Jejoongwon’s production press conference
by javabeans
Han Hye-jin, Yeon Jung-hoon
December 23 was production press conference day for SBS’s upcoming medical period drama, Jejoongwon. The cast came dressed in character in their 1880s attire.
In addition to leads Park Yong-woo, Yeon Jung-hoon, and Han Hye-jin, also featured are Sean Richard; a new actress with a famous name, Kim Tae-hee; and former Misuda (Chitchat With Beautiful Ladies) panelist Baillie Catherine Dewar, who hails from New Zealand.
Jejoongwon features a varied cast of characters, who come to the titular medical school at a time when modern medicine is in its incipient stages in Korea. Among them is Park Yong-woo, who plays a man who starts out as a butcher and is therefore treated poorly due to his status. When his mother falls ill, he can’t afford to pay for her medical treatment and loses her. He is on the verge of taking his own life, but surgery saves him. Afterward, he encounters all sorts of tribulations to realize his dream of becoming a doctor of modern medicine.
Park said, “Choosing a drama has a lot of similarities to dating. No matter how much I may like a project, if the production doesn’t think I’m good enough there’s nothing I can do. There are also times they might want me but I’m not interested, but my luck was good for this drama.”
Asked for a filming story, Yeon Jung-hoon explained, “Recently, we filmed a dissection on a real animal.” With an uncomfortable expression, he said ironically, “The smell was great, and seeing the insides…” PD Hong chimed in, “I don’t think he’ll be able to eat samgyubsal (pork) for a week.”
Yeon portrays a man of noble birth who dreams of being the country’s top doctor, but next to Park Yong-woo’s character, he ends up playing Salieri (as in, the competent but less-talented practitioner next to the genius).
Jejoongwon is written by White Tower‘s Lee Ki-won and directed by PD Hong Chang-wook of Scales of Providence and To Catch a Kangnam Mother. It is scheduled for 36 episodes and premieres on Monday, January 4.
Below are, in order of appearance: Han Hye-jin, Yeon Jung-hoon (looking sharp!), Park Yong-woo, Kim Tae-hee, Baillie Catherine Dewar, and Sean Richard.
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Tags: Han Hye-jin, Jejoongwon, Park Yong-woo, press conferences, Yeon Jung-hoon
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1 langdon813
December 23, 2009 at 12:37 PM
Wonder why newbie Kim Tae-hee wouldn't use a stage name (if that isn't one) to avoid confusion with the other KTH? I know you can't be in the SAG in the US and have the same name as someone else who is also in the SAG, but apparently that's not the case in Korea?
I love the costumes; Han Hye-jin's hanbok is absolutely gorgeous.
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2 Javabeans
December 23, 2009 at 12:38 PM
I had the same thought. There are a few actors/singers who share the same name (Lee Hyun-woo, Jung Yumi, Lee Hye-young), but once one of them is as recognizable and famous as Kim Tae-hee, you'd think it's really in your best interest to use a stage name...
But Kim Nam-gil changed names mid-career, so she could always do that?
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3 Muffin
December 23, 2009 at 12:47 PM
Oh snap! From the promo posters I always thought that the guy with the beard, who I now see is a real person, was actually Han Hye-Jin in disguise! That beard and mustache just look so fake I thought it was her pretending to be a man so she could practice medicine.
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4 samsooki
December 23, 2009 at 12:51 PM
@3, lol!
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5 Biscuit
December 23, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Soooo looking forward to this drama. All the promo pictures and costumes is pouring with "high-quality" shining all over. But... that may be just pictures. I have faith in both the writer and director ( more in the director) that this drama will be a hit!
Btw, who is Sean Richard -_-?
The only Sean that comes to my mind is Sean of JinuSean, but I doubt that's him (I don't recall him being an actor). The guy looks SO familiar but I can't recognize his name. I just want to shave off his beard so I can take a better look at his face!
OT but, looking at those hanboks makes me want to buy one right now. Sad thing is, it's probably going to be stuck in the closet unless... I could... wear it outside... but.... yeah, it's okay. -_-
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6 Javabeans
December 23, 2009 at 2:10 PM
LOL @ Muffin!
It's like White Tower meets Painter of the Wind with some Coffee Prince thrown in? You know you've watched too many kdramas when......
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7 janna
December 23, 2009 at 2:25 PM
@Muffin
Thanks, now I can't unsee it. @_@. He better have the deepest voice ever.
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8 mee
December 23, 2009 at 2:44 PM
Sean Richard is an American actor who's real name is Sean Dulake. His mother is Korean and he studied acting in college. He came to Korea 2 years ago and auditioned for the role of Horace N. Allen in Jejoongwon. (Found through searching on Nate)
Allen was an actual historical figure, who came to Korea as a missionary doctor in 1884, and founded Gwanghyewon, which was renamed to Jejoongwon. This eventually became the current Severance Hospital and Yonsei University Medical System in Korea.
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9 Biscuit
December 23, 2009 at 3:57 PM
@Mee: Thanks for the info! I guess he wasn't the guy I was thinking of, but reading his profile and character made me really look forward to how he is in the drama ^^;;
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10 soysauce
December 23, 2009 at 5:09 PM
LOL @ 3!!
I see what you mean. haha
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11 doug
December 23, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Kim Tae-Hee's Hanbok is especially elegant
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12 Issa
December 23, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Goodness I got confused and thought that this Kim Tae Hee is THE Kim Tae Hee @_@ That red and black hanbok is just plain gorgeous...
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13 all4movies
December 23, 2009 at 6:31 PM
Those are the prettiest non-royalty and non-gisaeng hanboks I have ever seen.
Kudos to the costume dept.
I'm really not sure about Park Young-woo as the lead. Even in these promo pictures, he doesn't stand out. I guess we shall see.
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14 ndegeocello
December 23, 2009 at 7:09 PM
Well, I can totally see Park Yong Woo as the lead. While everyone here will go gaga over Yeon Jung Hoon, I'll happily stand by Park Yong Woo. :)
And oh my god! It's 캐서린!!! I haven't seen Misuda in forever, but I loved 캐서린 when she was on. She was one of the bolder panelists who spoke negatively about Korea when necessary.
It's a good thing Han Hye Jin found another interesting sageuk. She's kind of awkward and uncomfortable to watch when she's acting in non-saguek projects.
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15 Rovi
December 24, 2009 at 2:35 AM
That is 1880's attire? So lovely, and to think they deviated from the HISTORICAL 1880's attire...just like Hwang Jin-i; supposed to be 16th cen. attire but came up with lovely 18-19th cen. colorful outfits...
Oh, and for a while I thought there's something wrong with Sean Dulake and Sean Richard, but now I'm enlightened with the name change...
I think the Kim Tae-hee of Jejungwon might also be the Kim Tae-hee I saw in the credits of Hwang Jin-i...isn't it???
JB, no news yet on who will act as Gojong? or even the Empress or Daewongun?? They should (at least) be here, as JJW (my shortcut on "Jejungwon") was funded with royal support...
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16 ernie
December 24, 2009 at 6:33 AM
oh my gosh it's catherine! :) She was so funny on Misuda, and I'm glad she can be in a movie like this:)
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17 e sonne
December 24, 2009 at 11:15 AM
that new kim tae hee is pretty. she looks very korean. well, i'm very anticipating this drama. love to see how western and eastern collide in korea. have watched cdrama & jdrama, but as far as i know, never seen it yet in kdrama.
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18 Masaya
December 24, 2009 at 3:12 PM
Park Yong Woo... Park Yong Woo... Give him better clothes. Poor guy who plays the lead but has to deal with lack of popularity.
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19 Annette
January 7, 2010 at 5:40 PM
I have seen the first and second episodes i love this drama,it is great hope a lot of people watch this drama.
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20 cathy
January 13, 2010 at 1:24 PM
Great drama ,i like HHJ in her K outfits .
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21 Angela
January 21, 2010 at 1:10 AM
Muffin's comment is so funny! Han Hye jin doing a coffee prince LOL. Anyway, I think the doctor is cute (Sean Richard).
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22 Kayla
January 21, 2010 at 9:35 PM
@Biscuit Sean Richard (Dulake) might look familiar because he is Lee Byung Hun's cousin. IMO, he resembles LBH alot. They have the same smile (:
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23 Pineapples&Bananas
September 15, 2010 at 1:48 PM
I started watching it on the 10th episode. Was just flipping through channels and I love it. Now my favorite next to "Wife's Back" :D That Sean Richard Dulake guy sure is smokin' HOTT.
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24 MILEY
February 4, 2013 at 5:25 AM
park yong woo forever!!!love this drama.it is one of my favorite sageuk
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