First look at Moorim School's bad boy bromance » Dramabeans Korean drama recaps

81 October 15, 2015December 28, 2015

First look at Moorim School’s bad boy bromance

by girlfriday

Cameras are rolling on the set of Moorim School, KBS’s new youth action romance drama about students at a school inspired by the martial arts. Lee Hyun-woo (Scholar Who Walks the Night) and VIXX’s Hongbin (Feel-Good Day) are featured in the drama’s first shoot, on their very first mission after enrolling at the school. Whatever their task is, it involves climbing trees at the top of a mountain to retrieve a hidden target, which sounds a lot like a Kung-Fu Panda mission to me. Or the army.

The drama is about an unconventional school that teaches martial arts as a way of life, focusing on lessons of virtue, honor, sacrifice, and survival rather than your run-of-the-mill resume-packing courses. Lee Hyun-woo headlines as a bad boy idol superstar who suffers a fall from grace and has to enroll in Moorim School. I guess that explains the idol hair, which looks pretty good on him (okay, what wouldn’t look good on him). His character is described as a geeeenius singer-songwriter with a prickly disposition who thinks the whole world revolves around him.

He gets into the school thanks to its president, played by Shin Hyun-joon (Oohlala Spouses), and ends up roommates with Hongbin. Hongbin’s character is a rich boy, a carefree type of troublemaker who’s used to doing what he wants, and he strikes up a friendship with Lee Hyun-woo. They’re promising a big bromance, though I have to wonder how they’ll top Sassy Go Go’s Lee Won-geun and Ji-soo, who are killing me right now.

Seo Ye-ji (Last) is a hardworking girl who attends Moorim School secretly, while taking care of her blind father. Jung Yoo-jin (Heard It Through the Grapevine) plays Shin Hyun-joon’s daughter and the school’s ace student. The drama boasts a global cast, including teachers Sam Okyere (Warm and Cozy), Daniel Lindemann (Abnormal Summit), Kan Mi-yeon (Kill Me, Heal Me), and Shin Sung-woo (My Happy Home).

I hope there’s going to be some high-flying action on the way, and is it too much to hope that they learn that old-school style of martial arts, where you walk on bamboo trees and throw fireballs at each other? I mean, if you’re going to have a school that teaches fighting skills, wouldn’t it be more fun to be a superhero academy?

Moorim School plans to air on Mondays and Tuesdays in January.

Via Chosun Ilbo

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1 mary

October 15, 2015 at 8:15 AM

Awww... LHW finally gets the bro!!! XD

This looks fun, but talk of martial arts school makes me miss Mo Il Hwa so much. :(

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2 Mandy

October 15, 2015 at 8:17 AM

My current world revolves around that too-epic-to-call-mere-epic bromance going on between Lee Won-geun and Ji-soo. They're slaying it, but I'd like these two to challenge that. More bromance the better.

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

October 15, 2015 at 8:33 AM

ugh THOSE TWO. You're right, they really need a better word for them, 'bromance' does not even come close to adequate to describe the relationship they have.

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Mama J

October 15, 2015 at 8:59 AM

It. Is. Killing. Me. KILLING ME.

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Adal

October 15, 2015 at 10:34 AM

+10,000 :-)

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

October 15, 2015 at 11:17 AM

+100000

Lee Won-geun as the Ji-soo whisperer? GIMME.

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Mandy

October 15, 2015 at 10:10 AM

Episode 4 is just of a different level in epicness! They're really liking me like JoAnne said.

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Alessar

October 15, 2015 at 11:43 AM

Bro-Love? ;)

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natalie

October 15, 2015 at 2:56 PM

oh the main lead looks good !

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rinoak

October 15, 2015 at 10:09 AM

GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!! lol I was totally about to say the same thing, because YES! The bromance there is just sooooo good. Even so, I'll look forward to this bromance too, because like you said, the more the better!!! In fact, let's have a bromance contest, where we see who can out-bromance the other! :D

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Mandy

October 15, 2015 at 10:12 AM

#TeamBrosOverEveryone forever :P

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rinoak

October 15, 2015 at 3:23 PM

So much!!! :D

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meliyasha

October 15, 2015 at 8:21 PM

Yes, yes, YES! You can find me dying in every dramas that include bromance. The more, the merrier. And then we will be too confused to choose one for this year's Beanie Awards ahaha

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3 mystique

October 15, 2015 at 8:17 AM

Is the dark-haired young woman the lead actress? She's quite a pretty lady

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CLINTON CARTER

October 15, 2015 at 11:56 PM

Yup, she just finished a drama called "LAST" i highly recommend

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kalel

October 16, 2015 at 1:49 AM

LAST was a fantastic series that had almost none of the usual drama tropes. It was a "universal" show with great performances.

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4 Sailor Mars

October 15, 2015 at 8:22 AM

Comment was deleted

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Mama J

October 15, 2015 at 9:01 AM

Funny, I said the exact same thing in my comments for this week's Rants and Raves.

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Mama J

October 15, 2015 at 9:02 AM

(which hasn't been published yet...I was saying we were thinking alike, not that you had plagiarized me. These days you have to be really clear or else wars start!)

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Sailor Mars

October 15, 2015 at 9:44 AM

Comment was deleted

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Hearttaek

October 15, 2015 at 1:38 PM

It's interesting you say that this doesn't look as promising as Sassy Go Go. As a vixx fan, i followed the development of the two shows for Hakyeon (sassy go go Dongjae). Production wise, this drama looks way more self assured with their plans. Early casting to allow at least one month of martial arts rehearsals, completely pre-filmed. PR team already at work with an instagram page and media play articles. Meanwhile, Sassy Go Go locked in their actor less than a month from premier. Character decriptions mixed up for Hakyeon and Jisoo's roles only a day befor eofficially announcing they were oboth on board, filming teasers about 3 weeks from premier. Only two weeks into the drama and already live filming. Of course all of that doesn't really guarantee a drama will be good or not, but still.. A drama with all of that pre-production planning screams confidence in their material. At least to me.

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5 Cifae

October 15, 2015 at 8:23 AM

Oh my god, lee hyun woo is handsome with grey hair. And sometime i think lee hyun woo looks like oh hyun min from the genius. Does anyone think same as me?

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owl 🦉 🫰

October 15, 2015 at 10:10 PM

They do look alike, Cifae. I was soooooo rooting for Hyunmin in Genius 4 just because he is such a doll (and was the youngest player). Well, top 3, he did well. Hyun Woo looks great here, but i will always picture him crawling across the lawn like a caterpillar in the sleeping bag in TTBY, can't ever get that cute image outta my head when I hear his name. Did you see him in the promo with Akdong Musician (AKMU these days)? And in the movie Secretly Greatly (ot Covertly Greatly)?

I am looking forward to this!

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6 Bongsookie?

October 15, 2015 at 8:30 AM

Yay Lee Hyun Woo!

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

October 15, 2015 at 8:36 AM

yay, I'm so glad to see Lee Hyun-woo finally booking a lead role! (three years later, I am still a little mind-boggled by how a drama could feature Lee Hyun-woo, Kang Haneul, Kim Ji-won, Nam Ji-hyun, even freaking Kim Woo-bin all in the same drama and not a single one of them was a lead in it!)

Also, while we're on the subject of bromances, Lee Won-geun and Ji-soo are going into the end of year nominations for Best Bromance, right????? They must!

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pigtookie

October 15, 2015 at 8:41 PM

Because three years ago, they had to get their names out there as up-and-comers! Even if they had more talent/potential than the leads, they had less star power than the leads back then.

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pigsnout

October 16, 2015 at 2:18 AM

An idol agency will give anyone with a pretty face "star power" even when they can't act.

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8 Mariajose

October 15, 2015 at 8:40 AM

¡AMAZING!
I like bromance and Jung Yoo-jin A LOT <<33
I'll wait impatiently!

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9 nomad

October 15, 2015 at 8:59 AM

Daniel! Oops...wrong focus, right? But again...Daniel!!

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10 pancchi

October 15, 2015 at 9:00 AM

In the bromance category we are forgetting-LEE HYUN & LEE MIN.

Am such a sucker for bromance-i try pairing two males as friends much before bothering about OTP!!

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11 Gwinna

October 15, 2015 at 9:01 AM

I clicked on this article solely because that guy looks really good with the anime-style hair, which is impressive. That being said, while a martial arts school sounds intriguing, I'm always sort of annoyed whenever there's yet another drama focused on bromance and never any on female friendships. Sort of makes it difficult for me to enjoy bromance anymore, which is sad.

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achiara

October 15, 2015 at 9:14 AM

Agreed. I love bromance, one of the few things dramaland knows how to do best but I wish they would do the same with girls too. It's like girls are unable of the same level of loyalty and friendship. Their bond is never as strong and there's always something, usually a shared male love interest, to disturb and ruin it.
She Was Pretty gave me so much hope at first but then...those who are watching know what happened.

(reposting my comment because I can't see it though it keeps telling me it's already posted)

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Dahlia

October 15, 2015 at 2:05 PM

Just leaving a drive-by comment to say I agree! I'm a sucker for "bromance", or any wonderfully solid friendship really, and wish we'd see more of it with our dramas ladies. I love it when it happens (Angry Mom!), but it's sadly so rare compared to how many epic tales of male friendship we get.

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ultramarineblue

October 15, 2015 at 4:48 PM

So true!! Though there are some dramas that do have such relationships like in "The Legendary Witch" so hopefully dramaland is working on it

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kalel

October 16, 2015 at 12:46 AM

Τhe Woman who Still Wants to Get Married...a fantastic girl-power with no setbacks whatsoever (not even a temporary one) plus comedic timing and fantastic bonding throughout the drama!

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12 achiara

October 15, 2015 at 9:02 AM

I love bromance, one of the few things dramaland knows how to do best. I wish however (and sorry if this is off topic) they would do the same with girls too. It's like girls are unable of the same level of loyalty and friendship. Their bond is never as strong and there's always something, usually a shared male love interest, to disturb and ruin it.
She Was Pretty gave me so much hope at first but then...those who are watching know what happened.

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iamme

October 15, 2015 at 4:27 PM

so agree.. love the "sis-mance" in the High Society even the drama itself is mehh..
i wish we could have more sis-mance in kdrama because of course girls can have great friendship and loyal too..

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13 Sue

October 15, 2015 at 9:08 AM

Nahhh, Sassy Go Go doesn't even come close to School 2013.

The bromance in School felt real & was built up over many episodes.

bromance in SGG feels forced at times.

School was a much more in-depth portrayal of school related depresssion etc. SGG is a light popcorn drama.

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Adal

October 15, 2015 at 10:42 AM

I beg to disagree, I feel we're not watching the same drama. Sassy Go Go may condense the plot because it is featuring 12 episodes instead of the usual 16 episode length. But in no way does it feel forced. It actually feels better because most of the fluff and stuff that is put in as filler to elongate dramas are not there. The writing is much tighter and is so much more enjoyable.

Not knocking School 2013 which I enjoyed as well. But the issues raised in Sassy Go Go with a student cutting himself due to parental physical and psychological abuse is very real, not to talk of the immense pressure perfectionist parents put on their off-spring, I thought it very well demonstrated in Sassy Go Go.

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

October 15, 2015 at 11:13 AM

....wait a second, how does students self-harming and appearing on the verge of suicide thanks to academic pressure and physically/mentally abusive parents, make a light popcorn drama?

The bromance in Sassy Go Go is an established relationship from day 1, unlike in School where Kim Woo-bin didn't even show up till the final scene of episode 3 and then he and Lee Jong-seok had to mend their relationship. They're both great bromances, but essentially different in nature.

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iamme

October 15, 2015 at 4:41 PM

both dramas shows depth portrayal of students depression though..
and i don't think the bromance in SGG feels forced, they're already friends from day 1.. so to me it doesn't feel forced at all..
bromance in School 2013 is about mending but in SGG is about sustaining.. even somehow in School i did wonder if it's more than bromance (Daniel Choi wonder the same thing, lol) but in SGG Yeol is such a flirt.. XD

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14 achiara

October 15, 2015 at 9:11 AM

I can't see my comment :(

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15 Boomboompow

October 15, 2015 at 9:14 AM

Lee hyun + Lee min all the way for best bromance of the year. So much talent!

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16 fab

October 15, 2015 at 9:39 AM

Professor Lindemann is in it too?? Joking aside, this ~global~ cast is really appealing. The grey hair trend has reached its peak with LHW slaying it. So pretty.

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17 katshirou

October 15, 2015 at 10:33 AM

Oh that first picture just shot a million arrows to my heart ??????????????????????????????????????? That look is enough for me to join this ship. Let us set sail! ??? Hyunwoo oppa~~~ ???

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18 Klava

October 15, 2015 at 10:57 AM

I must be the only one who gets the urge to colour my hair inspired by Korean boys not girls,its never the girls.
Anyway SCHOOL 2013 has been mentioned, just don't forget I REMEMBER YOU also had great bromance yes SASSY GO GO has good bromance but honestly i care more about the romance.

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kitkat

October 15, 2015 at 1:55 PM

nope, you're not the only one! always the boys. boys' hairstyles are just so cool and they actually look good on girls too. I already gave in couple of times. like TOP's style & white colour. :D when I walk in my hairdresser just says: another korean cut?

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Maru Hime

October 16, 2015 at 12:50 AM

Ah. If only I were younger for that hair...

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19 hearttaek

October 15, 2015 at 11:50 AM

Well... The drama's reps did say it'll probably be the best bromance of 2016. So i guess kbs knows wongeun/jisoo bromance. Those two know how to sail their ship too. In an interview they were finishing each others sentences "we show everything. In the bathroom. While showering. While sleeping. In one bed" lmao so cute

Though i admire jisoo's stanning for hakyeon. https://twitter.com/hearttaek/status/654410143803674625

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20 hearttaek

October 15, 2015 at 11:53 AM

Also dramabeans staff, i think the drama goes by Institution of Moorim based on the covers of their script books.

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21 Kayla

October 15, 2015 at 12:34 PM

this might make me a horrible person for saying this but i don't understand why lee hyun woo chose to star in a drama with a bunch of newbies.

like, his star power is way above the rest of the younger cast. why? must have really loved the script or something? i just don't get it.

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mary

October 15, 2015 at 1:30 PM

Same reason Song Jae Rim did Nail Shop Paris? XD

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Hearttaek

October 15, 2015 at 1:40 PM

Idk about the script etc or if he has worked with the crew. But i think the "100% pre-filmed drama" probably was a factor in luring him in too.

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22 yayabean

October 15, 2015 at 12:36 PM

Aish! Why are these kids so dang pretty?!
And talking about pretty - Sam Okyere and that smile of his light up the room.

I'm not into high school dramas, but i'll definitely check this one out for the martial arts, Sam and the pretty faces.

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23 iamdeb

October 15, 2015 at 12:37 PM

Do we ever see strong female friendships in these high school dramas? Anyone know of a coming of age drama centered around one?

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

October 15, 2015 at 1:54 PM

Angry Mom?

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bromance

October 15, 2015 at 4:00 PM

None. Its not mainstream but I think Japanese will make one soon.

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fantasy

October 15, 2015 at 6:22 PM

School 2013 , though bromance is popular but the strong friendship of girls are shown there too . That is why school is my all time favourite. They have really covered many types of school issues, less concerned about love ( there were no loveline but only budding crush), teachers were the best, class president was under extreme pressure, bullying, jealousy, friendship of main leads, backbenchers and what not !!!! It is a drama that satisfies me :)

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24 Nessie

October 15, 2015 at 12:50 PM

In the beginning I thought Hyun Woo couldn't pull that hair colour on, but he's looking good! I hope they don't do too many stereotypes of the international cast within the drama. Too many cliches can get annoying.

Excited to see the bromance and some good kung fu moves! Please have badass girls in there pleaseee

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25 Dbfan

October 15, 2015 at 1:17 PM

*squueee*** fans self. Good or not, will check it out for Hyun Woo. ?

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26 mary

October 15, 2015 at 1:32 PM

Seonam? Dream High had some, to a certain extent.

But yeah it's sad we don't have lots of epic womances.

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27 fab

October 15, 2015 at 1:59 PM

@Deb
Those rare, not just in School dramas. ;(
In Answer me 1997 the girls were best friends throughout the drama.

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28 graey

October 15, 2015 at 2:17 PM

@Fab

Wow. Thanks for reminding. I totally forgot about AM 1997. I love all the '-mances' there. Eunji and her bestfriend were adorbs. And the scene with her and her sister-in-law fangirling was nice too.

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29 natalie

October 15, 2015 at 2:57 PM

the main lead looks good ?

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30 crazylu

October 15, 2015 at 5:47 PM

Yerrrrs. Still wish Yook Sung-jae had signed up for this, but whatervs. LEE HYUN-WOO!!!!

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31 amyonn

October 15, 2015 at 5:51 PM

not sure about watching this, I hope it won't tank like sassy go go ?

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32 whimsicalnet

October 15, 2015 at 6:13 PM

Here because of LHW ... and that hair...

So happy to have so many pretty faces on screen when I finally able to come back to watching more dramas... yeah I'm superficial like that...hahaha

back to admiring the hair...

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33 katshirou

October 15, 2015 at 7:42 PM

IMO, best bromance this year is IRY. Although SGG comes, I think the real-bro-bromance between Hyun and Min is bettet because individually they are completely different from how they behave around each other. This also applies to Yeol and Hajoon, but until I see Yeol bring out the cuteness, or better yet the aegyo (because personally, aegyo is 'cuter' than simply saying something/someone is cute) Hyun-Min bromance stays at the peak this year ?

It's hard to beat those aegyo pouts from Bogummie whenever he 'refuses' his hyung's efforts and affection and those aegyo smirks from Ingukkie whenever his dongsaeng succumbs to his requests ?

I also wish we would have more sis-romance, but I don't mind dramas to keep baiting me with bromances ?

Anyway, I don't need further convincing to check Murim out because as commented earlier, the first picture got me onboard ??

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34 Valerie Gudorf

October 15, 2015 at 9:02 PM

I'm definitely looking forward to this. The fact that they already seem to have their $#!% in one sock, with all the filming happening long before the premiere, bodes well indeed!

Is it my imagination, or is this the actually very first K-drama to cast a black person (Sam Okyere) in a supporting role? Of course, that not many non-Koreans in Korea have the necessary command of the language to carry off acting roles in Korean dramas, but when they do, they're usually white actors. I know Sam is a pretty popular foreigner in Korea, often appearing in variety and reality shows, so I suppose that's how the skids were greased for him obtaining this role. In any case, I'm so happy to see this, and hope more ethnic and racial diversity will continue show up in Korean entertainment.

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pigsnout

October 16, 2015 at 2:20 AM

Sam was also in Warm & Cozy but it's sad that drama was so boring.

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35 mahi

October 15, 2015 at 10:49 PM

what drama are lee Hyundai and lee min from??

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krista

October 15, 2015 at 11:47 PM

@mahi,
They are from I Remember You/Hello monster.

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36 mahi

October 16, 2015 at 12:14 AM

@krista
Thank you ?

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37 Chi

October 16, 2015 at 1:52 AM

it's sad that there really plenty of bromances going on, but you have to look hard to find a good sisterhood in kdramas.

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38 loveycat

October 16, 2015 at 2:39 AM

Although i love bromance or sis-romance, but i never really specially comment or fangirling about it. When peoples talk about school 2013's bromance, i still call it just a true friendship, because well they are in same age in that drama.
But for IRY's Lee Hyun and Lee Min, it is a REAL BROMANCE.
Because their character is real brothers in the drama, and their love each other is really sibling's love.
The hurt, the guily, the longing and the reconciliation between Hyun and Min is heartbreaking and feel real.
I like Ji Soo, but for Yeol and Ha Joon's bromance?.... well, we even still not a halfway, or maybe it's just i still can't feel the depth of their bromance.

Maybe it's because in the same time i have a very good friends when i'm in high school and collage and also have a very close relationship with my sister. I would go through everything for my friends that time, but still when the time comes, we go seperate way. But for my sister, we have very different character, there is a times i don't like her and she don't like my attitude, but at the end still we find we love and care for each other, and she is the one still by my side until now.
Sorry, for sharing to much. But i give my vote for IRY's Hyun and Min for the Best Bromance..!! ^___^

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loveycat

October 16, 2015 at 2:48 AM

Aw... i forget to mention, Lee Hyun Woo is really cute and handsome here. and one of the pic, he look similar with Bogum in one of the picture above.
But i have to say, Park Bo Gum look more mature and tall than Lee Hyun Woo.
Still, i love they both as a good actor.

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39 Adal

October 16, 2015 at 4:50 AM

On a serious note, I can't pick between the bromance in 'I Remember You' and the one in 'Sassy Go Go'. They are both so, so good! What a tough decision! I am not looking forward tomthe end of the year when I would be forced to pick one because I love them so, so much! (Grooooaaaaaannnnnnnsssss).

On another note, I wanted to know if Dramabeans would add a category to the end of year nominations for 'Favorite Web Dramas'. There were quite a few released this year including 'I Order You', 'The Noble You', 'One Sunny Day', 'We Broke Up' and others. I am interested to find out what others think of it.