Detectives, spies, liars, and new hires in poster parade for spring dramas

40 March 9, 2017March 9, 2017

Detectives, spies, liars, and new hires in poster parade for spring dramas

by girlfriday

A new crop of dramas is headed our way, and we’ve got a whole parade of posters lined up for KBS ajumma sleuth drama Mystery Queen, JTBC spy thriller Man to Man, MBC office human comedy Radiant Office, and tvN youth music drama The Liar and His Lover. I wouldn’t have guessed this from the show descriptions, but so far, the series with the best posters turns out to be Mystery Queen, with a set of stylish shots that make me think of hardboiled detective novels and Humphrey Bogart movies.

Mystery Queen’s posters are straight out of the fantasy life of its ajumma heroine, played by Choi Kang-hee, a mystery novel enthusiast who considers herself an amateur sleuth. She abandoned her dream of becoming a cop when she married a prosecutor, but a mysterious case will give her the opportunity to sharpen her skills and team up with no-nonsense detective Kwon Sang-woo. I love the imagery in the posters, with long shadows, bloody outlines, and the classic gumshoe and femme fatale on the case.

Undercover thriller Man to Man released additional character posters of its three leads: Park Hae-jin as an elite ghost agent on a secret mission who goes undercover as a bodyguard to a Hallyu star, Park Sung-woong as the Hallyu star he must protect, and Kim Min-jung as the star’s biggest fan who becomes his manager. Park Hae-jin’s poster reads: “I don’t even trust myself.” Park Sung-woong’s poster says: “Are they not eliminating me? As far as I can see, I’m the most dangerous.” And Kim Min-jung’s poster says: “Our oppa is more beautiful than a flower!” Ha, spoken like a true fangirl.

Radiant Office only released one poster, but it’s a cute take on the basic premise, of underlings taking over the workplace and refusing to be trampled on. The poster calls it an “office rebellion,” and Go Ah-sung stars as the new hire at a company who’ll be leading the charge along with fellow minions Lee Dong-hwi and Hoya, against their new boss Ha Suk-jin. The heroine is spurred to change because of a terminal diagnosis, but it looks like the drama will be lighthearted and uplifting despite that.

Last but not least, tvN’s youth drama The Liar and His Lover stars Lee Hyun-woo as a genius songwriter who lies about his identity and Red Velvet’s Joy as a vocalist in a high school band, in a “pure, refreshing romance,” according to the posters. The bright, sunny shots of the couple feature the tagline: “Only one thing needs to be sincere.” Is it love? I bet it’s love!

Premiere dates are below, so mark your calendars!

Wednesday-Thursday drama Radiant Office begins March 15 on MBC
Monday-Tuesday drama The Liar and His Lover begins March 20 on tvN
Wednesday-Thursday drama Mystery Queen begins April 5 on KBS
Friday-Saturday drama Man to Man begins April 21 on JTBC

Via Newsen, Sports Chosun, eNews 24, Topstar News, Osen

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1 Diana

March 9, 2017 at 6:11 AM

posters for Liar & Lover look really fresh! Nothing revolutionary but I love how pleasing to look at it seems. I'm in the mood for a pure romance so here we go...

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sina00

March 9, 2017 at 6:20 AM

Hmmm. I'll say 85% of the fresh vibe comes from Joy's smile. *bright* 15% from the spring colors with the sky blue background.
This drama looks like it'll be pure Shoujo. I'm cautiously optimistic. It'll either be addictive guilty pleasure, or cringe cheese. *crossing fingers for guilty pleasure*

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I Quit

March 9, 2017 at 8:58 AM

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d

March 9, 2017 at 2:16 PM

Haha, that's funny. What an odd principle. :D :D I usually don't watch a drama because of time or interest. I never thought of not-watching because of a drama having promo materials. :D

On another note, I imagine the preview for Introverted Boss aired late because like most live-shoot dramas, previews for the 2nd half episodes don't get aired at all, or late because there are no footage to air. Live-shooting and all. It happens with almost every dramas which are not pre-produced.

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purpleowl

March 9, 2017 at 10:01 AM

For me it's 100% Lee Hyun Woo's adoring eyes. *swoon

And I wasn't going to watch!

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drawde2000

March 9, 2017 at 11:22 AM

Same. It's his eyes. They communicate. In Tagalog, nangungusap ang kanyang mga mata.

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2 shalini

March 9, 2017 at 6:19 AM

Is it just me or does the girl in the second to last poster look eerily like Chanyeol?

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purpleowl

March 9, 2017 at 9:59 AM

Omo, yes!

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3 Grapes

March 9, 2017 at 6:37 AM

Mystry Queen posters looks like it's a period movie from the 50s era.

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Flightey Gazelles

March 9, 2017 at 9:11 AM

Eggzally!!

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4 wapz

March 9, 2017 at 6:37 AM

Man to Man airs at 11:00 pm! Didn't JTBC dramas air at 8 or 8:30 pm? So, is SWDBS airing at that time too?

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shapby

March 9, 2017 at 9:12 AM

SWDBS airs at 11:00PM actually, Man to Man will be its successor.

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drawde2000

March 9, 2017 at 11:25 AM

I really find the time slots in Korea so odd for Friday Saturday. Why 11pm? Shouldn't the ahjussis and ahjummas already past asleep that time? And shouldn't the young ones be out and about?

Even the weeknight dramas are at 10pm. That's so late. In US, primetime seems to be between 8pm to 10pm.

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Chi

March 9, 2017 at 1:41 PM

Because jtbc dont want to compete with tvn (8pm) and ocn ( (10pm)

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ar_arguably romantic

March 9, 2017 at 7:57 PM

Maybe there is a trend of young people just staying at home or going to their friend's' homes to watch dramas? No idea! I feel like a lighter drama like SWDBS works well right before going to sleep (if you ignore the serial killer subplot). I have trouble seeing how people want to see thrillers and mysteries right before they attempt to go to sleep. I would be too revved up to sleep.

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boomboompow

March 9, 2017 at 8:50 PM

Their prime time is 9 PM. Based on watching hundreds of korean dramas, it seemed that youngsters got home quite late. School ends in afternoon then they have after school study again? I remember the highschoolers in drama leave school when it's already dark out.
People who works as well seemed to always have after-work dinner and drinks.

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5 kanz

March 9, 2017 at 6:40 AM

Oh I really like Mystery Queen's poster. It's simple yet effective to show the mysterious aura. So many dramas have average or downright bad posters, getting it right to be evocative in line with the drama's message is hard to do.

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Sera The Ms Temper

March 9, 2017 at 7:53 AM

It is a well made poster, kinda look like some epic movie.

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paroles

March 9, 2017 at 2:25 PM

I agree. Great poster. Love the colours!

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wapz

March 9, 2017 at 8:33 AM

Mystery Queen's posters show that their was work done to make a concept for the posters that aligns with the shows'. Creative thought process rather than only relying on the photographer and graphics team that is done in most posters these days.

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kanz

March 9, 2017 at 3:04 PM

Yes yes yes that's what I mean... I really hope the drama will turn out as good as the posters.

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6 loveblossom🌸

March 9, 2017 at 7:03 AM

Gosh, I still need to finish my old shows~ D;

Man to Man has been on my to-watch list since forever.

But now Mystery Queen is on my radar. Its posters are my favorite here. I love crime/mystery shows so I’m more willing to give them a chance even if I’m not familiar with the main leads.

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7 peyinyin

March 9, 2017 at 7:42 AM

oh no.. just when I thought I could stop my drama addiction as none of the shows airing piques my interest.. *dang it* looks like I will have to go back into my daily drama addiction watching soon

currently only watching strong woman do bong soon :) Is Man to man replacing that show?

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Sera The Ms Temper

March 9, 2017 at 7:52 AM

Yes. Man To Man will replace it.

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8 mindy

March 9, 2017 at 8:41 AM

I LOVE Mystery Queen's posters! It originally wasn't on my radar but I really think I'll check it out now.

Is it just me or does all the promo material for Radiant Office seem kind of low-rent? This poster, the teasers... what has MBC been blowing their budget on?

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9 kimchikay

March 9, 2017 at 8:54 AM

Mystery Queen's posters give me a very "british" vibe, very well made, just the right amount of eerie mixed with cool effects...like Sherlock..I think it'll be an interesting drama....

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10 MIKAN

March 9, 2017 at 9:09 AM

Radiant office seems interesting. It seems kdramas nowadays are getting boring. I keep checking out dramas and all goes to my drop list. I just got traumatized by Hwarang last month all for the love of Silla and Deokman.

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11 Trinity 🍆

March 9, 2017 at 9:17 AM

Love the posters for Mystery Queen. Has a lovely noir vibe to it.

However, I am not really interested in any of these dramas except Man to Man. Maybe some of these shows will surprise me!

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12 Flightey Gazelles

March 9, 2017 at 9:30 AM

Wow, such contrasting posters!!

Mystery Queen: when a poster is enough to get you suddenly anticipating a drama where the only thing you were previously looking forward to was Kwon Sang Woo in a white tee.

Man To Man: for once, I like the taglines accompanying the posters. I find them hilarious for some reason, a kind of dry humor. Or maybe its simply me who will do anything to escape this dreadful post-exam funk and is desperately looking for humor where there's none. Just me? Moving on!!!

Radiant Office: Sassy, cheeky, MeLikes!!!!

Liar And His Lover: so fresh, so springly appropriate! I look at the posters and I'm suddenly sending good vibes towards the rude school staff. Mysterious magic!

Upcoming Ahjumma Mysteries:

Mystery Queen( Choi Kang Hee)

The One With Jang Nara ( I've forgotten the name lol)

currently airing Perfect Wife.

I'm missing something. Anymore?

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Sera The Ms Temper

March 9, 2017 at 9:48 AM

The remake of No Sex in the City, although it is not ahjumma (married woman) but women in 30s and hopefully this is not some mystery drama. lol.

http://www.dramabeans.com/2017/02/mbc-lines-up-fall-rom-com-no-sex-and-the-city/

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Sera The Ms Temper

March 9, 2017 at 9:51 AM

Jang Nara's drama called as Housewife Detective.

http://www.dramabeans.com/2017/01/jang-nara-up-to-become-a-housewife-detective/

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13 namedx

March 9, 2017 at 1:28 PM

Woah, totally digging the posters for Mystery Queen - it's the drama I'm looking forward to most. I just hope it turns out as mature and stylistic as it's painted to be. And to be honest, it's high time Kim Sang-woo gave me something to like other than My Tutor Friend and Stairway to Heaven. I've not checked out any of his more recent stuff, so I can only hope that his acting has improved!

Also, it's refreshing to see a string of more mature looking actors/actresses - can somebody please give Lee Jung-Jin another lead role?! I so want to see him in another rom-com!

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gerry13

March 9, 2017 at 7:13 PM

I am more interested in all the first 3 dramas, all the experienced actors, last one more cheesy romance

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Sera The Ms Temper

March 9, 2017 at 10:42 PM

The last one is mostly for young generation and Joy's fans ? I want to watch for Lee Jung Jin and Choi Mon Soo, maybe wiill binge watching later to see thair parts.

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Hollie

March 10, 2017 at 6:46 AM

Aw, don't forget ahjummas who are craving for a straight-up pure romance! I know we're old and should give the attention to the fresher generation, but it's still a tad too soon for our demographics to be forgotten in discussions. I'm not ready. :)

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone from that the liar and lover (although one actor seems familiar but can't put where I've seen him before). However, the synopsis appeals to the romantic in me so I'm going to give it a go and test the waters. If it's good and age-appropriate, I'll let our daughters watch it with me. :)

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Mij

March 10, 2017 at 4:37 PM

Girls, don't forget Seowon fans!! Ok, so I don't know him enough so "fans" is loosely used here. hehe. Still, the fact is he's the sole reason I'm going to watch this drama. After seeing him as Jik in UF, I need to see more. Noona killer in drama and in rl.

Hollie, this drama should be age appropriate for most, unless ur daughters are still small small.

Sera The Ms Temper

March 9, 2017 at 10:40 PM

The combination of Kwon Sang Woo & Choi Kang Hee honestly not really convinced me. But the premise sounds interesting so I am looking forward to this drama.

Lee Jung Jin is so underrated. I once read he is quite sad that his career is not going like some other actors in his age. But he wont regret and will continue to try different type of roles.

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14 prosecutorsunshine

March 10, 2017 at 9:29 PM

Wow! I love the posters for Mystery Queen! Very intriguing! And I must say, I like the tagline for the liar and His Love (Only One Thing Needs to be Sincere, hur hur hur, ironic for a "liar"!). And yeah, it looks very fresh and shoujo-manga ish, which I love! Looking forward to TLAHL especially since the teasers also look good!

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15 DaehanMingukManse

March 11, 2017 at 1:13 AM

Weren't there a Japan Movie once titled A liar and His Lover? I think it was starred by Sato Takeru. Or maybe I remember it wrong.

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mary

March 11, 2017 at 11:16 AM

The JP movie and the kdrama are both based on a manga :)

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