Lee Joon, Go Ah-sung tackle teen pregnancy in new drama

57 January 3, 2015February 25, 2015

Lee Joon, Go Ah-sung tackle teen pregnancy in new drama

by girlfriday

After losing leading actress Kim Hee-ae and undergoing some story changes, the team behind Secret Love Affair and A Wife’s Credentials is back on track with their new drama I Heard it Through the Grapevine, which is headed to SBS this February. The series was once set in the 1970s all the way to the present and was planned as a 50-episode epic, but will now be a 32-episode series set entirely in the present day. Yoo Ho-jung (Would You Give Love Away, Sunny) has signed on to headline the series, as the matriarch of a wealthy family that gets turned upside-down when her teenage son gets his girlfriend pregnant.

Lee Joon (Mr. Back, Gap-dong) has been cast to play her high-schooler son, and is reportedly in final contract negotiations to sign on. He’s been making a name for himself as an actor over the last year with projects like Gap-dong, and it looks like he’s returning to meatier roles after a detour into broad comedy with Mr. Back.

Even more exciting is Go Ah-sung’s return to television after five years spent focusing entirely on her film career (Snowpiercer, Elegant Lie). Her last drama was God of Study, when she was still a teenager herself; this time she’ll play a high schooler who gets pregnant, and has to deal with her boyfriend Lee Joon’s snooty family.

Yoo Ho-jung, Yoo Joon-sang

Yoo Joon-sang (Birth Secret, You Who Rolled in Unexpectedly) is also in some reports as possibly considering the drama, but his casting sounds more iffy — he’s got multiple musicals lined up through the year, so it’s unclear if he’ll be able to do the drama and his agency was quick to say that he had barely been offered the part. If he does sign on, he’ll play Lee Joon’s dad, a powerful lawyer who inherited his law firm from his famous lawyer father.

The drama is described as a black comedy, which intrigues me. It’s one of the rarer genres that we see in dramaland, so I’ll be really interested in seeing what they can do with it, if they pull off the right tone. It plans to take an incisive look at the rich and powerful, and their rigid world with antiquated social laws, including bloodline heredity and royal succession translated to modern corporate practices.

The themes are similar to those in Secret Love Affair (man, that villain chaebol family was a nasty piece of work), but when your lead characters are that family, it’s a different story. Yoo Ho-jung will play a classically refined socialite who’s on the inside of this fishbowl existence, who then has to deal with her family becoming the subject of rumors and suddenly being cast out because of them. Yeesh, the rumor mill is bad enough as it is; when everyone you know is a snooty society lady, it sounds like my worst nightmare. Let’s hope she has a spine and a sense of humor about it?

I Heard it Through the Grapevine is scheduled to follow Punch on Mondays and Tuesdays in late February.

Via TV Report, Osen, IS Plus

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1 Chandler

January 3, 2015 at 3:18 AM

Huh, I kinda like the sound of this. I'll definitely check it out.

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2 Chhavi

January 3, 2015 at 3:21 AM

Wow.... The storyline i pretty endearing...
And that too with Lee Joon---- I am totally in.

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3 ck1Oz

January 3, 2015 at 3:28 AM

I haven't seen a teenage pregnancy drama story where the leads are teenagers. Plus pregnant.

Interesting.

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pastryajumma

January 3, 2015 at 5:44 AM

Little Mom Scandal is one and deals with a variety of touchy subjects. I think it's on Hulu right now.

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pearl3101

January 3, 2015 at 10:30 AM

True... its a pretty good drama. Both part 1 and 2 .. Also stars Hwang jung eum

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Fatima

January 3, 2015 at 3:26 PM

Ah yes I remember LMS too. Hwang Jung Eum's skill was still pretty raw back then, but she was still excellent in both parts.

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maldita

January 3, 2015 at 8:13 AM

There was the movie Jenny Juno and the leads were teen actors Kim Hyesung and Park Minji. :)

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alua

January 3, 2015 at 11:18 AM

Well, there's the k-film Jeni, Juno (2005) with Park Min-ji (b. 1989) and Kim Hye-Seong (b. 1988).

Or you could try the Japanese drama 14 Sai no Haha (2006), with Haruma Miura (b. 1990) and Mirai Shida (b. 1993).

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ck1Oz

January 4, 2015 at 1:18 AM

Er did it end well?

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ywcnois

January 4, 2015 at 5:22 AM

I've watched 14 Sai No Haha and if I remember it correctly, it ended well.

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4 noone

January 3, 2015 at 3:32 AM

i like lee joon.. but can they just cast someone like lee min ho '93 who is close to a high school student age.. pffft..

there are alot of younger actor there, why cast someone who just finishes a drama.. :3

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5 khim

January 3, 2015 at 3:35 AM

he hasn't confirmed yet right?

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6 Okay

January 3, 2015 at 3:47 AM

Sounds very good and I like the team behind it.
I'm in for this!

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7 Sour Grapes

January 3, 2015 at 5:38 AM

Black comedy? I am in.

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anotheraddict

January 3, 2015 at 7:06 AM

Same here. Especially from this team. And I'm glad it's not gonna be 50 eps.

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8 CaroleMcDonnell

January 3, 2015 at 5:59 AM

ooh, this sounds really good!

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9 Nana

January 3, 2015 at 6:09 AM

it reminds me strongly of Wild Chives. I hope this drama is heaps better than WC though...

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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉

January 3, 2015 at 12:22 PM

Wild Chives was best when it focused on the teenagers, I fast-forwarded all the adult parts. (and the younger cast was really solid, I was quite impressed by Yoon So-hee and Hyoyoung, and Lee Won-geun was really charming)

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Nana

January 3, 2015 at 3:50 PM

Yup, Yoon So-hee and Lee Won-geun are just ♡♡♡♡♡. The parents stories and the adult portion are just one big disappointment for me and I developed a huge allergy to Namgong Min. Kinda glad when it was cut.

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10 vanilaeru

January 3, 2015 at 6:29 AM

Go Ah Sung? On top of that Yoo Jun Sang? Even if the plot is a total wreck i am in, at least for several episode just to watch both...

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11 andy

January 3, 2015 at 6:49 AM

I hope this drama can also become success and many viewers watch it.

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12 jomo143

January 3, 2015 at 7:00 AM

Lee Joon will be fascinating to watch, though I also tire of men playing boys. YAI did it credibly. So I guess I have to trust them, right?

There are so many

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olop

January 3, 2015 at 9:28 AM

well, YAI and Lee Joon is on different level.. xD

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13 jomo143

January 3, 2015 at 7:02 AM

Lee Joon will be fascinating to watch, though I also tire of men playing boys. YAI did it credibly. So I guess I have to trust them, right?

There are so many teen pregnancies in my area, it has almost become a non-issue as far as "family" pride. It happens to every sort of family. I am not saying there isn't any angst, because a pair of 18 year olds with a child will never be easy.
Just that there isn't the public shaming.

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fab

January 3, 2015 at 7:15 AM

In my culture out of wedlock pregnancies are scandalous, no matter what age you're. I think it's the same in South-Korea. I've not yet seen a Kdrama that tackles the issue.

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alua

January 3, 2015 at 11:22 AM

Truth be told, pregnancies, in or out-of-wedlock don't seem that common in kdramas. I guess because most stories with a romance line focus on the leads getting together (with the 15 and/or 19 episodes of angst that keep them apart), and at best you get a fast-forward in the final episode where the female then is pregnant/has a baby.

There are a few exceptions of course (I Do, I Do – which does have a pregnancy that occurs as a result of a one night stand, so there's some taboo topics tackled to some extent at least...).

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fab

January 3, 2015 at 12:13 PM

That's true. I forgot about IDID.

You know what they should remake? Preferably tvN. Jane The Virgin! For one, 90 percent of kdrama heroines are virgins or act that way and two, it's way more humorous than Fated To Love You (ok another unwanted pregnancy...).

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14 fab

January 3, 2015 at 7:06 AM

That premise is a receipt for a great makjang-filled long drama... But I am gonna give it a try for the promise of the dark comedy. Really curious how that's going to work out.

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15 yasminsatria

January 3, 2015 at 7:17 AM

Wiiiiih, the premise sounds interesting. yes, this one can be easily turn into some makjang drama but if they can deliver the black comedy well, it's another gem produced.

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16 redfox

January 3, 2015 at 8:03 AM

black comedy and teen pregnancy? sounds like salt in coffee...

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17 yuja

January 3, 2015 at 8:04 AM

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18 maldita

January 3, 2015 at 8:17 AM

Lee Joon is 27 this year. He's not even baby-faced so I dunno how he'll even convince me with his portrayal. LOL

I'll definitely check this out though, because black comedies are always intriguing to me, if executed well. And Yoo Junsang because he's amazing.

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19 miilo

January 3, 2015 at 8:17 AM

Just watched Snowpiercer and Go Ah-Sung was pretty neat in there. Would be interesting to see her doing a drama role. Lee Joon looks way too old for a high school student, but as a couple they look cute.

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20 Sajen

January 3, 2015 at 8:17 AM

Go Ah-sung, I'm in. She could spend the whole 32 episode drama siting in a white windowless room by herself, no one else ever coming or going, doing an impression of Ben Stein while reading the dictionary followed by the phone book and I'd watch, the whole thing. You know what, I think that says bad things about me, so let's pretend I never said it.

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21 Annie

January 3, 2015 at 8:50 AM

Good thing they dropped that whole 'biography of Kim Hee Ae' business quick... would have been immensely boring. Looking forward to this new storyline!

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22 lena

January 3, 2015 at 9:25 AM

lee joon just too old to play a high student.. there's so many younger actor than him that could play a high school student.. -_-

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23 museofmanymasks

January 3, 2015 at 9:38 AM

YES FINALLY A BLACK COMEDY IN DRAMALAND! Hope its done right. Good thing its not 50 episodes. Err I like Lee Joon but we could skew a tad younger no? But I won't argue too much. I like Go Ah-sung too so otherwise I'm good; glad to see something new.

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24 pk

January 3, 2015 at 10:51 AM

Goh Ah-Sung!? Returning to drama land?! Is this real life?! Not really a fan of Lee Joon tbh, and kinda hoping that he does not confirm (can picture Goh Ah-Sung with a number of other leading men), but will be watching regardless. I miss her so much (lol) and cannot wait to start watching this. Miss Goh is one of the young, raw talents in Korea IMO, so this sounds extremely exciting. The fact that she is playing a pregnant teen catches my attention.

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25 Fatima

January 3, 2015 at 11:09 AM

If they can really get Go Ah Sung, then great. Won't be easy to convince her to do drama again though, esp. what with her just signed on to a Hollywood agency. But maybe the theme of teenage pregnancy and bewildred-isolated daughter-in-law to a prestigious familly manage to captivate her interest, we'll see. Hopefully with her casting more Western ppl (US-Europe) will try to watch this, therefore broaden the scope of K Drama fans. GAS has many fans in Western thanks to her internationally popular movies like Snowpiercer, The Host, A Brand New Life.

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26 fab

January 3, 2015 at 12:17 PM

By the way, everyone, everywhere seem to LOVE Snowpiercer. And Go Ah-sung is going back to the small screen, that must be some hell of a script then!

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27 pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉

January 3, 2015 at 12:19 PM

A 32-episoder weekday drama? With Lee Joon AND Go Ah-sung? Count me in, because I love them both and she would be amazing in any role.

(not so sure about casting him to play a teenager, though....though maybe he'll make a slightly more convincing teenager than Lee Min-ho in Heirs)

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28 4D

January 3, 2015 at 1:48 PM

Black comedy? Really? Well color me intrigued.

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29 jun

January 3, 2015 at 4:30 PM

i hope lee joon doesn't confirm.. :3

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30 icha.han

January 3, 2015 at 4:50 PM

Wow, Lee Joon in Ahn Pan Suk drama? I never watch his dramas but is he really good actor? I mean, from Yoo Ah In's amazing acting in Secret Love Affair to an idol-actor Lee Joon. Starring in Ahn Pan Suk drama will be a great chance for him to be an established actor, but also will be a huge burden to him.

Anyway, i will watch it. Ahn Pan Suk + Jung Sung Joo (and also hoping the music director from SLA also in this drama) combo never fails to amuse me with their dramas, no matter how makjang its premise, somehow never gave those makjang feels and always felt realistic, with a bit humor and social commentary.

I think Ahn Pan Suk + Jung Sung Joo + Kim Hee Ae combo only exclusive for jtbc lol. Or, can't they cast Kim Hee Ae as the mom instead?

The premise itself is very interesting and ah, black comedy is such a rare genre in kdramaland. The only black comedy kdrama i know is Salaryman and i enjoyed that drama very much.

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31 jhu

January 3, 2015 at 7:25 PM

Sounds quite intriguing. Will probably require patience, and if given, may deliver more that we expect. Looking forward!

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32 adian

January 4, 2015 at 4:17 AM

I'm excited for GAS. I hope she's get paired with Yoo Seung Ho.

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33 GapdongKiller

January 4, 2015 at 5:33 AM

Could people stop belittling Lee Joon's acting skills?
He debuted in Hollywood (Ninja Assassin) before being an idol in Korea.
You should try to watch Gapdong, Rough Play and Mr Back play as well.

He looks like a kid without makeup and playing a teenager comes naturally to him!

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carrie

January 4, 2015 at 7:44 AM

did u see someone belittling him here? they're just concern about his age.. and i think its just appropriate to cast someone younger, someone in 1990's line.. :3

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GapdongKiller

January 4, 2015 at 7:55 AM

Lee Min Ho is and looks older than him and still acts on teen dramas.

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Anon

January 4, 2015 at 2:23 PM

that is why lee min ho doesn't improve! taking up high school drama. tsk!

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fab

January 4, 2015 at 10:32 AM

Excuse me, I'd rather have an older decent actor play a teenager than an age-appropriate actor. Especially when it's Lee Joon!

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lena

January 4, 2015 at 2:21 PM

yoo seung ho, lee min ho 1993, lee hyun woo and noh young hak those my dear are age appropriate actor that can ACT!

P.S i can even add yeo jin go.

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drea

January 4, 2015 at 6:39 PM

I love all of them tbh

34 doubblemint

January 4, 2015 at 10:04 PM

I'm a little bit confused about a 32-episode series compare with Punch. Kinda long ep and easy boring if it's just a melodrama.

Also surprised how pd choose Lee Joon over those younger and fame actors in ocean of k-ents. interesting... What's their exactly the reason to make they choose him? Why must be him who is not very famous and just a rookie. I guess pd has something in their mind so let's see what was that.

Agreed about Joon is way too old to be student now. indeed, We know this fact and pd must know as well but for some reasons behinds, referring to plot - dark comedy, i personally think pd might want someone who are not afraid to break their image and Joon is a good choice tho. (Rough play and Gapdong are evidence) so, he might not be just a normal student in this drama. hehe

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VirG

January 5, 2015 at 4:32 AM

PD's must know more about their business so lets wait and see. Remember so many objected to Siwan in Misaeng. Look at him now, a star is born! I hope the same will happen to Lee Joon. This guy can dance too. They must include a solo dance sequence dont care if it's not really part of the drama, dance for dance sake ala Mr Baek! hehehe

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doublemint

January 5, 2015 at 7:13 AM

True! it's just about time. I hope the same for Lee Joon as well and pretty sure that this kid can do. Solo dance in Gapdong made me goosebumps because he's psychopath! haha This drama, i'm in!

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35 roseyuae

February 1, 2015 at 4:49 AM

I'm the hugest fan of lee joon's acting ....he always work hard to satisfy the viewers and I think the pd know how k netizen love lee joon no matter what he does and they adore his acting ..I mean watching all of his dramas and movies made me realize how amazing acting skills he got .for people who didn't watch any of his work go check it (ninja assassin , jungle fish 2, rough play , iris2 , gabdong (my favorite)mr.baek)

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Heard It Through the Grapevine