October 16 saw the drama production press conference for the tvN cable drama Mazzang (Fight), which stars Yoo Gun and features celebrity couple Uhm Tae-woong and Lee Young-jin.

The “realistic fighting” drama features its actors doing most of their own fight and stunt work, including Yoo Gun. Although he hasn’t fought much in real life, he credits his experiences playing in soccer matches with helping with the competitive and physical aspects of fighting.

The emphasis on realistic combat made for more strenuous filming, explained Yoo Gun, because while most films and dramas choreograph their fight sequences carefully, Mazzang went for verisimilitude, meaning the actors punched each other and were hit for real.

If the drama manages to achieve a true sense of grittiness, this could produce an interesting, darker edge that we don’t get to see in broadcast dramas. Then again, cable dramas kind of have a reputation for pushing the envelope merely for shock value, so there’s also that.

The drama premieres on tvN on October 24.

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Read the rest of Mazzang puts up a fight (236 words)

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Post tags: cable programs, Yoo Gun

It’s a sibling twofer! First Uhm Jung-hwa, now her kid brother.

When I first heard of Yoo Gun’s new Fight Club-esque cable drama (titled Fight), I only had a mild interest. But now an additional actor has been cast, and he is one for whom I have a lot of respect: Uhm Tae-woong (Resurrection, Devil).

Interestingly, it’s also his first time acting alongside his girlfriend, Lee Young-jin (Smile Again, pictured above), although they won’t be sharing scenes.

This time we’ve got a few more details about the story: An average salaryman (Yoo Gun’s character) gets brought into a fight by chance, and transforms into a true fighter. Uhm Tae-woong plays Yoo Gun’s fighter dad who’d died in the ring, and only appears in the first episode. As Yoo Gun’s girlfriend, Lee Young-jin takes on the sole female role.

A management rep said that because of interest (in Uhm) from Japan, they’d be making this a “clean drama” — meaning, although they’re striving for extreme realism with the action scenes, they want to keep from being given a restricted 19-and-older rating.

Other cast members include Lee Jong-soo (Yi San), Kang Sung-jin (Lawyers of Korea), and Baek Do-bin (The Host). The actors have been training in various martial arts over the past several months, including Taekwondo, boxing, and Muay Thai.

Fight is directed by Park Jung-woo (writer of Last Present) and premieres October 24. In other news, Uhm Tae-woong’s new movie Cell Phone just began filming this week.

Via Newsen, Joy News

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• Another “Host”-inspired creature feature

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Post tags: cable programs, Uhm Tae-woong, Yoo Gun

Haven’t heard about Yoo Gun in a while. The actor from dramas Hello God and Bad Couple has signed up for a new cable series Fight [맞짱], which is pegged as a “real fighter drama.”

The eight-episode series features Yoo as a hot-blooded fighter in a “fight club.” (Oh, that’s new.) Still, it’s not really thematically related to the Chuck Palahniuk version, since this one’s less of a mindfuck and more of a… coming-of-age (for lack of a better term): “young men engage in fights and develop friendships in the course of transforming into real men.” It promises to be full of romance and emotional “human story.”

To take on this role, Yoo has been enrolled in action school to practice his moves: “This is the first time in my life I’m trying something in the action genre, so on one hand I’m nervous, but I’m really looking forward to it. To be honest, when I first got to action school I was really awkward, but I’ve been told my skills have improved a lot. I’ve watched different kinds of martial arts, and will try my best to show the details faithfully.”

The drama airs its first episode on October 24 on cable channel tvN.

Via MK.co.kr

RELATED POSTS

• SBS’s Bad Couple

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Post tags: cable programs, Yoo Gun

Shin Mina looks positively radiant as she promotes her upcoming romantic action comedy film Mulim Girl [무림여대생], also starring Ohn Joo Wan and Yoo Gun. Everyone looks happy and upbeat, if a little vampiric (is that some harsh lighting or what?). Not vampiric in a negative sense, just the sense of looking like they haven’t collectively seen sunlight in years and need the blood of others to survive because they no longer possess any of their own.

Seoul, Apgujung, June 3. The film releases on June 26.

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Post tags: Ohn Joo-wan, press conferences, Shin Mina, Yoo Gun

The 44th Baeksang Arts Awards were held in Seoul on April 24, handing out top honors to the films and television programs of the previous year.

Big winners included films The Chaser and Forever the Moment (aka The Best Moment In Our Lives); Yoon Eun Hye won for her trend-setting turn as Go Eun Chan in last year’s smash drama Coffee Prince, while War of Money took home Best Drama.

SONG OF THE DAY

MC Mong – “옛날 옛적에” (Once upon a time) from his recently released fourth album. [ Download ]

 
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Read the rest of 44th Baeksang Arts Awards (501 words)

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Post tags: awards, Coffee Prince, Go Ara, Han Hyo-joo, Hong Gil Dong, Hyun Young, Jang Geun-seok, Jung Il-woo, Jung Ryeo-won, Kang Ji-hwan, Kim Jung-eun, Kim Min-hee, Kwon Sang-woo, Lee Byung-heon, Lee Dong-wook, Lee Jia, Lee Seon-kyun, Lee Yeon-hee, Lee Yoon-jung, Legend, Park Shi-yeon, Park Shin-yang, Park Yong-ha, Sohn Ye-jin, Song Kang-ho, Sung Yuri, War of Money, Yoo Gun, Yoon Eun-hye

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 ]

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Post tags: Bad Couple, Byun Jung-soo, Choi Jung-yoon, episode recaps, Ryu Soo-young, Shin Eun-kyung, Yoo Gun

This past weekend, another weekend drama premiered, SBS’s BAD COUPLE (불량커플), the third in its “bad / 불량” series after Bad Housewife and Bad Family. (Note that “bad” doesn’t mean necessarily evil or malicious, but more in the vein of “unsuitable” or “inferior”.) I don’t believe the same people are involved in the three different series, so the connection is loose at best, but I did really enjoy Bad Family, so if anything it sets a good precedent.

I wasn’t sure how I’d like the series ever since super-Hallyu star Lee Dong Wook dropped out of the project, citing dissatisfaction with the script and story — not exactly a vote of confidence. But I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy the first two episodes of Bad Couple, and will definitely be sticking around, at least in the near future, to see how things pan out.

SONG OF THE DAY

Park Jiyoon – “여자가 남자에게 바라는 11 가지” (11 Things a Girl Hopes for in a Man) (In case you’re curious, the rather high-maintenance list includes: only be with me; only look at my eyes when you talk to me; don’t get mad even if I’m 20 minutes late; take me home even though you’re tired; take my picture out of your wallet from time to time to kiss it; call me three times a day; trust me; tell me what your day was like; always take my side; when I’m hurt, hurt with me; only call my name although other girls may try to approach you) [ zShare download ]

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Read the rest of SBS’s Bad Couple / 불량커플 (1,207 words)

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Post tags: Bad Couple, Byun Jung-soo, Choi Jung-yoon, episode recaps, Ryu Soo-young, Shin Eun-kyung, Yoo Gun