20-episode King 2 Hearts follows The Moon That Embraces the Sun in mid-March on MBC.

Via My Daily

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121 Comments from the Beanut Gallery
  1. Leaf

    This had better be awesome!

    • 1.1 crazymouse

      when does this start airing?

      • 1.1.1 waterfight

        March 14. It airs the same day as Equator Man and Rooftop Prince.

    • 1.2 polly

      It will be! The lead actors are good…quite a different pair, and LSG is totally rocking his new hair-do :P
      Plus there is Lee Yoon-ji ^^

  2. Kiara

    Sriously?. Make no sense in any language lol.

    • 2.1 Kiara

      err seriously….I need a new keyboard.

    • 2.2 Lisa lulu

      MAYBE IT’S LIKE ONE kING 2 HEARTS….

      • 2.2.1 Allie

        I think it has somehow two titles, “King” (written in Hangul) and “2 Hearts: (in English).

        • 2.2.1.1 MsGB

          That kind-of make sense!

          If that true then what needs to happen is to make sure that no matter what language it’s spoken in (or written in), it sounds (or looks) good.

          • 2.2.1.1.1 MsGB

            Still uber excited about it though whatever the title looks (or sounds) like!!!!

        • 2.2.1.2 lime

          that’d be slightly better.. the source article just writes the title as “kind two hearts” in hangeul, though :/

          • 2.2.1.2.1 jakebot

            i feel like somebody who’s involved in some of the retarded idol group names was part of this. to whom it may concern:slang should only be used when one understands the basic concepts of grammar, then chooses to tweak them to your own purposes. if you find yourself unable to do so in a correct fashion in you native tongue, you should not feel the freedom to hybridize your hackneyed idioms with another language. aish…

          • 2.2.1.2.2 Kiara

            It may be a hint not to take the script seriously lol.

  3. Binnie

    Ha Ji Won is so pretty! <3

    • 3.1 Suni

      YEA!! She’s very preeeeetty with her hairstyle!! :D

  4. LeiDiAngelo

    King 2 Hearts – it’s actually kinda quirky and cute :) )
    I hope it’ll be as amazing as The Moon. But then again, it’ll air against Rooftop Prince right?
    Now, I”m torn. Thank God I don’t watch it in Korea and I can therefore watch them in different time (with subs though) .

  5. MsScorpion

    I think you’re asking for too much GF, the drama’s got LSG and HJW now you want a decent title too????

    • 5.1 haruko

      LOL

    • 5.2 maria

      this is true. count your blessing, etc. murphy’s law says we can still lose seung gi, so…… ;p

  6. neener

    I like King OF hearts!

    just glad that Lee Yoon-ji is there! she needs more spotlight!!

    • 6.1 reeen

      I guess I’ll watch this for Lee Yoon-ji. They should give her a lead role already!

      • 6.1.1 Laica

        I agree! I hope they don’t make her a hateful robotic second lead, that would be such a waste of her talents. Something more along the lines of Ice Cream from PtB would be awesome.

    • 6.2 Alvina

      I agree. Even when playing a hateful character, she’s just so…awesome :D

  7. Mystisith

    The title is lame, but as long as the cast don’t act poker face , i will deal with it. I find LSG more attractive with that new look than in Gumiho. We’ll see how it goes.

  8. Angel

    I thought they’d started filming already?

    • 8.1 ccinta

      Yes, they started filming at the end of last month. They had the first script reading (the above pictures) on 26 January 2012 and somehow MBC only released the pictures yesterday. Don’t know why, but I’m just glad that they finally released them.

  9. Fasiris Fay

    Woong-ah!!! So cute…despite the botched up title and slightly weird premise, am excited for this :)

  10. 10 U.K Chick

    Lee Seung Gi looks HOT! Wow he lost weight, not that he even needed to, but his cheeks looks more defined. I’m hoping this wont be a train wreck like Myung-Wol, fingers crossed.

  11. 11 nozomi05

    Ha Jiwon is so pretty!

    Looking forward to this

  12. 12 DramaticTeacher

    i still can’t manage to see them together as a couple…

    • 12.1 blyssxoxo

      same here.. >.<

  13. 13 Jomo

    Maybe if they said something like King to Heart 2 which could be a mangled chess term and sounds kinda cute.

    • 13.1 YY

      They should just call it ‘King of My heart’, throw in a shower scene or two, and everbody will be happy. But I’m bored with the noona love. Again?????

  14. 14 Justine

    This is written by the Hong sisters though right? Is it me or is this show not really receiving as much hype as the rest of their shows? And plot-wise, it also doesn’t seem as wacky and fresh as I’d like it to be or like their previous work. I have faith that it’ll turn out well though. If nothing else, I do like the two leads so I’d give this show a shot just to see Woong-ah again. Excited how different his character will be this time! I’m just praying he won’t play a typical, arrogant, cold type of character.

    • 14.1 javabeans

      They’re not the Hong sisters you’re thinking of. The Gumiho/Best Love/You’re Beautiful writers are Hong Mi-ran, Hong Jung-eun.

      The sister pair writing King 2heartsthatbeatas1 are the Beethoven Virus and Over the Rainbow duo (Hong Jin-ah, Hong Ja-ram). So… their dramas are more serious, not comedic, and sometimes plodding. Beethoven Virus without Kim Myung-min? Yawwwwwn.

      • 14.1.1 JiHwan

        If they were the Best Love/Gumiho/You’re beautiful Hong Sisters, then my life would be complete.

      • 14.1.2 birdscout

        “King 2heartsthatbeatas1″ LOL!

        Almost as bad as my beloved 9End2Outs!

    • 14.2 pham1020

      Not the Hong sisters of My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, My Girl, Sassy Girl, Sassy Girl Chun Hyang. It’s from another Hong duo.

    • 14.3 Jomo

      There are two sets of Hong sisters.
      This is NOT the really popular pair, so there isn’t as much hype. These are the ones known mostly for Beethoven Virus (2008): Hong Jin Ah, Hong Ja Ram

      The other sisters with the string of very popular shows are
      Hong Mi Ran, Hong Jung Eun.

  15. 15 hpn88

    LSG, HJW aside! I’m excited to see Lee Yoon-ji back on screen :)

  16. 16 Linda165

    But on the bright side…. Lee Seung Gi + Ha Ji Won! Right?

  17. 17 Noelle

    I love Ha Ji Won. I just know I’m totally gonna be on her side the whole time and just hating LSG whenever he does something dumb.

  18. 18 nynaeve

    It’s so nice to see Ha Ji Won finally growing her hair again… Although, the drama’s title sounds stupid… King 2 Hearts? Seriously?

  19. 19 GI_JOJO

    SO PSYCHED because, let’s face it, Lee Seunggi and Ha Jiwon in the same drama is bound to be fantastic. Acting wise, that is. I hope the plot will be as equally good.
    Still, super excited for this, because I have been missing Seunggi. Cannot get over the Hoi Couple. Definitely one of the best couples in kdrama land. (for me).

  20. 20 j

    HJW’s always picked awesome projects, hopefully this one will not fail us! <3 <3 she looks lovely

  21. 21 waterfight

    I thought I was the only one that went “WTF?” when I heard the new name. It makes no sense whatsoever.

    From the March 14th releases this is the one I’m least interested in. The synopsis that’s been given out is just “eh” to me and it doesn’t help that the writers behind this wrote Beethoven Virus (I was so bored of that series).

  22. 22 saranghae_12

    i am so excited to watch this series.LSG must be losing weight so he’ll look more mature for the drama.i heard they’ll be using kylie minogue’s two hearts to set the mood for this show.

  23. 23 Carinne

    Bad move. I feel more distant on the name change. At first, being a foreign Kdrama fan, I raise curiosity, “is this a sequel to something?” Very rare the numerical 2 is entitled under a non-serial tv show.

  24. 24 ryuu99

    WTF is that name anyways? would have been much, much better if they just went with “King” or “The King” if they want their drama to be taken seriously. the title is like a text message or something. if they want to be funny they could have just renamed it to “1 King 2 Hearts”.

    i watched the BTS thing and Seunggi’s character is like a lazy, but whiny rich guy. i thought his character would be a more serious one like a lazy, doesnt-care-at-all stone-faced prince. oh well, maybe something will change his character but i seriously hate those ones where they become mature overnight, over some traumatic event or something. that’s why i loved Shining Inheritance because Seunggi’s character progression is slow and we all witnessed it.

    • 24.1 Cynthia

      “1 King 2 Hearts”?

      I LOL’d over that one – it’s WAY too close to 1N2D – and the way we just use initials here for Kdrama, it’d be 1K2H.

      Actually, I think it’s more like ‘King: 2 Hearts’ – kind of like ‘Padam Padam: the Sound of His and Her Heartbeats’

      Oh, well. It’s not a Kdrama unless the title changes 4 or 5 times with the winning title making little to no sense…
      :)

  25. 25 crazedlu

    King 2 Hearts!? *shudders. hate the name change.

    • 25.1 crazedlu

      submitted my comment, the page refreshed, and now i see seungi’s pic with shin mina’s banner up top together. miss our gumiho days.~~

  26. 26 Cam

    YAY!! \^__^/ I really LOVE my best favooorite actress Ha Ji Won and I am VERY looking forward to this drama!! Also, I am glad that Lee Seung Gi is finally back to TV drama now since he had been busy with Strong Heart shows as a host, of course.

    I hope Lee Seung Gi and Ha Ji Won will have a bright chemistry (without awkward) ~ ~ BRINNNNNG IT ON!!!! :D

  27. 27 nooooooyessss

    Who cares about the title. It’s all about the actors , the storyline , The characters, and acting.

  28. 28 Lilian

    oh no! SO many new shows to look forward to…let the battle begin =)

  29. 29 julianna

    I’m not into the new name either but I have faith in this drama – acting-wise. I liked Beethoven’s Virus, but was not drawn into it much mostly because of its theme/atmosphere. Hopefully this one will be much a much light-hearted/comedic plot. However it turns out, I will still be watching anyway for LSG and HJW. ;PP *fangirl mode ON*

    • 30.1 Saima

      ahhhhh!! Lookin’ good!! If it’s done right in terms of serious romance…..ohhh, we’ll be toast. btw, love the look in LSG’s eyes!! :D

      • 30.1.1 Saima

        okay, so JUST realized that Jo Jung-Suk is also in this drama….he was awesome in What’s Up!! This drama has amazing actors so I hope for the actors’ sake they don’t screw it up!!

    • 30.2 Cynthia

      That’s the official photo?
      It’s awful – just awful.
      Seung-gi’s profile looks weak and HJW looks choked in her heavy uniform, plus she’s really skewing older noona there.

    • 30.3 julianna

      Awww it looks gooood! LSG has changed quite a bit to fit the role. I hope this drama is going to be awesome! :P

    • 30.4 crizzyville

      this photo is gorgeously done in black and white. loved it! just by looking at them is like watching glimpse of the drama. you can already tell ji won’s story but for seunggi, let’s figure it together!

  30. 31 Manu

    oh title, how you make me cringe :|
    …but as long as everything else is good, I’ll deal with it

  31. 32 Anvesha

    Ok, LSG’s hair style is finally better!!! I don’t necessarily love this pairing even if I love them individually. I do love that LSG is back to dramaland. I just hope the plot is worth watching, because everything else is just set! And really, the titles? I’ve seen worse.

  32. 33 Mei

    KING2HEARTS? Doesn’t matter, had Ha Ji Won and Lee Seunggi. Lol.

  33. 34 ccinta

    Seems like I’m not the only one who dislike the new title. King 2 Hearts? King with dual personalities? or what? I didn’t even think that far that it may related to deck of cards theme. And they use King 2Hearts Kylie Minogue as the theme song? hmmm…

    Reading some of the plot, looks like Lee Seung Gi will be playing the Prince first then somehow will become the King after the King himself (his older brother) died and LSGi will revenge on behalf of his older brother. A lazy, playboy Prince?

    As the writers are women, I think they may make his character incredibly mean & annoying so I may end up hating him. Lol…

    Ha Ji Won looks fantastic & so beautiful. I fall in love with her once again when I saw the above pic and also when I saw her profile pic on King 2Hearts official website. I’m going to root for her character and going to hate LSGi character lol…

  34. 35 ida

    why can’t lee yoon ji get her big role??!!
    She’s frickin’ AMAZING.

  35. 36 Birdie

    Can’t say I am excited by this pairing. LSG looks so much younger with his cute chubby cheeks and HJW looks older. But then I guess one have to watch to find out. Is it going against Fashion King and Rooftop Prince? Tough competition at that time slot.

    • 36.1 dea

      It’s going against Yoochun’s Rooftop Prince & Taewoong’s Equator Man.

      I’m not excited for this pairing either, but LSGi made it work in MGIAG and HJW also made it work in all her previous works; so I hope they’ll prove me wrong.

      I read somewhere that LSGi character is younger than HJW’s character, is this true? HJW character is described as a 30+ yo, but considering LSGi character is still in the military, I assume he’s younger than 30 yo? Can anyone enlighten me? ^^

      • 36.1.1 Allie

        Yes, I read at soompi, she will be the noona who will kick the spoiled prince’s a**.

        • 36.1.1.1 wanne

          I hope so! that will be great!
          but i read somewhere Lee Yoon Jae will be his younger sister? Thats ridiculous, i hope i misunderstood it

  36. 37 Yoon Yeo-jung?

    In the last picture, the woman sitting next to Ha Ji-won looks like Yoon Yeo-jung, who played Yang Dong-keun’s mother in Ruler of Your Own World. I just finished watching that series again. She was heart-breaking in her role as the abused mother.

  37. 38 Geneva

    I read somewhere they changed it because that Kylie Minogue song “Two Hearts” is the theme song. Which just confuses me as to what the tone of this show actually is. Sexy.. political.. royal… rom-com? I hope that’s what it turns out to be, in any case.

  38. 39 Jeff

    9 End 2 Outs also had a strangely translated name (I’m not sure if it made sense in Korean, but it definitely doesn’t in English), but it turned out to be a really great drama. Hopefully the same thing happens here.

    • 39.1 Alvina

      Wasnt the english full version ‘Bottom of the 9th with 2 Outs’? That’s perfectly valid with the baseball theme of the show, and is an actual ‘thing’ in baseball. The short 9 end 2 outs is odd but not the worst I’ve seen lol.

      King 2 Hearts on the other hand… if I knew where that was coming from, I’d be more forgiving maybe…

  39. 40 jollyroger

    Haha that’s one funny drama title.

  40. 41 MsB

    I will watch it simply for Ha Ji-Wan alone

  41. 42 Yee

    we see ha ji won smiling, this show might be amusing. lol

  42. 43 Venus

    Why do my drama senses are telling me that this drama could end up being a huge fiasco?…I’m not trying to be negative cause we have been wrong many times before, but when a drama starts to change its Title to a title that makes less than from the original, I just feel worry.

    I called the curse of “title changes”….. hope I’m wrong caused I love both leads.

    • 43.1 Mystisith

      I don’t mind the titles salad. It happens all the time, and a lot of dramas i love have stupid titles. My ghost is Spy Myung Wol. And it’s equally irrational, because at the end of the day each project stands on his own.

    • 43.2 asianromance

      Multiple title changes give off the impression that the production don’t know what it’s doing or what direction it wants the drama to go in. The King makes it sound serious while King 2 Hearts makes me think trendy drama for teens. I just wish kdrama will get titles that are easy to google and find the right drama it’s associated with.

  43. 44 Only a title

    Geezs people, it’s only a title change!!! People tune in for the script and the drama as a whole, not just bc it has a nice title. And ppl who doubt that this is drama is only a hip and nothing else?? Come on the show didn’t even start yet. Give the show a chance!!!!!!

  44. 45 Summer

    Whether the name sounds right or not, I will still watch it for Ha Ji Won & Lee Seung Gi. Both of them are awesome actor/actress. Seung Gi also did mention his desire to work with Ha Ji Won at 2010 SBS drama awards, so I believe their chemistry will be a good one.

    If the character is Seung Gi is younger than Ji Won, he can sing to her “Because you’re my woman” as the lyrics before this sentence is “noona”(older sister)… ^_^ that would be perfect.

    Really anticipating this drama more than the other 2 because of the leads & supporting/veteran actors… King2hearts fighting!!!

  45. 46 Raine

    OMG…Korean show names…seriously need to stick to the good one and let us have the puppy and Ha Ji-won! Hopefully this turns out better than these Hong Sisters other ones.

    In other news…my father is watching Best Love with me. It’s a glorious thing. He’s confused about the potato plant.

    • 46.1 Mystisith

      I love the pet gamja. It has become my favorite indoor plant : Cheap, no special needs and affectionate. And you can eat the babies…

  46. 47 ladida

    Ugh, I adore Ha Ji Won; can’t wait for this one! I hope it’s fabulous.

  47. 48 Osi

    Can’t wait to watch this drama.
    I love both lee seung gi and ha ji won.
    Yaaaaay……

  48. 49 dea

    From the profile, looks like Jo Jung-Suk & Lee Yoon-Ji will have lots of spotlight as well. Excited ^^

    Royal Family Commander of the Royal Guard
    Actor: Jo Jungsuk

    There’s no compromise with him. By the book, just need to look forward and go. Trained and respected as an elite captain, some novel creatures suddenly appear before him, the king of petty tricks Lee Jae-Ha and the free-spirited Bohemian princess Lee Jae-Shin.

    Wondering why this ordeal has come upon me when I’ve lived this life without any wrong-doing, and although things are chaotic, eventually I can’t help but to fall for the charming true colors of these siblings. I always wanted to live up to the ideals of my father’s words and action, who said always become a dignified person. My father whom I always respected beyond words…

    However I discover a different side to my father. If my father can change then this universe can crumble. Therefore, please father…

    South Korean Princess
    Actress: Lee Yoonjae

    A pretty and intelligent, but also sophisticated and free-wheeling princess, born as the youngest daughter of the royal family and smothered with adoration throughout her life.

    Interested in fringe culture, I was studying applied music in England, but got swept up in this unexpected turn of events while attending my 2nd eldest brother’s engagement party.

    Trying not to crumble from despair, I find a way out, and different from any other time in my life, I establish communication and slowly take a step forward in the world. However, I still don’t know my reach. Often, I still get panicked, the nerve-racking memories hover in the clouds, that this country’s destiny is influenced by a crucial key…

    source: http://lsgfan.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/king-2hearts-hilarious-but-mysterious-character-profiles/

  49. 50 Jaejoongism

    Cautiously looking forward to this

    HJW-Love
    LSG-Like (but dont know how he will do in this role; but will watch to find out)
    Writers-DNW

    • 50.1 Jaejoongism

      i forgot to say
      LSG’s haircut looks good

      and HJW looks young and pretty

      • 50.1.1 bamsa

        Wow!!! l love LSG’s haircut… he looks so much better with this cut :)

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