Eric will be enlisting for his mandatory military service by September of this year, but first he’ll eke out one more project — a sageuk drama.

According to his management, Eric felt a strong pull to the script — a “comedic heroic sageuk” already drawing cursory comparisons to Hong Gil Dong — and is currently in preparations for the part. The series, KBS2’s Monday-Tuesday drama Choi Kang Chil Woo (a pun on the character’s name also meaning “strongest Chil Woo” or “Chil Woo the best”), will be directed by PD Park Man Young (Vineyard Man) and premieres on June 9. The story places him in Joseon times as the titular Kang Chil Woo, an ordinary and lower-tier government official by day, and secret kickass assassin by night.

I’ve always thought Eric looked completely modern, so I’m curious to see how well he dons traditional garb and acts in a historical drama. Then again, the plot and description sounds like it’s not going to be sticking too closely to conventional sageuk structure, so maybe his modern looks will fit right in.

His last acting role was in last year’s Que Sera Sera, after which he took a break from acting and resumed activities with Shinhwa. Speaking of whom, Shinhwa gives their tenth-anniversary concert(s) in Seoul on the 29th and 30th.

Via Donga.com

SONG OF THE DAY

Lyn – “궁금해” (curious) feat. Eric [ Download ]

RELATED POSTS

• Shinhwa turning 10
• Get personal with Eric
• Army-bound

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2008. | Permalink | 17 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Eric, fusion dramas, Que Sera Sera, sageuk dramas, Shinhwa, Strongest Chil Woo

A month ago, I asked y’all, How was 2007 for you? I was thinking of the year-end wrap-up I would be writing, and wanted to see how you thought the dramas were this past year. I’ll be rolling out my year-in-review posts over the next few days (because one post just isn’t enough!).

I also am THRILLED to be presenting a couple guest bloggers, Thunderbolt and Dahee Fanel, whom I’ve asked to join me in this 2007 retrospective. (I’ll be putting up their reviews in the following posts.) Not only are these ladies extremely well-versed in the art of Ye Olde K-Drama, they’re both also chock-full of witty, interesting, opinionated insights about ‘em. We’re also not afraid to contradict each other and are perfectly fine with having dissonant opinions. I hope you’ll enjoy their thoughts as much as I do.

As an added plus, they’ve both seen a bunch of the dramas I missed, so we’ll be able to cover a wider breadth of material. As none of us could be accused of brevity, between the three of us, we’ve have got 2007 covered. Possibly a couple times over.

SONG OF THE DAY

Bubble Sisters – “사랑을 찾아서” (Looking for love) from the OST of Mixed-up Investigative Agency.
[ Download ]

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Read the rest of The Year in Review, Part 1: The Best of 2007 (3,995 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 57 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Coffee Prince, Dal Ja's Spring, Flowers For My Life, Mixed-up Investigative Agency, Que Sera Sera, Story of Hyang Dan, stuff I dig, year in review

SONG OF THE DAY

My Aunt Mary – “With” [ zShare download ]

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Read the rest of Que Sera Sera ending clarification, kind of (420 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 25 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Eric, Jung Yumi, Que Sera Sera

With QUE SERA SERA ending this weekend, I had the suggestion from fellow fans ginnie and Xena to open things up for you all to contribute your thoughts of the series. If we get a lot of great responses here, they thought it would be nice to share this compilation of thoughts with the people behind the series over at MBC’s official site, where people affiliated with the show have been known to read and post.

So, what do you think? Of the series, of the stories, of the acting, production, anything? If you had the chance to address the people who worked to bring us such a great series, what would you say?

Post your impressions here! With any luck, maybe they’ll get to read them.

Edited to add: Now that the series is over, I’m bumping this so it displays after the last episode summary. Original timestamp is: 2007-05-07, 9:02:23 pm

Also edited to add: Here’s an excellent example from Xena:

QUE SERA SERA…
a taunting, unbridled enigma.

To Whom It May Concern:

I have been earnestly enthralled with the K-drama ‘Que Sera Sera’ from the moment the first episode aired. The drama was refreshing, the direction bold, the story-telling ruthlessly brilliant and the characters divine. The performances from the two main protagonists; JUNG YOO MI and Eric Mun/MOON JUNG HYUK are flawlessly impeccable and their scenes together sizzle with all the right chemistry required to invite audiences to voyeuristically intrude and bask in these lover’s affairs, their arguments, their beautiful highs and their heartbreaking lows. ‘Que sera sera’ has moved me immensely.

JUNG YOO MI displays the same screen presence and sparkles with the same quirky quality found in international singer/actress Bjork, whom also seduces viewers, with a surreal woman/child demeanor. And Eric Mun/MOON JUNG HYUK portrays the damaged prince, anti-hero Casanova, contemporary Romeo beautifully.

Tae Joo being a tarnished protagonist is immensely appealing, for we see things through his eyes, which I adore. A character does not have to be ‘likeable’ or ’safe’ in order to be appreciated and this drama has been courageous enough to display that. It makes no excuses and treats viewers with the curiosity of mature content without having to over explain itself. We are more than capable of filling in the blanks, no over justification needed. The love story of Kang Tae Joo and Han Eun Soo has been a taunting, unbridled enigma.

‘Que sera sera’s’ re-telling of the old love story of falling in love with opposites, it’s modern feel, topped with the edgy direction of KIM YOON CHUL have been a brave, dramatic and visual treat. And it has left me with an unquenchable thirst of always, simply wanting more!

I could go and on in praise of the serial but I shall not. I just wanted to thank the cast, crew and the production of QSS, for providing and sharing such a wonderful and addictive distraction in the world of ‘que sera sera’ and I wish everyone the very best of luck with their future projects. We look forward to experiencing new ventures from the QSS team and pray they shall continue to be as fearless in the execution of storytelling as this drama has been.

Thank-you

XENA…

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Read the rest of Que Sera Sera: COMMENT ROUND-UP (701 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 136 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Eric, Jung Yumi, Que Sera Sera

Although Que Sera Sera hasn’t been the most fun, or “easy” series to watch, I am reluctant to let it go… but also a bit relieved. As with all things intense and involving, when it’s time to let go, there’s a bittersweet relief. Thank you for a wonderful run, QSS!

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Clazziquai – “다시…” (Again) [ zShare download ]

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Read the rest of Que Sera Sera: Episode 17 (Final) (2,945 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 89 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: episode recaps, Eric, Jung Yumi, Lee Kyu-han, Que Sera Sera, Yoon Ji-hye

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Noblesse – “얼마나 행복 하려고” (How happy will you be?) [ zShare download ]

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Read the rest of Que Sera Sera: Episode 16 (2,670 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 25 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: episode recaps, Eric, Jung Yumi, Que Sera Sera

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Postino – “시간이 약이 된다고” (time heals) [ zShare download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Que Sera Sera: Episode 15 (2,172 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 32 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: episode recaps, Eric, Jung Yumi, Que Sera Sera