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Idol agency FNC inspires “real drama” on tvN

Is it a drama? Is it a reality show? Is it a mockumentary? You tell me.

Cable station tvN is preparing an 8-episode drama set in an entertainment agency, and it takes real-life company FNC Entertainment (home of idol stars like CN Blue and FT Island, as well as actors like Lee Dong-gun) as its inspiration/setting/subject matter. The so-called “real drama” is titled Cheongdam-dong 111, which is derived from FNC’s actual street address in Seoul, and will portray the life within the company, following the dealings of the stars and trainees as well as staff like managers and secretaries.

That much sounds like something along the lines of reality-documentary programming, especially with real-life celebs coming on as themselves; FT Island singer Lee Hong-ki apparently has a “Tom and Jerry”-like relationship with agency CEO Han Sung-ho that’ll be one of the highlights of the show. Plus, the show will reportedly be unscripted, allowing for a more realistic vibe to shine through as we get an inner look at the workings of the agency.

However, the series is being described with the word “drama,” which makes me scratch my head. It’s a “dramatized format” and a “real drama” with “episodes”… but where’s the fiction? Where is the line between documentary and reality-based fiction? According to the head PD, “Through this drama, you will be able to see the real goings-on of the agency behind the veil.” Is this going to be like We Got Married where it’s clearly part real and clearly part fiction, but you don’t tell us which is which and leave us to guess for ourselves where that line is?

Cheongdam-dong 111 will premiere on Thursday, November 21, as a midnight show. It seems tvN is trying to build up a post-prime-time scene on Thursday nights, because foodie romance drama Let’s Eat airs in the preceding hour, so together they’ll be forming a new block of late-night drama programming. Well, credit to tvN for trying new things and playing with format. We’ll have to see if it works.

Via Star News

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Hmm I doubt there will be much drama if its in the idol world

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lol. I see what you did there.
I like this idea because it's not the big 3 idol companies, nor is it on public t.v. Somehow, the fact that it is lesser known than the big 3 (SM, YG, JYP) and that it's on cable makes it bearable as a idol-reality-drama thing. For some reason, my patience for idols becomes 0 when it's the big three. I can't help it. If those companies are ballin', then they can afford to train their singer-actors before pushing them into the forefront of roles and movies, y'get my drift?
/rant over.

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Lool, yea I agree that since they're a little less known, we may be forgiven for having some hope for reality. But if there is one lesson I've learned during my short-lived love for k-pop, it's to never underestimate the power of a k-pop fan (netizens, sasaengs, etc.)!

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The thing though is that CNBLUE and FTISLAND are sort of like the underdogs of the idol world. Like they are not completely idols (since they are not really boy groups) but some people still don't want to acknowledge them as bands (even though they play and compose their own music) just because they are "pretty boys." I like both groups and Juniel (don't know about AOA) so I'm looking forward to this, also both groups are really funny, I mean just Hong Ki and Yonghwa alone are freaking hilarious and together with the rest they are all pretty dorky.

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What does that mean, "Tom and Jerry" relationship? Do they try to blow each other up? Because I would watch that.

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haha And drop anvils out of ACME boxes from cliffs like Roadrunner and Coyote? I'd watch that, too. beep beep!

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haha, that's be hilarious!
It's intended as a cat-mouse relationship as in they bicker a lot.

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I would watch it all day if it involved Hong-ki being lured out of a mousehole with cheese in a trap. Or eating all the food.

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Lee Dong Gun and Yonghwa are in the same company?!?!?

That explains how Yonghwa got to play second lead to Lee Dong Gun. Damn... everyone bashes on SM for their 1+1 deal but other companies are just as bad.

Granted that Yonghwa is absolutely killing his role in MHIUD but his previous roles were not good enough for him to get the role in the first place.

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but i think it's more Yonghwa's marketability outside Korea, that coupled with eunhye's popularity would mean airing outside Korea. I actually think, the agency is helping Lee Dong Gun to be known again outside Korea. He was originally one of the Hallyu stars with his Lovers in Paris and Sweet 18 to name a few. I wonder why he went out of circulation after his military service, 5 years in all. Does anybody knows what happened?

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Wasn't his brother murdered during that time?

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I don't remember if his brother kill himself or if he was murdered but he was depressed after that happened so he took a lot of time away from dramaland...an the whole korean entertainment world.

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i had noo idea! but i just looked it up and it seems that the brother was stabbed to death by chinese gang members while in australia. what a terrible tragedy...

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his brother was murdered in Australia

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Oh My God. I had no idea that happened to him. It explains his reserved demeanor.

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Yonghwa was cast first in the drama so...yeah...it's not 1+1.

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Yeah I remember those rumors floating around about him and YEH being up for this drama long before Lee Dong Gun's name was attached. Both You're Beautiful and Heartstrings did very well overseas so I think he was cast to gurantee selling this drama to the overseas market. The OSTs for the dramas are also very popular. Both keep popping up on the Gaon charts and they've been off the air for a while. Kinda of like the fact that Seju hasn't started singing to push an OST for the drama. Don't mind if Yonghwa does an OST just hope that it doesn't involve Seju singing.

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actually FNC was bashed alot when it came to A Gentleman's dignity. That was the first company I heard practicing the infamous 1+1 deal.

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yonghwa's hardly "killing it", his past performances were just so embarrassing that finally something halfway decent in mirae's choice looks spectacular when it isn't.

but yeah lee dong gun is part of fnc, and what's more, mirae's choice is produced by fnc too, which never gets brought up? they're just as bad as sm

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A lot of people think he's "killing it" and he has been gaining a lot of attention and praise because of his portrayal of the role in and outside Korea. I think it's very well deserved.

But I guess, it's just too hard for some people to let go of their prejudice and give credit where it is due.

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FNC also co-produced heirs as well

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That was the first thought that came to my mind when I read "home of idol stars like CN Blue and FT Island, as well as actors like Lee Dong-gun". But FNC has always been well known for their 1+1 deals. You're Beautiful was YongHwa's first staring role alongside HongGi; there were two CN Blue members in Heartstrings; both YongHwa and Juniel had cameos in A Gentlemen's Dignity; and apparently the reason why YongHwa left Heirs was because Kim Eun Sook wouldn't accept another one of FNC's 1+1 deals, even though at the end she casted MinHyuk anyway (thank goodness because Chan Young is the only character I can stand in that drama).

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There were actually 3 FNC artist in HS, but one only played a minor role. Hyejeong of AOA also cameo-ed in AGD. Jungshin cameo-ed in MHGAF too. Yonghwa's cameo in AGD was personally requested by the writer though (Kim Eun Sook). She seems to be really fond of him since she also casted him for Heirs originally though it didn't work out.

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Eun Sang's sis in heirs is also FNC's artist
in my husband got family beside minhyuk the drama also casted FNC's child actor kwak dong yeon
Jungshin and Hyejeong in Blade & Petal

FNC always did the 1+1 or 1+1/1+3 package deal ( along with OST production right)

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It's not just FNC that's doing the 1+1 deal. EVERYBODY is doing it.

A Gentleman's Dignity ( JDG's agency - Jang Dong Gun and Kim Ha Neul); A Good Doctor ( Madin Entertainment - Joo Sang Wook and the actor who did a cameo as the baby daddy); 1N2D ( Joo Won, UTW, Haejin ); Joo Won and UTW also did a movie together. Sidus HQ did it with Nice Guy ( SJK and LSY); The JYJ idol group - one of the JYJ guys did a movie with SJH ( she's also under the same agency) and the list goes on and on and on...

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" and
will portray the life within the
company, following the dealings of
the stars and trainees as well as staff
like managers and secretaries. "
Its a sure watch for me ..
I even liked to watch King Of Dramas ... which was kind of a similar premise . For a newbie like me , I got to learn lot of stuff regarding drama and their makings (see : live shoots) . Hope this drama too gives something more ..

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sounds a lot like the "documentary" variety shows that tracks the lives of (usually new) idol bands that has been done by the cable channels. In fact, Star Empire, the country that hosts ZE:A, Nine Muses, Jewelry, and Seo Inyoung had a show that sounds very like this. The show followed mostly the (back then) trainees that became part of ZE:A and Nine muses but had some office stuff of their staff including the CEO and the managers. Wonder if this would be similar.

I spot a personal favorite female MC, Song Eunee on the picture above. If she's in it, I might tune in. (Shhhh...it's really to gaze at Jong younghwa, he's become a guilty eye-pleasure since Heastrings)

Who else is in the company?

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seems we have the same guilty eye-pleasure =). Even if others say he doesn't know how to act, i don't care, his presence is enough for me. Been a fan since i saw CNBlue in Arirang TV when they first debut.

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WGM - it's own horse of a different color. When watching I sometimes don't know where I am or what I am doing or who they are or what they are doing because it is such a no zone. If I like an episode I can't even tell you why because it's not real (or is it, or if it is, what part hey javabeans? And the whole idea of a honeymoon when holding hands is um, squeamish and "should I?" It is cute? Or not?

So, if this mockumentary (best description javabeans) is along those lines, will I even bea able to know
know if I like it or not? So nebulous ~

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Yes, keep them all in one drama and leave some, idol free for the real actors.

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So much tvN. Love it.

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wow, this the ultimate whoring out of dramas to k-pop.

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My favorite k-pop artists are all from FNC , so i know i will like this show. Thanks for the news JB :)

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Not really my cup of tea as I tend to follow YG and SM more.
Also, I have no time for shows as of late, I am so behind on everything, especially Answer me 1994.

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I'll watch this. I don't really know any of these artists too well, so it'll be fun to get to know them through a mockumentary. (Of course, no music mockumentary beats This Is Spinal Tap.)

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I seriously can't wait to see this. I was just wishing Mnet would air FNC TV after 2NE1 TV came to an end; this show is pretty much making that wish come true. Hope to see a lot of interaction between everyone on FNC's roster with heavy doses of Yonghwa, Hongki, Jonghun, Lee Dong Gun, Jonghyun, Minhyuk, and Jungshin. A mockumentry would be fun.

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I'm in.

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Hmm, I am intrigued but not sure if I'm in yet on this one. Have to see a promo first. Wondering if this will be like The Hills (and the shows that came after that), although that show was actually scripted to a certain point.

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If they borrow their concept from Rob Reiner's 'Spinal Tap' this show would be fun to watch.

For Spinal Tap they basically had a defined concept of satirizing the music industry, artist egos and rocumentaries. There wasn't much of a script. They simply filmed the three leads ad libbing their characters until they had enough footage, then Reiner edited it into a movie.

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Are any of these guys that naturally funny? I hope so. Natural is always awesome.

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But, and this is big: who will sub it?

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second ur comment!!

I'd really like to watch it. but I'm nowhere near being fluent in korean even though I've studied it for awhile.

And I've always wondered about the behind the scenes in agencys etc... would really like to watch AND understand!

(Hope tvN pick up KBS subbing thingy, would be so grateful...) :p

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tvN is under Mnet so they might sub it. I've seen quite a few tvN shows pop up subbed on Mnet. Problem is if they don't, you might end up with subbed cuts of the show rather the entire show being subbed. Some subbers rather focus on the segments of the show that involve their bias rather than subbing the entire show.

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Boo, I wish they wouldn't do that.

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nothing on tv is 100% unscripted.

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Is it me or are almost all the guys sporting essentially the same horrible haircut?

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no way is this unscripted, especially when they're handing out synopses and "characters".

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Yay! Another chance to watch my favorite guys - FT Island... they always make me smile! Will this be available with English subs anywhere? I hope! :)

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All my CNBlue and FT Island bebes in one show? Ohyesplease!
*shinyeyes*

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FT Island is about to have another comeback...yes for behind the scenes footage

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im a bit confused about what it is but if I get to watch FT island and CNBlue, then im good :)

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I'm definitely in! I'll watch every show with FTIsland in it, and this show had a plus which is CNBlue. Can't wait for Hongki's bickering with their CEO (which every FTIsland fans already know).

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CN Blue is my favourite 'rock' group. I love FT Island too so this kinda show....I'll watch. :D

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I'm here for this. On time and clocked in.

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Sounds like an idol reality show, which I enjoy if I like the idols, and thankfully, FNC is one of my favorite companies. It'll be nice to see the lesser known members, since HongGi and YongHwa make all the variety rounds practically by themselves. And basically anything tvN touches turns to gold, so I'm really looking forward to it.

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My interest has definitely been piqued, however I don't know how realistic it will be to hope we'll be given a true behind-the-scenes look at the K-pop industry. From what I've gathered, there exist in that business A LOT of unsavory aspects, things about which most entertainment companies probably wouldn't voluntarily be forthcoming. This "drama" brings to mind a recent vlog post on EatYourKimchi, addressing the reasons why Dong Ho of U-Kiss simply walked away from the K-pop idol life. They didn't pretend to know why he in particular made that decision, but they very emphatically listed why they would NEVER want to be a K-pop idol. Chief among them is the virtual total lack of privacy or down time. These entertainment companies are known to run their talent to the point of medical exhaustion, with schedules that are jam packed from early morning until late into the evenings: Multiple performances per day, television and radio interviews, fan meetings and autograph signings, long recording sessions with cat naps caught in the van on the way to the next scheduled commitment, and meals (such as they might be---often horribly unhealthy or meager) eaten on the fly.

These idol groups often have to live in a "dorm" where two or more members share a room, as well as communal spaces with every other member of the group. They literally see each other day and night, with virtually no time apart from one another. Even if you like all the members in your group, there have got to be times when you are totally sick of seeing their faces twenty-four seven. And this says nothing of the times when fights and and jealousies take hold. Things are bound to get ugly then, but you have to smile and pat each other affectionately in front of fans and cameras as if everything is unicorns and rainbows in your little corner of idol paradise.

And for God's sake, don't get sick, because unless you need to be hospitalized, you WILL have to perform anyway. Say you've a fever of 103.4? Tough. Pain? Suck it up.

And the way fans seem incapable of tolerating the possibility that their idols might actually be human and in need of a love life is just ridiculous. Those who dare to date openly are often later compelled to offer tearful apologies to fans for having done so (oh the horrors!). I suppose this is why some fans so readily pair their idols up with others in their group, preferring the idea that the members might be homosexually inclined toward one another rather than the notion that they might be "taken" by someone of the opposite sex. And I think we all have heard of the lengths some fans will go to invade the privacy of their "biases". The sasaeng fans are often absolutely nuts, scarily, relentlessly nuts. Yup, sign me up! Fame sounds like fun!

But, I doubt this show will depict all that---or even a small amount of it. Wait...why am I interested in watching this show?

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And for God’s sake, don’t get sick, because unless you need to be hospitalized, you WILL have to perform anyway. Say you’ve a fever of 103.4? Tough. Pain? Suck it up.

And if you're unlucky enough to be stuck under CCM (T-Ara, 5Dolls) you'll have to perform even if you have a broken limb.

(and speaking of intra-group tensions and bullying, T-Ara should serve as a more than adequate cautionary tale, with what happened to Hwayoung)

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I'm just looking forward to seeing Hongki other than in MVs and PVs and live performances.

Hongki bickering with the CEO ? Even better.

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lol the vice CEO even piggyback Hongki in some fancam i saw

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Will there be a scene where in Hongki will be with AOA members going to nail salon and have their nails done?

hahaha! Will definitely watch this show! CNBLUE!

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Sounds interesting... But it's only slated to have 8 episodes? Seems short to me.

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I'm so gonna watch this! CNBLUE, FT Island, Juniel, Lee Donggun, and my cute Kwak Dong Yun (I adore him in Puberty Medley). And I always trust TVN with their variety show.

I don't know what they mean with reality drama, but my guess is it involves a lot of editing.

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I'll be watching this because FNC has some talented people in it. Plus, I don't particularly like how the company treats FT Island so I'd like to see that. Although, obviously it will all be peaches and cream and "everyone loving everyone", but if they want it to be an interesting reality show, they've gotta bring in some kind of actual reality, right?

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Yaye!!! FNC!!!!!

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I want to watch this... This will be funny. FTIsland had their share of reality tv when they were debuting and I admit it was really funny. These kids are more on the reality side of things since they usually just blurt out the truth in them. As Hongki had said in Global We Got Married, he hates to lie coz people would just know that he does so he usually tells the truth even if it usually puts him in trouble (i.e. the Jonghyun ear surgery thingy, his confession of having girlfriends, etc.)

He's also quite vocal about his conflicts with the company's president and his brothers (FTIsland) are quite the same as him.

As for Yonghwa, he has a taste of this since he was with Seohyun in We Got Married. Though CNBlue is not as naughty as FTIsland, these boys are also very fun to watch since they have their own kind of naughtiness.

I think this will be fun. People should really know how hard these kids are working so hard to achieve their dreams. Though it may have some "drama" in it, as a whole it will still portray how an entertainment agency really works. I just hope that someone will sub this...

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Anyone unsure about this show I would recommend watching some BTS of these groups (there is a ton of videos in youtube). They are very funny and since all the guys are really close they are very natural/comfortable around each other, so I don't think that i'll be scripted as far as their interactions with each other. I saw some of the teasers and it looks like is going to be more interview/documentary type of format, so maybe that is what will be scripted (them getting asked to talk about their daily life, etc). I also don't see it being in the same format as WGM since in WGM they pretty much force a relationship between two people that don't know each other and again, these guys have known each other for years and have been with the company a long time.

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When FT Island was in Weekly Idol I was rofl the whole time so I know how hilarious these guys are. And well Cnblue are whole lot of fun too.

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Hurray for this news! Aside from YG, FNC is another entertainment group I look forward to most of the time (not a YG stan though, just like BB and 2ne1). But FNC's underdog-ness appeals alot to me and seeing them in this mockumentary (loved the term, so spot on!) is a delight! FT Island has a refreshing aura with their bluntness and truthfulness so seeing the CEO bickering with the boys especially Hongki is gold. And with cute lads around (hello CNBlue!), it will be such a feast for the eyes. This I'll surely look forward to. I will definitely enjoy it if once in a while they break out a random acoustic song number or two collaborating with other group members. I hope the sub comes sooner! FNC fighting! FT Island fighting! (Ah... there goes my inner primadonna love!)

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NICE concept. Hope it gets big. The only reality-variety that I have been interested in since WGM and oh my school.

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