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KBS sageuk King’s Dream beset by accidents

It’s bad news after bad news for King’s Dream, the KBS1 weekend historical drama starring “sageuk king” Choi Su-jong playing, appropriately, the titular ruler King Chunchu. Park Joo-mi is his co-star in the role of Queen Seon-deok. Both have been in recent accidents.

First it was Park Joo-mi who was in a car accident on the night of October 23, just before midnight, after she had finished filming for the day. The vehicle driven by Park’s manager rear-ended a 25-ton dump truck in front of it, and totaled the car. (Image below.)

Park, her manager, and her stylist were all taken to a nearby hospital in Daegu immediately following the accident. The stylist broke her leg, the manager injured his hand, and the truck driver received minor injuries.

At the time Park seemed to have only received minor injuries as well, but they worsened after the fact and she was rushed to a Seoul hospital where she was admitted to the intensive care unit. She currently awaits the results of a thorough medical exam and canceled her drama shoot on October 24. It’s uncertain whether she’ll be able to resume filming anytime soon.

To add to the drama’s trouble, Choi Su-jong has also been injured after falling off a horse during an October 24 shoot. He was taken to a hospital in Kyungju and diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right shoulder. According to Choi’s management, “The situation calls for surgery, but filming cannot be delayed so he returned to the set shortly afterward. Because the injury is not minor he plans to receive a through examination on the 25th, so based on those results we will discuss how to act.”

Choi reportedly feels a strong sense of responsibility to return to work and wants to continue filming on painkillers. Yikes. On the other hand, with his right arm injured he wouldn’t even be able to hold his sword for the requisite battlefield scene, and Choi is worried that he may not be up for the task. (You think?) By the way, Choi Su-jong was also in a car accident last month (on September 26) while traveling along an expressway and colliding with a truck. At that time he was told it would take him four weeks to recover, but he chose to keep filming while receiving treatments. Gahhh Korea, you and your insane expectations of work ethics.

Still, PD Shin Chang-seok seemed optimistic about the show’s immediate future, saying that the coming weekend’s episodes are mostly done filming. There are four minutes left till completion, which can be addressed with script revisions until the actors recover. Because apparently all it takes to knit your ligaments is a weekend of R&R? Eek.

But the producers’ predicament is understandable, given that both actors are lead stars and the drama has aired 14 episodes — it’s an awkward point at which to replace someone that prominent. On the other hand, there are 80 episodes in total, so it’s not exactly a grit-your-teeth-and-endure-till-the-end scenario either. Both actors, naturally, want to continue working, and the producers are keeping their hopes up that Park’s condition doesn’t appear to be a worst-case scenario.

Well, let’s hope for all involved that the injuries are much, much less serious than they seem (despite how unlikely that appears) — because I think we all know that serious or not, they’re all gonna just keep working anyway. The show must go on, apparently.

Via E Daily, Review Star

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I don't actually watch their drama because its way too long for my liking, but i hope they get better soon.

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this happens so many times..that I find myself a skeptic :)

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same here. But I hope for their fast recovery! Get well soon, you two!

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ALWAYS THOSE DAMN CAR ACCIDENTS. A manager shouldn't be a chauffeur: They have a lot of much important tasks to do. Can't the actors take taxis? Driving is their job, they are not overworked and normally not under chemical influence of any kind. If I were an insurance company for actors, I would ask for it in the contract.
And about that shoulder problem: Anyone remembers what happened to Kim Jae-won on M2F? He wanted to delay the medical care and ended with complications and cancellations of events.
Will they ever learn? Those news always send me climbing on the walls!

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Exactly!

It is so frustrating to hear these kind of news over and over again.

'A ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.'
Korea, I know this is a very old and cliche expression
but, IT REALLY IS TRUE.

Many times when i read these articles, the drivers are the manager or some other staff member that is just as over work as the actors are.

Drama production inc, Get it thru your thick skulls and learn from all these accidents.

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Yup, agree.

Even the fact that Park Joo-mi only had minor injuries at first and now is in intensive care is mind-boggling. Like they rushed her initial medical assessment so she could perhaps get back to work quicker.

Same with Choi's injury. Filming can't delayed? Who cares!

But it's again the problem with Korea's drama-production system. It care for the health of its actors AT ALL.

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south korea's roads are some of the most dangerous in the world, with high rates for traffic deaths. at times it may seem like you're on another planet, it's pure survival jungle.
sometimes it's not their insane working hours or being the odd-job man for everything and it won't matter if you've got Fernando Alonso as your driver because no one follows traffic rules there.

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They're not as bad as they are made out to be, I went from a small town to getting my license in Korea and while it is a change it is not nearly as bad as some people make it out to be. What's really terrible is driving down a side street and the constant stream of pedestrians milling around your car, lucky if you move a few feet depending on how busy foot traffic is.

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Currently watching it
Good cinematography and acting.
Choi soojong fan <3

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This is insane! The working conditions are insane and we keep hearing news of accidents. This is a 80 episodes long show. Wonder how they are going to keep going. Esp that actress' (Colin's mum in AGD) injuries sound serious. ICU?

Hope both will recover well....

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I don't even know why I'm surprised, of course broadcast stations and production companies would value profit and money more than individual welfare. It's a shame that although the issue of actors' rights was brought to light with the whole Han Ye-seul/Spy Myung-wol debacle, nothing ended up getting changed. Doesn't South Korea have any equivalent to the SAG so actors could at least have *some* leverage?

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I hope they get better before going back to work...wish them the best

And yes I agree with the comment that they should have a seperate driver..if the managr is in set witg u all day the odds aee he's tired and overworked also.

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Didn't this happen to another drama before and in the end they cancelled the drama all together?

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Yeah. Eric and Han Ji Min were seriously injured in a car accident while filming 'Wolf'. The drama was postponed indefinitely. Only like 3 episodes made it on the air. Good thing is that they are both ok now.

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Do people not pay attention to their driving or what? Celebrities always seem to be in one accident or another. I say if you know you have to drive later at night, sleep ahead of time and then drive...like seriously...

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They dont have time to sleep during live shooting unfortunately :(.

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they do take naps... of 30 minutes, there and here... and while they go to a new set/place to film/do their make-up or hair...

but their managers? Nope, not even that.

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I love Choi Su-jong, one of my favorite veteran sageuk actors. I'm gonna have to marathon this show during the holidays. This part of K-history has always been my favorite.

Get well soon Kim Chun chu <3.

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This is insane. Someone tie that guy to a hospital bed stat.

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The problem is their managers most of the times are the one that drive the cars.

And I don't know why they can't have a driver. WTH, they prefer to be in danger or die ??

The managers wokes up before the actor and goes to pick them up, they are always doing something too, and solving the actors problem, the manager never stop, while the actor for example can take naps while doing hair, make-up or resting before their next filming on the set... but the managers? They never take a nap, if the actors are overworked, imagine how worse things are for their managers that have yet to drive after a long day without any rest/nap ......

it is crazy. I read actors doing live shooting say they sleep barely 2 hours straight and most of the time this is when they are in their cars going to another place to film or do interview...

I really wonder, when will this stop? When someone really dies?

When will these actors company hire drivers/chauffeur ??
It is no joke I see almost every week one car accident that has one idol/star/actor in it...

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People *have* died from such things. Wasn't there that BBF thing where someone *died* in a motorcycle accident after a shoot? Live shoots are killing actors... I wish they would at least consider a larger cushion period or move to the Taiwanese system. (Which is to shoot ahead but cut the episodes 2 weeks ahead and adjust for ratings).

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I'm sad to hear about that. I feel they really need to start hiring drivers or sumthin... i hope they don't wait until its too late. or until someone looses their life before they realize how imperative it is to have a professional driver.

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I hope they both get better. I think I will move to Korea and start a celebrity driving business.

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Lol! Also, crazy sasaeng fans could use their money to pay a cab for their oppas instead of stalking them in it.

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Why would they do something as logical and humane as that? -_-

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lol

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Awesome! What a great idea.

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It's still crazy to me that filming occurs so close to when these the episodes air.

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Wait.... this is an 80 episode drama and they're almost done filming this weeks episodes? So... if nothing bad happened, they were planning on having a hectic live-shoot schedule kind of thing going onj basically for the next year? UM. i understand why they aren't, but i wish dramas could be (at least in part) pre-shot... and then aired... :|

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People don't seem to understand that the film sets where these types of shows are filmed are located outside of Seoul and taking a taxi to the film set is simply unrealistic. Besides, Korean taxis are notorious for being rather reckless. Additionally, many of these actors/actresses have other obligations they must attend to in Seoul such as promoting their latest TV shows, etc. Not easy as it might seem. It's the problem of the whole production cycle/system in the Korean TV industry that leaves very little room for anything that needs to change for improving the working conditions and the overall post-production.

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I would not expect stars to have to take taxi, But it's not unreasonable to expect the production company to provide private drivers or chauffeur service or something similar (that is not involved in the crazy live shoot system)

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I don't work in that field either but I know than for sageuks specifically, the sets are far from Seoul. It's not even a problem of live shooting system properly: It's a problem of organisation. I'm sure they could find affordable solutions. Maybe there is another solution: Sleeping next the set, at least one night per week, in order to get some rest. I did it for a bad paid job: Basically at that time my salary of the day went into the hotel room. But I knew I wasn't in state of driving. And I'm still alive.

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Urgh.

Korea, why you gotta be so economically unstimulating?? Reduce unemployment by hiring private drivers!! It does both your economy and your people good! And I ask of you not to overwork your doctors too! (I won't even mention Actors/Actresses because that's so obvious but the country never listens about that.)

You know why your birthrates are so low?? Cos your doctors can't go home for the night, the drivers have little income and so can't be bothered with having more kids and your married entertainers are getting into accidents! And even regular office workers are puking in their hair after drinking for work night after night. Who's gonna be up for baby-making after that??

Even if you don't want to enforce laws to ensure humanity, Korea's government, do it to save your future economy!!

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THIS.

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i feel like giving you a standing ovation, honest..

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Choi Soo-jong said after 'Dae Jo-young' he thought he'd done his bit for KBS. It sounded like he didn't intend ever to do another one of these long, grueling historicals. Also he's about 50 years old -- a young, vigorous 50 but he;s 50. Wish him well but this production seems cursed.

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How exactly do you rear end a dump truck? Was it in camo mode or something?

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such vehicles usually have reflective stripe at the back (well at least it does in my country)

but then again, news said it happened late at night.. human error?

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It was already a dump truck for the accident of Ji Chang-wook: http://www.soompi.com/2012/02/27/bachelors-vegetable-store-ji-chang-wook-involved-in-a-car-accident/
Are they magnetic? Used to chase the cars of the stars? Need to dig the question...

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Oh Korea. You and your endless car accidents/

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Can someone please explain the Live-shoot system to me. i'm not korean and can't seem to understand why they put up a system in place that is potentially harmful to their actors/crew.

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Here's a good article explaining the live-shoot system:

http://www.dramabeans.com/2011/03/the-perils-of-the-live-shoot-drama-system/

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omg that's insane!! poor actors/production crew!! Korean drama actors just gained a ton of respect from me because i know i couldn't live that life.

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I'm gonna have to think twice before i open my mouth and insult an actor or a drama for sucking, now that i know how hard they work each week to deliver an episode to us.
I sure do hope these actor are making a heck of a whole lotof money, seeing that they're putting their lives on the line for being on set or just getting there.

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I wish I can say I was surprised... I guess I'm surprised that I'm not hearing abt more accidents.

I wonder if some of the really, really minor characters get into accidents too but we just don't hear about them because the actors aren't big or aren't the leads/second leads.

Wishing the best for Choi Su-jong and Park Joo-mi (ICU!). I hope the production will give them more than a few days to rest up and heal! You'd be surprised at how fast you can heal when you're well-rested. For Choi Su-jong, if they push him now, I feel like he'll just be out of commission a few weeks later.

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If the managers are so exhausted then they should hire drivers for the actors! If you are so worried about losing money with injuries it makes more sense to play it safe and just pay for company drivers. NGOs and businesses have them so why shouldn't talent agencies. I'm pretty sure Hollywood stars have drivers.

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