64

Han Ye-seul courted for a return to dramaland

It’s hard to believe it’s already been two years since Myung-wol the Spy and its backstage drama, but it looks like Han Ye-seul is ready to put all that behind her and return to television. There’s a whole new crop of stories linking her to a drama in the works called Shooting Star, though everything remains loose and vague at least for now. Still, she must be gearing up for a comeback of some sort if she’s back in the casting stories.

She’s reportedly considering for now, and news about the drama itself remains vague. Shooting Star has yet to find a network to call home, but is rumored to be slated for a March broadcast on MBC. Officially, MBC says nothing is decided. It would explain the production’s eagerness to sign Han Ye-seul, if getting a big named attached will score them that timeslot.

Despite her Myung-wol walk-off setting her back, I am hoping she recovers and returns to television regularly. I don’t even like her dramas that much, and I know she’s not on some one-woman crusade to change industry standards (even though don’t you wish she were?) but I really want her career to recover, so that speaking up or walking off a set doesn’t set a precedent for killing a career. Anyhoo, suffice it to say, I’m rooting for her to make a comeback of some sort, preferably in a drama that doesn’t make me tear my hair out in aggravation.

If all goes well, maybe it’ll be this coming spring.

Via Osen

RELATED POSTS

Tags:

64

Required fields are marked *

Best of luck to her!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Ditto!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Given what happened (I'm still 50/50 on who was responsible for that mess), I'm surprised she's been forgiven by the industry. That said, 2 years is enough to erase most scandals including the worst ones.

0
16
reply

Required fields are marked *

Perhaps that explains the conspicuous absence of Park Shi Hoo. He's waiting for the unspoken statute of limitations to run out on his 2012 rape scandal. I hate to say it, but I really miss him in dramas. Don't know what to believe where those rape allegations are concerned though, so I'm rather torn... Good to see that this actress might be able to overcome her rather large career setback. I wish her the best of luck in regaining a foothold in an historically unforgiving drama industry.

0
6
reply

Required fields are marked *

? It hasn't been a year yet and he is already media playing to come back - don't worry he'll be back at 2013 in the first half of the year I'm sure.

Since he payed off/shut off the victim, all the charges were dropped so there is nothing to hold him from coming to TV.

And even if the charges could be not true, PSH behavior showed there was something fishy and he did not want to expose it (he always said he was being framed, but keep changing his story and had enough evidence for police indict him for rape, he always told media ''I'll show you I'm innocent, I'll 100% show you guys the truth". However he did not. Suddenly after the girl dropped the charges, PSH stayed quiet and also dropped all the charges he had against her, oh! But he didn't say he would prove he is innocent and tell the truth? But the didn't - he dropped the charges against the person that ruined his image and framed him? Without proving he was innocent, just like this and stayed quiet? As if! There is something there and I don't think he was innocent. But next year, he'll come with ''poor me that was innocent and framed'' media play to come back. He even dared to media play that had no evidence against him and that is why the charges were dropped - however people that followed his case know it isn't true.

0
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

well. he's actually already admitted that he has a one night stand. I think, he resolve the problem really well. no need explanation, when everything is already clear.When a woman voluntarily enter a man apartment, then it means she's ready for whatever happen.

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

lol what a thing to say so any girl that enters a man apartment mean the guy can have sex with her even if she says no? That like saying a girl that wear a sexy outfit is asking for 'it' and a million other reasons men give as to why it ok when they take advantage even if the girl is unwilling.

0

thing is it wasn't voluntarily dear. PSH and his friend both said the girl was ''too drunk'' for them put her on a taxi becausa it wouldn't be good, so they went to PSH's apt that was close to the bar they were on.

The girl couldn't even walk (there is CCTV showing this as proof btw)

So no, she didn't go voluntarily, and PSH that didn't drink slept with a mega drunk girl that couldn't consent - couldn't say no or yes, means he took advantage against the girl/raped her.

0

In the US if he said he had sex with her and she was that drunk, he'd been convicted of rape. In South Korea it's not a crime (yet) to have sex with a woman who is too drunk to give actual consent.

He admitted she was really drunk and couldn't really give consent. If she wants you when drunk, you can wait until she's sober to see if she still wants you.

Boiling it down:
USA: crime.
South Korea: Got off.

0

It was classy of DB to refrain from posting anything related to that scandal, so that ppl couldn't put in their "two-cents". Since we don't know what happened, other than it he had a one-night stand, anything that is said is conjecture and gossip, which may not be worth even 2 cents.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I was always team Ye Seul from the beginning if only for the fact that I can't see how she could possible benefit from her actions so having to do that meant she was pretty much at the breaking point, thus consequences be damned.

Thus despite never having watch her dramas nor did I knew of her before the whole real life drama broke out, I'm happy to see that she could be having a comeback :)

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I looked back through press reports of the time, and the fact that they were still shooting just hours before air time leads me to believe that the working conditions were in fact pretty atrocious.

I am a bit curious why she has never pursued getting into Hollywood, as she is one of the few Korean actresses that could actually cross over.

0
6
reply

Required fields are marked *

agree with this post!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

In my admittedly non-expert opinion, I think that trying to make it in Hollywood as a person of colour is an incredibly daunting, frustrating task. While it's not impossible to get roles, it would be very difficult to not be typecast or pigeon-holed into sexy exotic foreigner/sexy kick-butt action heroine given Hollywood's reluctance to cast POC in anything beyond stereotypical roles. It is possible to break through that barrier but it takes true determination and lots and lots of effort and willpower. Not to say that typecasting isn't prevalent or possible in Korea either (no industry is perfect) but it's possible that she hasn't tried to make it in Hollywood because she knows that she'd have more freedom, variety and choice in Korea.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

This, but it's still easier for Asian women than Asian guys (which is why we see so many Korean hapa males in the Korean entertainment industry).

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Not true.

In my childhood all of the actors that were Asian were male and doing Martial arts stuff.

At the time I wanted to be an actress, so it kinda destroyed my hopes for becoming one.

I'll list:
Pat Morita
Bruce Lee
Jackie Chan
Jet Li

All about Martial Arts and any Asian girls that were around were arm candy, rather than real characters. (Heinlein girls as they are called in Writer Jargon).

It's still difficult for an Asian (As in the continent) to be a main role. It's always the best friend, the confident, that crazy ex-girlfriend (*cough* Scott Pilgrim) or a secondary character.

The first Asian Female on TV I remember was Lucy Liu, supporting role. Once she hit it big enough though playing to stereotype, that opened doors to other female actors that were notable.

There is still also the problem that the majority of female actresses on film in the last, say ten years or so have not been native to the US, but rather imported from other countries so that the idea is that Asians don't live in the US.

And if you want a bash your head OMG, how racist moment for the history of Asians, you should see the career of Benson Fong. OMG, it was horrid. He actually played second role to someone who was wearing Yellow Face. (I know it was in the 1950's, but that's not that long ago... and it shows how ingrained it is.) His career looks like grit your teeth and bear it moment...

A PoC, in general, getting a lead role on a show that's not labeled "black" or "Asian" <--usually meaning East Asian, etc is really, really rare. It's getting better, but it's really slow. Even Daniel Henney who definitely has cross country appeal and has a career in the US has reported it's really difficult to get lead roles. (He's half, BTW). Not a fan of his acting, but I like him as a person (since I researched him.)

0

Totally beyond issues of race, there is the blunt truth of life as an American actress: no matter how good you are, there are thousands of others as good or nearly as good trying for the same roles. Which is why actors can have starring roles on hit TV series and then vanish from the industry. In Hollywood, you can work the casting calls for decades, being humiliated every other day and making next to nothing. Getting a role in a series will make you a millionaire, and when it is over you get to go back to working the cattle calls again. Or, you can quit and do something else for a living, something that has regular hours, regular paychecks, and earns you a bit more respect than doing diaper commercials and playing corpse of the week on CSI Miami.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I have an enormous amount of respect for any Korean-American who has the talent and courage to make it in Korean entertainment. It is a tough ladder to climb, but if have the chops, like Ye Seul or Eric, you can climb it, and you can do it without the extra hopelessness of being lost in a sea of bodies, especially the sea of bodies that are less "ethnic" than you are as far as central casting is concerned.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I find your last sentence really interesting because the K-entertainment industry has always struck me as being a terrible place to have a scandal because even one could have the potential to completely kill your career. While I don't generally time these things, I think that it usually takes quite some time for anyone to make a comeback in this industry after a scandal if they actually succeed in doing so. People seem to lie low for anything from 1 to 5 or 6 years depending on how negatively the public took their offense. I actually remember seeing a Hollywood celebrity upon doing an interview in Korea (I can't remember who unfortunately) say something along the same lines - that in Hollywood a scandal means nothing because they're so common but in Korea, they really have the potential to ruin you.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Glad to see her back. Whatever happened and whoever was to blame, the fact remains that she complained about the schedules and walked off because of them. And that in itself was not bad, in an industry which works its cast and crew to pieces.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

As I remember she took the drama on understanding that beacuse of her health she would not have to do the normal 20 hour a day work the production companies expect and it was written in her contract to that effect, then the company pretty much broke that understanding day one, leading to her leaving the drama in protest, or something to that effect.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I really like Han Ye-seul, so I'm glad to hear about a possible comeback. Although I couldn't finish Myung-Wol, Tazza was pretty decent and I'm looking forward to seeing her in a new drama. I was just wondering, the other day, how her no-show for Myung Wol affected her career.

By the way, that's a good picture of her. Really pretty.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I love her since Fantasy Couple. Really looking forward for her new drama. Hoping that it would be quirky and funny.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

OMG, YES!

Han Ye Seul is my favorite actress and there's only so many times that I can rewatch Fantasy Couple (my favorite Korean drama) before I need something new.

Cue Korean netizens and fangirls crying, but I cannot wait for Ye Seul's comeback.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

she looks lovely in that pic. i am glad there's a chance for her to come back to dramaland, enjoyed watching her and Eric in Myung-wol.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Be still my beating heart... is this the remake of Nagareboshi? My favorite renzoku of ALL TIME?!!

0
9
reply

Required fields are marked *

That would be amazing.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

OMG that drama is one of the most wonderful things of all the wonderful things in life!

It was so quiet, so laid back and yet left me dazed and in love for months!!

0
4
reply

Required fields are marked *

I loved it so much because it lacked the artifice inherent in so many Asian romantic dramas which are too busy trying to prove a point to female audiences (ooh, spinsters in their 30s are still worthy of lurve, poor girls can beat all the odds and snag rich guys, whatever) that they kind of miss the boat when it comes to creating male and female characters with interesting social and internal conflicts who can teach us a little something about life along the way.

If a Korean remake (assuming that's what this is - I mean, Yoosung is a direct translation of the Japanese title but Shooting Star is also pretty generic to begin with) can capture even a tenth of the magic of Nagareboshi, I'll be content.

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I think one of the most fantastic elements of Nagareboshi was upon reading the synopsis, you couldn't help the eye roll of what seemingly such a cliche plot, the whole fake-marriage-leading-to-real-love deal, but then you start to watch the drama and realize this was a horse of a different color.

I love that it was a drama grounded in so much human kindness and sweetness that never comes off as disingenuous.

Also that scene when she asked him to remember what her ab looks like before the surgery and he just gazed at it deeply and answered that he will...OMG SWOON! Hands down, one of the sexiest moment in Asian dramas for me.

I can't see a Korean remake for Nagareboshi though because despite the organ transplant/family secret/creepy brother story lines, it was such a quiet unassuming drama that am not sure will reach across to audiences used to the more theatrical elements of Kdramas.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yeah, I'm just selfish in wanting to see another version of Nagareboshi. I agree that it probably won't appeal to the evil mother in law/my lover is actually my brother portion of the Kdrama audience.

Re: the scene before Risa's surgery, I literally held my breath b/c of all the sexual tension. I love that Kengo was hotter in his own unassuming, non-assholish way than 95% of Kdrama male leads. Another favorite scene of mine is in the pet store where Risa describes Kengo as tall, handsome, and kind of feckless :-) Made me lol so hard when I was watching for the first time.

0

Quiet and unassuming indeed. I also loved Nagareboshi (desite not being that fond of Japanese dramas) and if this drama turns out to be a remake of that, I'll be over the moon.

0

Is that a Japanese drama?

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yes, and it's fully subbed on YouTube - check it out!

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm sold. So I'll definitely check it out!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yes!!! I've been waiting for her :)

It is bad to walk out of a set, but I never blamed her, because seriously, it's just awesome of her to actually decide to walk off a set because she finds her health more important. It's not as if she decide to walk off a set because the plot is stupid like somebody else did. Ahahaha.

All the best to her!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

honestly, I never finished Spy Myung Wol because it sucked.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Me too. I hesitated to drop it and when the mess happened I decided to bail out for sure.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Same here. Which is too bad because it was so much fun in the beginning.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I am very sympathetic about her actions. Myung Wol was really funny in the earlier episodes but took a dive later on. We can't blame the actors for lousy writing. I do wonder whether MW didn't jeopardize Eric's career. Has he appeared in anything since then?

0
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

No, but I don't know if it's because he'd rather do stuff with Shinhwa or HYS's actions put him off acting or if he just got fed up with all the BS that goes into making dramas. I'd like to think that he'd be at least a little sympathetic towards HYS because by all counts the live filming system is absolutely hellish.

I mean, there's a reason that people who become super famous don't do dramas unless they can help it.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I want him to be busy with Shinhwa instead.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

He's hasn't been in a drama since Myungwol but he's busy with shinhwa & their variety show. It's also possible he's taking a break from acting because the BS that went on during Myungwol.

He still gets acting offers. Heard he turned down offers because he was in the middle of concert tour with Shinhwa this year.

It's not unusual for actors & actresses taking off from acting for some time. I wish them both luck with their future comebacks.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Walking off the set may not have been the only option, but it may have been the best. She stated at the time that she knew it would probably be career damaging. If you dig back a bit, there were apparently all kinds of production problems with that show - as CNN pointed out at the time, when she walked they were still shooting just hours before air time (ALA Anthony).

How actors and stars are overworked is becoming somewhat of a scandal in the Korean entertainment press - with reports just in the past week about k-pop performers collapsing on stage and other incidents.

I have always liked Han Ye-seul, even though I thought that the "Spy" series sucked (never finished it). If nothing else, she is one of the few Korean actors that can actually speak English (she was raised in the US). Too bad she was not in Heirs - it might have reduced the very painful Egrish episodes :D

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Agreed, Windsun33, that the "Engrish" parts in Heirs is...well, cringeworthy.

But not nearly as cringeworthy as the speaking parts for Tan's blonde, grain powder snorting surfer dude buddy. His speaking parts made my ears bleed. (((shudder))) Lol

I honestly didn't care for Myung-wol the Spy, even before the all that stuff hit the fan when Han Ye-seul walked off the set and returned to America. And I thought Han Ye-seul's work on that drama was fine. I really loved her in what was likely her very best work(imho), "Fantasy Couple".

That's a great shot of Han Ye-seul. She really is a beautiful young woman, and absolutely stunning in that photo.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Unfortunately K-pop performers collapsing on stage or backstage or during filming is not that infrequent. It happens quite frequently towards the end of the year/chuseok with all of the specials they have to film. Companies often work their artists nonstop and the kids get so used to it that even if they have to go to the hospital or something, they often go right back to the set afterwards. They just go to the hospital, get IV drips and then go back to work 'refreshed'. It's not just the entertainment companies' fault though - it's the production companies as well. That being said, I used to think that it was just the entertainment industry but from what I've heard about Korean society, it seems like working really, really hard like that is fairly common even in normal jobs. That doesn't mean it's not distressing or troubling or worrisome but as a K-pop fan, eventually you get used to it (much like the kids do, most likely).

That being said, hopefully with more attention being given to it, things will start to change for the better. Fingers crossed.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I still think she just took a vacay (Myung-wol) because it was really Eric who was on his last leg, I think she bailed him out by taking the heat. Look closely at him before the days off and then after. She was used to the pace, he was not.

She is my hero! Looking forward to seeing her again in anything.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

You think Han Yeseul is that stupid to risk her career for some one else? Why should she? She was the one who started this whole "bad working condition" mess with Myungwol production & PD.

She's taking heat for no one. She's responsible for her action no one else, don't blame it on co-star. I wish her luck with her next project.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Are you suggesting HYS is that lack of common sense to sacrifice her own career to 'bail' out her costar? What would she get back in return?

did the production or Eric tied her up and put her on a plane to LA? She's a grown woman capable of doing her own things and be resposible for its consequences

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I have loved her since Fantasy Couple. Seriously she rocked in that drama! I enjoyed the first half of Spy Myung Wol before it devolved into a borderline disturbing (that sex scene) melo mess.

I am happy to see her come back, and hope she is given a chance to play a interesting character and not the usual candy!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I always get sad whenever I think of Myungwol the Spy, not because of what Han Ye-seul did ( I applaud her for it) but because of all the wasted potential that show had. The writer had so much to work with in the beginning but it eventually became all about the romance and it just sucked. I feel bad for all the actors involved with it, especially Han Ye-seul and Eric Mun, particularly since I've become a fan of Shinhwa recently. I hope both can return to dramaland soon!

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Myung Wol the Spy made Lee Jin Wook more famous. Everyone started to notice how well he played the second lead, Choi Ryu. After that, he got main lead roles in I Need Romance 2 and Nine Time Travel.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

funny thing is i hated him in that role. He was so stiff and his eye brows didn't move

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I like her and I miss Eric!!!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I was also one of those people who were 50/50. No doubt walking off set like that raised awareness about the cruel working conditions of live-shooting. Wish there was more of a reform though, since it's still everywhere today.
It was probably not the best option walking out like that without a single word (some may argue as unprofessional), but it was also not the end of the world. People are humans who make mistakes. She showed weakness, and it's nice to see that celebrities are just like normal people who needn't be idolized.
I always liked Han Ye Seul despite her limited range of acting. Girl's got spunk with her onscreen presence.
Loved her best in Couple Fantasy. She was a hoot to watch.

0
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm not sure if I would call it "showing weakness" to walk into a series with health issues, suffer physically and emotionally from going through a couple of weeks on two to four hours of sleep a night, and get attacked in the press and abused on the set when you can't stagger into work one morning.

Really, when they do this kind of thing in prisons and interrogation rooms it is considered criminal abuse bordering on torture.

. . . And, I shouldn't have to add, it is a very stupid, stupid way to conduct business in any field.

0
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

lack of sleep, crazy live filming schedules all that SUCK but none walks off their job and flies off to LA.

Then flied back to Korea a day after when KBS & production said to sue her. She did not even show up for hearings about working condition. I would give her more credits to be a crusade if she followed through what she started.

It sucks but live drama shooting with crazy schedule is still around. May be she better sticking to movie instead.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

i really liked her with Go Soo in WISFC. I needed them to end up happy after everything that writer put them through.

But I don't understand. Why come back? Financial? Career?

Do movies and save your health!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I can't stop staring at her thumb... is it just me?? That is a gorgeous picture of her, but the shape of her fingers are throwing me off...

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm not sure if it's the make up.. or if she's had something done on her face.. or if it's just the bangs/hair style.. but she looks a tad different from the heroine of Spy Myung Wol (that I remember from memory that is)

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'd be glad to see her back only because that would possibly mean that actors can rebel against being slaves to the industry without having their careers ruined. As for her acting skills and beauty, she is possibly the most overrated actress in Korea. Fantasy couple was a well written/fun drama so that even two mediocre actors could pull it off. (Oh, Jiho is hot!)

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Wow, I expected much more of a negative response when I saw this article. I remember when the incident happened (two years ago! Wow! I've been watching kdramas for 2.5 years now!) and most of the people on dramabeans were really harsh on their judgement on her. At that time, most people weren't very diplomatic about how they felt.
I really like Han Ye Seul, especially since Couple Fantasy. It's sad, like many have said, how myung wol the spy turned out. My favorite scene is still when the adopted mother tried to make her be sexy so she put on the red lip stick and walked in high heels, lmaoo! Price less! But then it went down from there -_- and I dropped it as well.

Sincerely wishing her the best and hope her next project gets high ratings!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree with the notion that contracts should not be tools of oppression. Her come back is welcome. Of course I am all but impartial.

Her gentle features, delicate demeanor and mellifluous voice are enchanting. It pains me to realize that she had to suffer through almost a black listing in the trade for being human.

A return would be a sweet redemption. But what do I really know what went on or what happens behind the scenes.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

My favorite actress , I hope see her with actors song seung-heon new drama it's gonna be good couple

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *