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Will Hello Monster finally find its profiler hero in Seo In-gook?

Why can’t a drama hang on to a leading actor these days? Between Hello Monster and Scholar Who Walks the Night (and a half-dozen other spring/summer dramas), I can hardly keep a drama cast straight anymore because it’ll just change on me tomorrow. The last we heard, KBS’s new crime-thriller-meets-rom-com Hello Monster was courting Lee Sang-yoon (Liar Game) to play its lead profiler character, after Lee Jin-wook turned down the role; now Seo In-gook (King’s Face) is the newest name up for consideration. I love them all, but they’re giving me casting whiplash.

There are mixed reports about whether Seo In-gook is confirmed or just considering, but it’s starting to look final (for realsies this time?) because co-stars Jang Nara (Mr. Back), Lee Chun-hee (Dating Agency Cyrano), and Choi Won-young (Kill Me, Heal Me) have confirmed.

The drama is said to be a romantic comedy set in a crime thriller world, in which most of our main characters are detectives on a special task force together. Seo In-gook is up to play an elite profiler who was a consultant for the NYPD and returns to Korea to put his sharp observation skills to use on the task force. He’s described as a charismatic man who doesn’t care what other people think of him, but he’s also a solitary and dangerous person.

Jang Nara will play the heroine who stalks him, has to work with him on the task force, fights with him, and falls for him, not necessarily in that order. She’s a first-rate officer who graduated at the top of her class, and has a hidden agenda for transferring to the new department. When she’s out of uniform, no one would guess that she’s a cop, to which I’d say, DUH. Lee Chun-hee plays their team leader, and Choi Won-young is a forensic examiner and professor who acts as a consultant to the team.

I’m actually a little bummed about Lee Sang-yoon not headlining this drama, since I want him to stick to cold thriller hero types forever now. But if it’s being promoted as a rom-com, maybe it’s more comedy and less crime procedural, in which case I can see Seo In-gook and Jang Nara being really funny and cute together. After sorting out all that stalking business, that is. And on the upside, this frees up Lee Sang-yoon to do Liar Game Season 2. Right, tvN? Riiiight?

Hello Monster follows Who Are You–School 2015 on Mondays and Tuesdays in June.

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Why SIG always seem to end up acting with leading actresses older than him haha.

Not too excited with this pairing.

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Me too :( because jang nara has a baby face, I guess they would look somewhat compatible looks-wise but vibes-wise, seo in gook seems more like jang naras' kid brother rather than love interest haha

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Neither am I.

The age difference... smh. Even though Jang Nara still has a baby face, I'd be hard pressed not to think of their ages when I see them together.

I much rather he acted with someone his own age for a change.

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But Seo In Guk is busy now in Indochina,right? so let's hope he won't sign up for this but in All Kpop news, they said he confirmed already. I dunno, SIG is pretty popular nowadays so they are pretty much banking on that and he will work hard for this,for sure, just that we don't know about the romance part,right?

Lee Sang Yoon would have been perfect, just saying. especially on the romance part and he is pretty serious.

well, better practice on your english,Ingukkie! NYPD,nonetheless.

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Definitely agree, Lee Sang Yoon is best in romance and he can act cold and mysterious too,

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You're right, SIG's in Law of the Jungle Indochina. Don't take SIG away from LOTJI. I'm having too much fun watching him start to show his MacGyver side doing things I thought the guy was too much of a city slicker to know.

I have to swing my bias hoping SIG joins PBY in her comeback drama the Ghostess. It'll be more fun seeing SIG confront his real fear of ghosts... a continuation to Master's Sun (his part was too small in that show). Send the guy to the one shooting location where he fears most... any cemetery. LOL~

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Call me old fashioned, but nowadays noona romance seem so popular, which I don't like.

I prefer older namja-younger yoja pair.

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Yeah I agree I never really liked noona romances even My Name is Kim Kam Soon didn't work for me.. I know I'm weird LOL! I'll watch the drama & enjoy it but it won't be my favourite...

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I think it all depends on age. I love the "standard" drama types with older male, younger female, but despite not feeling any older than my early 20's, this 34 year old is *ALL* for noona romanaces. I *loved* "In Need of Romance 3", "Witch's Romance", and my all time favorite: "I Hear Your Voice".

That said, I'm not really feeling the idea of Seo In Guk with Jang Nara. If this ends up going through I could be proved wrong, but it just doesn't seem like a good pairing to me.

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I'll forever see Jang Nara with Jang Hyuk in my mind. The End.

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Yup, a funny and dramatic way to view it, but it’s nonetheless true.

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It's not so much that they're 'popular' (when was the last time that any actually made a real killing in ratings other than IHYV? And I know that most people could have done without the icky jailbait trope) but that these pairings are born out of necessity - few 20s actresses with star potential, 30s/40s actors too busy snatching up awesome movie roles to care about cookie cutter dramas.

However, my prediction is that in the long run the only real noona romances will be coming our way from tVN. Even jTBC seems to be moving away from the subject.

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I don't think they look like they'll fit. They are just out of place with each other. KBS needs to get someone in his thirties and who's more mature looking. Seo In-guk is still a kid lol. This is shaping out to be the second drama of JNR's that I'll drop... All sorts of bad casting news coming out today.

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It's not all bad though. Shin Mina is confirmed for the manhwa remake I believe.

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SIG isn't that far off from 30 though, he'll have to head to the army soon along with other '87 liners. I agree that they don't seem too well matched, but we can never tell how their compatible they'll be.

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It's hard to wash of the kiddish feeling when you've been playing a couple of high-school roles (Reply '97 and HSKoS), just like how JNR has been type-casted as an average-looking kind-hearted-to-a-fault romcom female lead ever since Babyfaced Beauty. I think both of them are trying to break out of their mould. The pairing doesn't sound as bad now that I've been trying to reconcile my expectations with reality for a while already. I think with the right styling this may just be possible, i.e. SIG with no man-fringe. Being optimistic here :)

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It's not age that concerns me, I think if they styled him like his Hyung characer in HSKS, he'd look about right. But he's always best when playing a goofball or a character slightly over-the-top. The plot sounds a little more serious then I'd picture him.

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I dunno. I think it's all up to the writer(s) to make this OTP believable because I know they are both good enough actors to make it work. I am more into them individually than anything else though. Jang Na Ra has always been great in making me root for her character and SIG is just awesome in general.

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but in HSKoS he play double character, which he play as his hyung too. who have a similiar character like one in this drama . and he success to give the different vibe for both character

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Jang Nara and Seo In Guk? Not really seeing it but whonknows.

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Speaking of the trend 'still favorably considering drama casting', at least I've heard there is finally a light on SWWTH since KSE confirmed already? Anyone?

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Her agency has confirmed she agreed at the leading role but some are still questioning if they meant the lead female role. That seems like a DUH moment to me. I'm happy with that one.

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Agreed.

I don't mind the casting merry-o-round, because it let's me hold out a far-fetched hope for the pairings I'd love to see:

In this drama:

Lee Seung Gi (to see him in one last drama before enlistment) and Han Groo.

-Or-

If they wanted to go offbeat with the lead:
The fabulous Henry Lau and Han Groo.

In Vampire Scholar:

Jang Nara starring opposite Lee Jun Ki.
(Despite her age I think she could do a convincing scuffed up street waif for the cross dressing part.)

But sadly they seem to be aiming at the tween audience for Vampire. So sad.

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Seung-gi and Han Groo would be so amazing, I can't even! I can just picture them being perfect together in my head. There is Chaebol's Daughter yet to cast both leads because PSJ and MGY rejected. Since Han Groo was already rumored, why not get her and Seung-gi to do it??

Come on dramagods, hear me out for once!

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I can see Jang Na-ra with Lee Sang-yoon, but with Seo In-gook? I don't think it'll work...

Can Seo In-gook do that ghost drama instead with Park Bo-young, please? Now that's a pairing I'll be shipping like crazy. :D

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Mehh... Nothing against Seo In Guk but Lee Sang Yoon is already perfect plus I was looking forward to his pairing with Jang Nara.

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+ 1000 "already perfect"

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Seo In-gook and Jang Nara? Bleh. Separately they're fantastic, but that is one pairing I cannot back. Nope nope nope.

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I live them both but I don't know they have on-screen chemistry. Well, Seo In Guk-Lee Ha Na worked so why not Seo In Guk-Jang Nara.

Or maaaaaaaybe......Seo In Guk-Park Bo Young

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After Lee Jin-wook declined (thank the almighty dramagods!) and Lee Sang-yoon was considering, I really felt pumped up for this. It sounded fun, and the idea of LSY + JN had me all excited with the upcoming hotness. I need to learn not to get excited until a casting is sealed, seriously.

I like Seo In-guk, but another noona-romance? This is so not my cup of tea. He'll look like Jang Nara's younger brother instead of being the gruff profiler I was hoping for. So many potential pairing fails like SJK-SHK, HJW-LJW, LJK-LYB and now this. What is up with the casting these days?

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i agree about the other pairing, but i think Lee Jin-wook will look good with Ha Ji-won...

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That's very fair. But I personally dislike everything that is Lee Jin-wook. I'm happy Jang Nara got spared, even if I do feel really bad for missing out on a HJW show.

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so you see the casting already fail just because of their look, i think differently even if their look didn't match as long they could bring the story i would like it

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Nope, its not the looks I care for - most of these people are gorgeous - instead, its the feeling of potential great or crap chemistry they would give out and/or their acting capabilities.

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You say it's not about looks, but you haven't even seen them act together. If you're not basing it on looks, well you have nothing else to base it on really. And their acting ability has nothing to do with them having or not having chemistry with someone. Chemistry is something that comes naturally, you can't really act it. We don't even have a picture of them together, let alone a video of them interacting, so while you have the right to believe whatever you want about an on screen couple, saying you don't like a couple's chemistry when you haven't even seen them interact is just laughable. And this is coming from a person who's not excited about this pairing AT ALL.

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Did you even read what I said or you just decided to comment? I said, and I quote "the feeling of potential great or crap chemistry". Feeling. As in gut feeling: the feeling one gets when they hear of an upcoming pairing and imagine them acting together. I did not in any comment say I do not like a couple's chemistry - you're right, how could I when I haven't even seen them - instead I said its a 'potential' pairing fail. As in, it could work, or it could not even if the feeling right now is - nope, doesn't sound good to me.

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Yea Jang Nara and specially SIG are gorgeous as heck but together they don't sound right. But I want my baby back before enlistment this yea so if this is my only chance i cannot be picky. Maybe they can pull a producer and cast another actor and actress and make this a four-lead. I wish. Han Groo and SIG would be ideal.

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what happened with lee sang yoon? well, although jang nara is my bias, but i think i'm not going to watch this. so, anneyong!✋

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Same here.

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Me too.

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Me three

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sorry but not, zero chemistry, why not jang hyuk again

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Lol, why not right? Jang Hyuk can do hot, gruff, cold heroes in his sleep!

Make this happen dramagods, and I'll forgive the crap I've been dished recently!

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I don't think I can take the same pairing over and over again. So JH is an X for me.

COME BACK LEE SANG-YOON!!!

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What was it with Lee Sang-yoon's offer anyway? He considered for like what, 2 1/2 minutes and then we randomly get Seo In-guk confirmed? Timeline makes no sense!

Also, I'll take Jang Hyuk in anything, really. But you can blame my biasness for that lol

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YESSSS! If Ji Sung and Hwang Jung Eum can do back to back dramas, then Jang Nara and Jang Hyuk can too. They even had one in between...

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I find it odd that people are saying no to the lead pairing because of age? They are actors, they not playing themselves, for all we know so far, they could be the same age character wise and if they good enough actors then they should be able to make that believable, will if those watching will let them and not pre judge.

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I agree with you, so much disinterest in this paring. Honestly, if they can make it work, then why not? I love both of them separately, and eventhough they may not be perfect age-wise together. It could be a nice challenge for both actors. And Seo In-gook will have a chance to show his range. At least I hope so.

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Very well said. I always find it funny how actors real life ages seem to put people off their dramas. Or the, "but I don't like so-and-so, the drama will flop" mindset, all before the first script read and months before the drama is scheduled to air. Doesn't make sense to me.

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It's all preconceived opinions, which makes me laugh tbh bc of how easily they dismiss things. People are quite fickle, I can never understand either.

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I agree, it's ridiculous that the drama it's not about noona romance and their age have nothing to do with the drama's story but people seem to focus on this instead. And lets be real 'cause if this was the other way around (older male actor and young actress) people wouldn't be so against it.

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Hilarious how people are writing this whole thing off without having seen even 5 minutes of acting, based on nothing but their own imagination.

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Totally agree. I love both actors, and think they'd work wonderfully together. I hope he takes it!!

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SIG and JN as a pairing is.. meh. Can't see them in a romantic relationship.
So looking forward to LSY in another drama but like girlfriday said: Liar Game 2. ;D

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Dear Drama God, we can't wait too long for Liar Game 2, at least give us news about it..

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But. But. Kim So Eun is already confirmed for TSWWTN, right? So that means we'll have to wait longer unless a miracle happens which won't be a miracle for Scholar. Lol

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Liar Game 2 can always have another lead lady for LSY.

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ya, as long as Lee Sang Yoon and Shin Sung Rok act as the main actors of Liar Game 2, i don't care about who will be the female lead,..

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mmmmmmmh i don't know about this pair, it's not even the age difference, SIG has been paired with older women and he definitely can pull it off in term of chemistry. But this just doesn't work for me. Still love SIG to pieces though.

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Okay, forget the whole baby face working for Jang Na Ra. Can you picture Na Ra trying to catch a criminal? Ah mean, she's so little, I can't even deal....! She can be down for hours with just a punch * deep sigh*.

Seo In-Guk is okay for me. I love love love love love him to bits. But the romance part with Jang Na Ra?? I don't see it! C'mon guys, give Seo In-Guk a drop dead diva as a female lead for once in his life. He needs it!

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well Jang Nara done fighting in dramas before, though a chinese one, it is just most only seen her in korean dramas, thus the porcelain doll image she tend to get, but then again she was pretty rough in my love patzzi anyway. As for drop dead diva, JN can pull off that look also if she needs to, but it would hardly fit the rather brief outline of her character in this drama.

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Well i hope he gets it...i was waiting to be truthful on his reunion with team Savvy even more when they are possibly castin Park Bo Young,that would been a great par for me...so i'm a bit sad if he takes this role but heck don't even know if they considered him for that drama...well i don't mind the age at all,they are only 6 years and Na Ra looks younger that than so,i think more is for them to click and have good chemistry and good plot rather than age issue

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Ha Ji Won and Ji Chang Wook were amazing together and the chemistry was amazing and they were 9 apart and there aremany more couple that have the same issue yet they do a great job so let's give them a chance if they confirm before saying the drama will flop or so

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did Lee Sang-yoon get scared of fan girls, who might luv him all up?
how is the ice-skating dimple-cheek going to be cold and rational... um... ok, gotta believe in the actors I guess?

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Hahahahha, now you said that,...
I don't know why he refuse to join hello monster, but I know he is not afraid of fan girls or ahjumma ahhaha,
Hope he will bring good news about his new project

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I guess since I've seen Seo In Guk as a high schooler twice now, I feel like he's a kid compared to Jang Nara (although she is baby faced)... But I do want to watch him on screen more than LSY

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Jang Na Ra is baby faced but she looks more matured ... There is a thin difference between looking aged and looking matured right???

I think if it's going to be a romance comedy then the stalker may be immature than the profiler , because you know how he should be, that seems to be missing

It would be more believable if Jang Na Ra was stalked by SIG :P

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Nothing against noona romance or age difference but the premise is not about this right??? And more I don't think SIG and JNR match... I like them very much but not as a pair ... I don't really point out the reason because I like JCW and HJW pairing despite of age difference so that's not the problem for me

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Agreed. Love him to bits. But I don't care for the pairing. Because he looks so young, it's going to be hard to believe that he's a cop who's risen through the ranks in New York and now is returning to Seoul.

If JNR is (unchangeably) confirmed for this drama - and they want it to be a noona romance - I'd rather they go with someone like Park Seo Joon.

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Exactly my thoughts, SIG looks so young for this role

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Happy SIG is back! I don't like the couple yet but if maybe they can have chemistry, it will be good. I wish SIG was paired with someone younger like JEJ. He is okay with noonas but looks much better with JEJ than GHJ or LH.

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I like both actors quite a lot but I can't see how this will work. Not because of age or anything, I just can't picture it. That said, I am still going to tune in and be pleasantly surprised whoever signs on.

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Read the comments, seems not much support for this pair... but if this couple be the leads and have romance... I LOVE IT... Seo In Guk - Jang Nara as a couple is GREAT COMBINATION, especially in romcom. can't wait to see everything clearly...

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Wow not many people like this pairing, whereas I don't feel too worried for some reason haha I just like seeing SIG onscreen, so I'm happy with whatever he does. I hope he's improved alot compared to when he was in Master's Sun, so he's not too broody as a cop.

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NOO don't take this role seo in gook..don't like the actress and bad pairing..

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Horrible pairing.
I do not like them together and he is 6 years her junior. I do not like these noona romaces.. Lee Sang Yoon was far better for this role.

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Yeah enough of noona romance! LSY better match for JN.
SIG please move on to something else.

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No no no, go back to Lee Sang Yoon. I was so excited.

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Seo In Gook with Jang Nara?

No thank you. Count me out if this is true.

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Sad seeing comments here being so negative about Jang Nara's age :/

I love both actors and i hope SIG sticks with this drama, it would be awesome.

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I agree with you... don't worry, there is much people too that support both of them to be lead.

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I totally support naraguk
They would be the best couple

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I don't know what to say about this pairing, especially about the news itself, is it already confirmed?, or seo in guk is still in talks? or he will join Lee sang yoon And jang Na Ra? I checked some blogs and websites, i think the news is still unclear, but what made me surprised is when I read the news in this blog http://thecrazyahjummas.blogspot.com/2015/04/seo-in-guk-confirmed-as-lead-for-hello.html?m=1
I'm sad knowing Lee Sang Yoon refused to act as main lead in this drama, I hope I can see him act cool and manly again in other drama beside Liar Game, or I hope the news of Liar Game 2 will be out asap.

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Whyyyyy? Why did Ha Woo-jin Ver.2.0 not happen whyyyy?? tvN! Get your act together and start working on Liar Game Season 2 asap!!

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Why is everybody here acting like the production had a choice? Remember that this drama had to be delayed because of casting problems in the first place... what are the writer/PD supposed to do if all the suitable people turn them down? I'll bet they approached everyone 30+ under the sun and couldn't get a bite.

That being said, my gut tells me that this will be a horrible romantic pairing. It's one thing to cast a younger dude who could actually look the leading lady's age but SIG looks like JNR's high school bro. No bueno - but I wasn't going to watch it anyways.

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Lol, okay. I kind of get where everyone's coming from with this pairing. But they actually might not be that bad. They could be rather cute even. It certainly isn't the worst pairing to come along. And, I don't know, I think Seo In-guk didn't seem like Gong Hyo-jin's little brother in Master's Sun so I don't know why everyone is so worried about him seeming like Jang Nara's. That said, I would have rather had Lee Sang-yoon too.

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i read some translated article about this drama, and said that production team want seo in guk right from the beginning but has schedule issues. OMG I'm so confused

https://seoinguk.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/eng-seo-in-guk-in-talks-to-star-in-hello-monster-new-kbs-drama/

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LSY or SIG, it's a win-win case here ppl!!

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I love SIG...he looks tired and hungry in this picture.

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I'm starting to understand how sports fans feel when free agents and draft picks and contracts and trades are being thrown around. It's kind of fun in a way ... just when you think a drama casting has crashed and burned in comes a dark horse. I'm actively waiting one of these revolving door debacles to be resolved with "_______ just finished his military service and became available as the lead."

Maybe we should come up with bingo cards?

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LIAR GAME SEASON 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAHH

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So Handsome :D I was
so excited.

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The best couple ever
NaraGuk forever
I didn't like seo in guk with other actresses
But he would suit with jang Nara

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