Gong Yoo’s ‘Han Gyul’ Exactly as Writer Pictured
by javabeans
Can you tell I’m having a slow work day? LOL. Just one more Coffee Prince-related post before the weekend! (I swear, I’m Coffee Prince-ing myself out.) I found this interesting article and (what else?) felt the need to share. I love this kind of behind-the-scenes writerly stuff. Full credits and source behind the jump.
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Gong Yoo’s “Coffee Prince” Character Just as Writer Lee Sun Mi Imagined
Love rectangle created for a fresh take of the romantic novel for television broadcast
By Reporter Nam Eun Ju
Looking back at July, there was a writer, Lee Sun Mi (36), behind television programming every day from Monday through Thursday. As the original novelist of “Kyung Sung Sad Story,” adapted into the Wednesday-Thursday drama “Kyung Sung Scandal” [aka “Capital Scandal”], which just finished its last episode on the 1st, romantic novelist Lee Sun Mi is also penning scripts for the Monday-Tuesday series “Coffee Prince Store #1,” of which she is also the original novelist, screenwriting under the pen name of Lee Jung Ah.
I met the writer behind the romance drama in Seoul’s Hongdae.
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The writer who’d imagined the “sad story” around the independence movement, as well as the cafe operated by pretty-boy “princes,” said she is “addicted to stories that willingly sacrifice a bit of reality for the sake of romance.” Even while writing within the standardized format of romantic storytelling, she attempted to cross the lines between period piece and fantasy, and of course also genres such as homosexual love stories. After taking a position at Shin Young Media in 1999, during the eight years in which she wrote twenty romantic novels, she wrote with the intention of not repeating her settings and subject matter.
Of course, she had a strategy to survive in the romantic fiction world of broad, superficial romances that appeal to upwards of ten thousand people. “It’s a double-edged sword. The reader does grow weary of the patterns of romance fiction, but without those elements, you turn those readers off. In trying to explore something different in all my material, Coffee Prince is a novel I wrote keeping in mind the feel of popular Japanese novels, which fall somewhere between romance novels and pure literature.” However, romantic fiction is a genre that the writer herself enjoys, and so her main characters have not deviated much. Indeed, Sun Woo Wan of “Kyung Sung Sad Story” and Choi Han Gyul of “Coffee Prince” give the impression of reflecting the writer’s own preference for strong, masculine men.
In their respective dramas, those two have certainly been transformed into lighthearted, cheerful personalities. Although the original author is involved in these adaptations, she has been the one to urge the director to make cuts, saying, “If you can make it better, it doesn’t matter to me what you do.” She says, “Kang Ji Hwan (playing Sun Woo Wan)’s image was a bit more refined than in the novel, but Gong Yoo (playing Choi Han Gyul) was undoubtedly that character. He came across both like a youthful boy as well as a man, as well as being difficult to please… Even without having signed the contract, afterward when I was adapting the story, I only had Gong Yoo in mind as I wrote.” For him, Coffee Prince wasn’t just a novel to be unraveled with words. This was depicted in the 12th episode aired on the 7th, when Han Gyul (Gong Yoo) finds out that Eun Chan (Yoon Eun Hye) is a girl, and at the end of their fight, they officially embark on their romance. While this was the final wrap-up of the original story, the drama still has four episodes remaining in which to create something wholly original. “I thought the novel might exceed the first volume so I wrapped it up rather quickly, and felt some disappointment. I missed the opportunity of exploring aspects of developing the romance between the two main characters in the second half of the book.”
In the novel, Han Gyul seems to change suddenly, but, “in the drama, he goes through the process of naturally changing into someone who’s able to express his inner emotions.”
What does the writer feel fits her best, between being an original novelist and the writer of an adaptation? After Coffee Prince, Lee Sun Mi intends to try her hand at writing an original script. “In the drama, we’re creating dramatic threads and love triangles and rectangles that weren’t present in the original work. There may be those who are dissatisfied, but criticism is something I should willingly accept in order to create interesting, fun melodrama. Marriage? Putting aside what I’ve read, I’ll have to meet someone I like enough to go out with, I suppose.”
Source: Hankyoreh :: Hani.co.kr
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Tags: Capital Scandal, Coffee Prince, Gong Yoo, interviews, Kang Ji-hwan, scriptwriters
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51 Angelicious
May 1, 2008 at 4:49 AM
Hey Javabeans..
Thank you for the information about these two..
I've been really obsessed with Gong Yoo before because of Coffee Prince or it's his character Choi Han Kyul that I'm in love..
And now, I'm more obsessed with Kang Ji Hwan..
Thanks for loving him also..
Keep on posting facts about them...
Cause it really makes my heart happy..
Especially, after knowing that Kang Ji Hwan is an awesome child to his parents..
You're really making me fall in love more with him..
Keep up the good work and post lots of info about this two hot guys...
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52 MommamM
May 1, 2008 at 5:26 AM
This is very first korean series that I like very much. Gong you is the best actor. He can play in many roles and his acting for this serie make people understand Choi Han Gyul easily.
He is very cute guy..... I will waiting for coming back from MS.
MISS YOO SO MUCH
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53 Vanessa
May 6, 2008 at 7:52 PM
YAY!!! In my opinion, He was made to play Han Kyul and he's so cute and talented! Oh! Love the blog. keep up the good work! Fighting!
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54 AeyChoCho
May 13, 2008 at 5:28 AM
I love Coffee prince.I'm falling in love him.He so cute when he smile.
Gong Yoo.. i love you eiei :)
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55 MADEL
June 6, 2008 at 12:49 PM
hi your my one idol!!! keep it up for your a good actor
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56 netz07
July 3, 2008 at 5:17 AM
wow!! my gosh!!!he's so handsome!!!
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57 turkıshdevıl
July 19, 2008 at 7:52 AM
gercektende cok yakısıklısın tatlım
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58
July 22, 2008 at 2:34 AM
gong yoo ur the best!!!i wish someday ill meet you!!
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59 kim
July 22, 2008 at 2:36 AM
u are so cute goo yong!!!someday il go to korea justn to see you(^_^)
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60 kim
July 22, 2008 at 2:37 AM
u are so cute goo yong!!!
i love you
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61 kim
July 22, 2008 at 2:39 AM
goo yong!i hate you coz ur not here!!i wish someday u will come here in tha phil
!!
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62 kim
July 22, 2008 at 2:41 AM
i just want to say ilove you gung yoo
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63 kate
August 2, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Gong Yoo is simply gorgeous!! He's my Coffee Prince ever! Waitin for his nx show... take care in army!
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64 rima
August 5, 2008 at 9:28 PM
hii..gong yoo
i'm from indonesia, i very like your film in coffee prince
i wish are someone like you can love me,
may you be my friend?i hope you want be my friend,
your accting is good, and i hope you get the best...
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65 mimiey
August 14, 2008 at 9:26 AM
im truly drawn to Gong Yoo.... Him.....can be very addictive...... he took my breathe away in every scene of CP...... and i keep on watching the series every now n then...... really cant get enough of him.... really hope to look fwd to watch him again in the 2nd Shop of Coffee Prince please!!!
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66 v3
August 18, 2008 at 4:58 AM
hi I'm v3, can I have gong yoo's email address? I'm from Brunei.
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67
August 26, 2008 at 9:50 PM
han gyul aii lobh iuu.. =))
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68 QingHui
September 1, 2008 at 6:53 AM
haha. well, i would say if you have a dream, pursue it! (:
and who knows, you might be acting with him the next moment?
or maybe you're the uprising star?
okok, i'm mad.
i wanted to be an actress.
figuring the way out~
and yea, Gong Yoo is cute and lovely there.
i can see so many fans of him! =D
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69 Thari
September 12, 2008 at 1:04 PM
Hai Gong yoo...
Aku Tari from Indonesia.
Aku suka Banget sama film ini,karena lucu,romantis, dan sifat dari karakter Han Gyol aku suka banget... Yang setia sama cwe yang dia suka..
Aku tunggu yah.. Yang berikutnya..
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70 trythen
September 15, 2008 at 10:37 PM
heylow my handsome prince "Gong Yoo"
I'm nana I want the question to you!
How are you after the joint to army in the korea?
I just wanna say Ilove I LUV U
What are you to have ?
I want to your wife.................................................................................................
seriussssssssssssssss
pleazeeeeeeeeeee send replay to rabbit-p_ink@plasa.com
or you can to see me on the friendster --> rabbit-p_ink@plasa.com juga!!!!!!
oh ya by the way, are you when to out from WAMIL n what do you come from to Indonesia
I want to meet you Gong Yoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
translit : tolong balas surat dari aku ya!
n jika kamu ingin melihat aku dapat dibuka ko di friendster (rabbit-p_ink@plasa.com)
n kapan kamu keluar dari gabungan WAMIL di Korea
lalu kapan mau datang ke Indonesia
aku ingin bangettttttttttttttttttt ketemu kamu neeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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71 myyyyyyyyy
September 23, 2008 at 2:43 AM
GONG YOO is such an amazing actor. He portray the role so well. I love him.
and he is amazingly hot with a hot body.
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72 RYGY
November 16, 2008 at 12:24 AM
Good drama
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73 özlem
November 29, 2008 at 6:31 AM
ı love youuuu gong yoo love love loveee
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74 yolai
December 8, 2008 at 6:23 AM
yoo forever.......... i wile waiting for your return from your military training.... how i wish i wa eun hye....i'll just keep on dreaming anywaze.. thanksvfor existing..you added more blitz in my life....take care because so many of us cares.....
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75 yolai
December 10, 2008 at 1:07 AM
i think i will be a gong yoo forever fan...i really like his caharater both in coffee prince and star candy... i'm longing for his return next year and hope to see another blockbuster hit with eun hye..they have this good chemistry and tremendous appeal to the public...i love them both
why not another sequel of coffee prince where they have to show first what happened when eun chan was in italy studying or maybe capture more of how thier deep love blossom ....i really just can get enough of it....pleaseeeee and finally showing eun chan's transformation from a tomboy to a very pretty girl......but how ever they present it , i and millions out there will surely watch and support it.....thanks dramabeansfor the chance of expressing my thoughts....
i hope the writer and the producers will heed to the request of the millions of coffee prince addicts around the world.......thanks...
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76 Gee's
January 4, 2009 at 7:22 AM
SARang en Yo... Gong Yoo ^__^ Marry Me...PLe
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77 married's Gong Yoo****** I love you!!!!! gong yooni
February 6, 2009 at 7:18 PM
I love you !!!! gong yooni!!!
(L)(L)(O)(O)(V)(V)(E)(E)
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78 La Fea
February 21, 2009 at 12:34 PM
I watched Coffe Prince on internet and I feel in Love with Gong Yoo's performance and all the other casts. Is it true There will be a second season of Coffe Prince as Coffe Princess after Gong Yoo returns his military service?
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79 Liana
March 8, 2009 at 11:59 PM
Hi..Gong Yoo Oppa, my name is Liana from Indonesia.. I'm so in love with your character as Choi Han Gyul..Yes, that's right,you're the man that every woman will be dreaming off.. I'm so glad that the script writer was chosen you for Han Gyul character & not the other actor, i'm very happy to heard that you're the FIRST CH0ICE.. And for Eun Hye, she actually is the 2'nd choice.. Before Eun Hye,the script writer had chosen Kim Ah Joong from "200 Pounds Beauty" but Kim didnt take the role because she didnt want to cut her hair.. Thx Kim Ah Joong to refuse this Coffee Prince project & let Eun Hye to take over your role.. Gong Yoo more suitable with Eun Hye than you..The both of them can life the character.. I want & i H0PE that MBC will MAKE THE SEQUEL COFFEE PRINCE after Gong Yoo finishing his Military Service in Sept 2009.. With the same cast of Course. With Gong Yoo & Eun Hye as the main lead.. G0NG YOO IS THE BEST KOREAN ACTOR, i didnt know about Gong Yoo before my country aired Coffee Prince in August last year..And now,Gong Yoo was captured My heart..I'll waiting for the Second Coffee Prince. .Love Y00 !! ;-)
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80 Ttokhani 40
March 31, 2009 at 2:08 AM
Hey Gong,
how have you been in the army, I was very sad to see that you was giving up acting for awhile, first of all i hope you are safe and well! I brought the coffee prince, it was my second Korean drama that i brought, really enjoyed it! i was very sad to hear that one of the actors died, he was very funny in the drama, i know that it was a very big loss for all of you working with him, Sorry for your lost! But he wont be forgotten.
when do you think you will be acting again? well whenever you do, i will be watching.
bye for now. keep safe and stay in good health.
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81 6o6
April 22, 2009 at 6:41 AM
u r moslim ??? I thenk no
I am very like your film 'coffee prince'
it was fun
but I wish u moslim ..
bye
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82 CP fanatics
May 6, 2009 at 6:47 PM
Hi Gong Yoo,
I've watched Coffee prince more than 3 times. I liked it very much. I love the chemistry between you and Eun yeh. You two are so good together. Hopefully,
I can see you both again in movies or in the sequel of Coffee Prince.
I've heard that there will be a Coffee Prince movie. I hope the producer will wait
for you after you are done with your Military Service. Coffee Prince will not be the same without you and Eun Yeh. Love you both.
Take care
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83 Gedubraxz
May 21, 2009 at 3:06 AM
It's been 2 years since cp first aired.but i still enjoy to watch again and again and again.love gongyoo and eunhye.oh i love the waffel boy too.aja aja oppa can't wait you finish your miltr service.
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