As announced, two actors joined the ranks of their enlisted entertainment brethren in fulfilling their mandatory military obligation on October 27.

Voluntary air force enlister, the 25-year-old Ohn Joo-wan (My Mighty Princess, The Peter Pan Formula), and 29-year-old gentle-faced actor Ryu Soo-young (Bad Couple, Seoul 1945) both said their goodbyes on Monday afternoon before heading off to the training center in Nonsan, North Chungcheong province.

Y’know, looking through the photos of all these guys heading off to enlist, I’ve noticed with how they’re always so self-conscious and embarrassed about their newly cropped hair. You’d think by now that they’d have gotten used to showing all sides of their appearance in their acting projects, but that doesn’t stop them from responding to the loss of their usually fashionably styled locks as though they’ve lost their security blankets.

For instance… >>

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Ryu Soo-young (18 vs. 29, Bad Couple) is a star who hadn’t been on my radar for upcoming army enlistment, but he’s getting ready to report for duty. His physical exam results indicated he was fit for active duty, so he’ll begin training on October 27 and serve for 24 months.

Ryu will give one last fanmeeting before heading off, which will take place on the 25th. His role in last year’s Bad Couple was a particular hit in Japan, and a contingent of Japanese fans are expected to attend.

He joins a number of celebs who have gone off for duty already this year, including Shinhwa’s Eric (Que Sera Sera), Jo Hyun-jae (Three Dads One Mom), Jae Hee (Witch Amusement), and singer-actor Yang Dong-geun (I Am Sam).

Via E Daily

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The crew of MBC’s upcoming Wednesday-Thursday drama Lawyers of the Republic of Korea gathered on the afternoon of June 2 in Seoul’s Kangnam neighborhood for the show’s press conference.

The drama centers around the world of divorce law (and the warring divorce attorneys on either side), in which Lee Soo Kyung (Soulmate, Golden Age of the Daughter in Law) plays a lawyer who passed the bar in last place in her class. She’s still bitter over an ex who left her, played by Ryu Soo Young (18 vs. 29, Bad Couple), and currently is in a career rut, unable to get any of the good cases.

That changes with the high-stakes divorce suit between her actress best friend, Han Eun Jung (Full House, The Person I Love), and fund manager husband Lee Sung Jae (Daisy, Stranger than Heaven). But Best Friend Actress hires lawyer Ryu Soo Young of the top law firm in the country, while husband chooses Lee Soo Kyung. Uh-oh! I’m sure the sparks start flying soon enough.

(Pet peeve: It’s not the Lawyers of the Great Republic of Korea; it’s simply “Republic of Korea.” But speaking of titles, it seems to be going for a cutesy vibe, even punctuating it differently [대~한민국 변호사] to suggest the ever-popular sporting cheer: Daaaae~ han min guk! *clapclap* *clap* *clap!*)

Since this is the drama that Lee Soo Kyung abruptly left When Night Comes to star in, I’m curious to see if it was a good choice on her part. I do like the actors of Lawyers, but I’m not intrigued by either the plot or preview. But Lee Soo Kyung’s bright, lively personality is always a breath of fresh air to watch.

Lawyers of the Republic of Korea airs after Spotlight retires; it premieres on July 9.

Via Newsen

SONG OF THE DAY

Aquibird – “Kiss Me” [ Download ]

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Don’t worry, that’s just the first scene of the episode. I’d have picked a more cheerful one, but I didn’t want to spoil anything. Even if it is the last episode so there’s not a whole lot I can spoil at this point.

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Sol Flower – “Kiss the Kids,” a 25-year-old singer whose real name is Min Hana. She may be described as R&B, but that (to me) suggests a pop sensibiilty, and this is more… indie-soul? [ zShare download ]

BAD COUPLE Episode 16 (Final) >>

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So here’s the thing. I liked how Bad Couple ended in their last two episodes (15 & 16). I liked the resolutions and the character wrap-up. What I didn’t like, then, was how these resolutions were presented. Story = decent. Execution = hated.

I kinda hesitate to give my full honest opinion on the ending because I don’t want to ruin the satisfaction others may get from what is, in the end, a nicely wrapped-up story. It’s just that as I was watching the last two episodes, everything felt really weirdly off-balance. The editing felt slapdash, the music cues were off, the scenes went on a little too long, the dialogue tended to meander. I wonder if the production was really pressed for time — I know that final weeks are tough in kdrama production, as you can read for yourself here. Personally, I think they ran out of story, and what could’ve been one episode was stretched into two.

(Random) SONG OF THE DAY

Tei – “나무” (namu / tree) [ zShare download ]

BAD COUPLE Episode 15 >>

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