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Park Yong-ha signs on to new drama

Park Yong-ha will be returning to television screens in a drama remake of the popular Chinese film Comrades: Almost a Love Story (aka Tian Mi Mi, or 첨밀밀 in Korean), which starred Maggie Cheung and Leon Lai. This makes it a year since Park’s last project (and one of my favorites), Story of a Man.

Writing will be Oh Soo-yeon of Winter Sonata (which catapulted Park to fame) and Autumn Love Story; directing is Ji Young-soo of Oh! Pil Seung Bong Soon Young. According to producers, the drama plans to begin filming in July, after they have cast their female lead. They are aiming to premiere the show by year’s end.

Comrades, described as an epic love story, enjoyed tremendous popularity in Asia and was the most successful foreign movie of 1997 in Korea. The story spans ten years and features two people who move to Hong Kong from mainland China, and find love and comfort in each other while living in the lonely city. Their relationship withstands a separation and continues when they reunite in New York, again immigrants in a big city.

I have no idea how this will translate to kdrama form, but it should be interesting? Too bad I didn’t like either Autumn Love Story or Winter Sonata, but I’m willing ti give this one a try.

Via Star News

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This is really exciting news! One of the two best things in On Air was Park Yong-ha. It was refreshing not to see him as a clingy, suicidal second male lead circa WS.

Comrades, Almost a Love Story, is one of my top 10 HK movies of all time. It's just perfect from beginning to end (a tad scripted with the coincidences notwithstanding). This movie demonstrated that Leon Lai CAN ACT, but I think it's because he was with Maggie, who was luminous and understated. Best chemistry in a pairing for Maggie behind the forever iconic Tony Leung-Maggie Cheung combo in In the Mood for Love and Hero.

This story is great for a K-drama (they meet and separate so many times, I'm dying to see how many variations of airport/port/bus station goodbyes we'll get). Japan actually remade it as a j-dorama in 1998 as Meguri Ai with Fukuyama Masaharu and Tokiwa Takako (a good remake, IMO).

http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Meguri_Ai

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I was just wondering, a few day ago, when PYH will appear on tv again...was he going to focus back on singing yet again?

Yay you brought great news! I loved the chinese versin, so I'm looking forward to a remake...with Korean flavour.

And PYH in a romance plot?! FINALLY! Now, the female lead had better be someone good!

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@ockoala: One of the two best things? Which was the other? XP I loved the SYA-PYH tandam in On Air! Too bad many people found On Air medicore and did not get through till the end. I must admit that the constant shouting in the beginning was frightening, but it gets better and better.

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Thanks JB! Me too I never liked Winter Sonata , Autumn in my heart is the drama that made me liked Song Seung Hun but I will watch Comrades because of Park Yong-ha I love him in Slingshot, a great actor.

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Sang Hyuk-ah! Sang Hyuk-ah!

i shipped Sang Hyuk ALMOST until the end of WS.. until he did the whole fake suicidal thingy.. argh. tho he did redeem himself at the end.

i love me some PYH. his voice, his looks, his acting. exciting news for sure!

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i'm glad PYH is going to be back and i like Tian mi mi but really, i'm not that excited for the writer... autumn's love story could never grab me and winter sonata went badly towards the end... oh well, i'll give it a chance anyways.
Thanks for the news!

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agree with dramabeans

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#1 Ockoala -- ditto, you summed up my thoughts!

Hurray! to this news.
Comrades, A Love Story remains one of my favorite movies. I'm an ardent Maggie Cheung admirer (acting, clothes sense, style) to begin with ... but after this movie, it altered my opinion of Leon Lai too. Combined with Eric Cheung's contribution - it was moving.

I totally DISLIKED Park Yong-ha after his wimpy, clingy wannabe-rapist role in WS; but he was one of the better elements that made On Air work for me, despite all the catawauling, screechy dramatics. Was even inspired enough to go looking for his Loving You (with Eugene) after On Air.

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Hm sounds like a melo

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I am so glad to see I am not alone in not liking Winter Sonata! I will wait for this drama to form an opinion on Park Yong-Ha, right now he has creds with me for being friends with my favorite singer ( it's a tie with Ha Dong Qn) Park Hyo Shin...

The project sounds interesting and I look forward to the Korean version.

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most boring korean actor

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Comrades: Almost a Love Story - One of my favorite HK movie too! It has enough materials to be stretched into a drama for its 10-year span in different countries. I just wish they won't melodramatise it too much (but you can't help worrying with the WS/AS people behind it) because the movie didn't have that tone at all. Coincidences, yes, but fate is the movie's theme.

I am yet to discover the charm of PYH due to not having any interest in seeing him after WS and my several attempt of watching On Air without success.

Chae Rim is now reported to reprise Maggie's role and she should be good for that.

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PYH was the only reason I liked On Air too.

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@ karened

The other best thing about On Air was, of course, Lee Bum-soo. Two awesome guys, I wished they could have formed a company and left the two women behind. :-)

@ epyc

Really? Chae Rim? I've not watched anything with her, but I'm sure she can do it. My personal preference for this role is either Eugene (reuniting them from the godawful Loving You, where they had great chemistry) or Sung Yuri (who is due for a new project).

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I like Park Yong Ha A LOT
but I think i'll skip this drama because it'll have the same writer of Winter Sonata
and Winter Sonata is my top hated drama of all times.

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the writer-PD pair scares me honestly! too super-sappy shows, aw man i'm not sure how i should tread on this. but i love him. so i'll keep an eye out :)

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@ #1 ockoala - agree with your "ON AIR" comment for both yong-ha AND bum-soo

@ #9 pabo ceo reom - it does seem like it'll be a melo if we base it on the PD-writer's past projects..

BUT still, i look forward to getting me some park yong-ha in a k-drama soon!!! and i would love to see him back with eugene too!! or chae rim because we know she can deliver!

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I've heard rumors that YEH was going to be in this drama. Any truth in these rumors JB?

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I love this guy and I'm excited for this upcoming drama, since I've seen Tian Mi Mi's 2008 remake with Deng Chao and Sun Li, which was a really sweet story... But my only complaint is the drama title "Comrades". I don't get why they are translating Tian Mi Mi (which means 'sweet as honey') into a title like Comrades? That translation kind of bugs me, especially when it has nothing to do with the original title...

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@ bumbleberri

The original English title IS in fact Comrades, Almost a Lost Story.

See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comrades,_Almost_a_Love_Story

Now don't ask me how the producers went from Tian Mi Mi to that clunkly English title. No clue whatsoever. Okay, I lie, I have a clue. Comrades was a colloquial term for Mainland Chinese to refer to each in during the Mao era, extending up until when this movie was made. The Almost a Love Story part, well, that's the delicious meat of the movie.

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Am I in the minority of loving Winter Sonata & Autumn In My Heart. well these drama's were the one that gotten me in the K-drama fandom afterall.

I wanna see Son Yeh Jin in this. loved her potrayal in Alone In Love, though haven't watch PT yet. Chae Rim also ok, but she seems to be taking all those ajhumma roles making me not fond of her.

Eugene is in a new drama so she's out. YEH also free, but i don't know how's her take on Melodrama. or maybe Choi Jung Won of Whishing For A Star.

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Is this also the same drama that was supposed to be led by Joo Jin-mo?

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@ bumbleberri and ockoala

Thanks, ockoala, for the wikipedia link. I actually like the title "Comrades: Almost a Love Story" as it really gives meaning to what this story is about whereas 'Tian mi mi' is a tribute to Teresa Tang - the singer whose songs unite 'Chineses' from around the world regardless of poltical persuasions. Of course, her song plays a role to bring these two lonely souls together. If I've got a choice, I would pick the director of Alone in Love to do this drama.

Yes, Eugene could do it but I'll give Chae Rim the edge for the tint of world-weariness she has acquired in the last couple of years. SYR is never my cup of tea and so, I never join the Bora debate :) It will be a miscast if they give the role to YEH.

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So this is prolly the drama that CR indeed is referring to.

If Chae Rim will be casted, it will then be a reunion between her and PYH (Lost One’s Way) . The director and her (Oh Pil Seung & Bong Soon Yong). Her and the writer (Four Sisters). And funny because the song Tian Mi Mi was also a song that was used in CR's old Korean drama (I'm Still Loving You). Too many connections.

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Eugene was casted already in the KBS drama, Baker King, Kim Tak Goo so she's also out.

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Even if Eugene is available, would PYH do a project with her? Eugene is his ex, and the relationship did not end well.

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Have read somewhere that in the beginning this drama has been projected as a hallyu drama. A citation from a previous article said that "An official at Verdi Media explained that the project was developed under a thorough planning process for the past two years. He added that "one of the best Hallyu writers is preparing to write the script" and that they are "in the middle of casting a top Hallyu star".
So the choosing of PYH as a male lead isn't surprise me since I think he's been considered as a Hallyu Star. As for some rumors of YEH being considered as a female lead, it's not surprise me also. Her status as a hallyu star and also considering that PD Ji Young-soo is her MFL PD make her a strong candidate.
Personally, I think YEH has to improve her acting skill and step up further by starring in this drama. A good challenge for her.

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I am not wow with PYH at all, JJM will be much better. I luv to watch if YEH is in drama.

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I heard about YEH has been casted in this drama too since 3 months ago.
I hope it's true. I want to watch this big project!

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I saw him doing an interview at a cafe couple days ago! I guess it's for this new drama! So excited :)

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vreau sa nu mai comentati rautacios..daca va place un actor si stilul lui va place in tot ce face si in toate filmele nu numai in unul si in rest nu.park yong ha ramane o legenda vie in memoria fanilor din intreaga lume..chiar daca ne-a lasat in acest fel....voce si caracter ca a lui rar o sa mai intalniti...era perfect din toate punctele de vedere....va rog respectati valorile...nu te vom uita niciodata

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