Kang Ji-hwan is Lee Jun-ki's replacement in Faith » Dramabeans Korean drama recaps

61 November 10, 2010November 10, 2010

Kang Ji-hwan is Lee Jun-ki’s replacement in Faith

by javabeans

Finally, upcoming drama Faith has a leading man to fill in the spot vacated by its previous lead star Lee Jun-ki, who had to drop the drama when army service came calling. And now, with the casting of Kang Ji-hwan (Coffee House), things just got a lot more interesting!

I’m currently making a sound right now that can only be heard by dogs and small animals, such is my surprise and excitement. I am aware that there is only one news outlet reporting this news at the moment, though Star News is usually fairly accurate and is describing the casting as a done deal.

Furthermore, according to the report, Kang isn’t exactly a new addition, and he shot the drama’s trailer video on Jeju Island in early October along with the rest of the cast. In addition to Kim Hee-sun, that includes veteran Choi Min-soo (Road No. 1), Kim Seung-soo (I Am Legend’s resident bastard ex-husband), and Philip Lee (Story of a Man, who will actually be seen first in the upcoming Secret Garden). One reason given for not announcing this casting to the public earlier is because the Entertainment Management Association is requesting that Kang not be cast. (Kang’s still in an ongoing legal fight with his former and current management companies regarding contract disputes.)

Faith gained a lot of buzz early on with the casting of Lee Jun-ki and ’90s drama queen Kim Hee-sun, the latter of whom hasn’t acted much in recent years after marrying and becoming a mother. By the time Faith makes it on the air, she will have been off television screens for five years.

Furthermore, the project is an interesting mix of genres, and has been described as fusion historical project, to be filmed in 3-D with an enormous budget of 3 billion won (approx $2.5 million USD). Dealing with the topic of Oriental medicine, it is set in the Goryeo era and is being planned for 16 episodes. (It does not yet have a home with a particular broadcast station.)

Faith will be directed by a man familiar with epic fusion sageuks and huge production budgets, Kim Jong-hak of Yonsama’s 2007 drama Legend (Taewangsashingi). In fact, a number of the supporting cast are also from Legend, such as Philip Lee and Choi Min-soo. (Choi was also in PD Kim’s classic ’90s drama Sandglass.)

Though not my usual cup of tea, I’m intrigued by the premise of the drama — and, as you know, I’m a huge fan of Kang Ji-hwan, who is no stranger to the fusion sageuk himself; it was 2008’s comic sageuk Hong Gil Dong that really made him a household name. We’ll see what this drama brings when 2011 rolls around…

Kim Hee-sun

Philip Lee

Via Star News

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1 Nina

November 10, 2010 at 5:08 AM

OMG! *tears of happiness* Ji Hwan ssi!!! ♥

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2 michi

November 10, 2010 at 5:10 AM

lovely! i like him in Hong Gil Dong! looking forward to this drama next year!

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3 Jane

November 10, 2010 at 5:11 AM

I'm confused. They recently announced that the contract dispute had been resolved. So what's with the so-called ongoing issue???

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4 Sumee

November 10, 2010 at 5:11 AM

wow that's interesting ! :-)

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5 leila8mae

November 10, 2010 at 5:27 AM

OH MY GOSH!!!!

I'm so happy!! crazy stalker ALL ABOARD!!

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6 mariah

November 10, 2010 at 5:28 AM

that not my kind. Anyway I think KJH is more suitable for Kim Hee Sun than LJK. Lee looks too young n they can't have good on screen chemistry

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rouby

November 10, 2010 at 6:02 AM

Dear mariah... I agree with u,,, lee jun ki look too young for her....

This news make me sad,,, I miss lee jun ki so much,,, :(

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7 hellochloe

November 10, 2010 at 5:31 AM

wow didn't thought that kjh will return to dramaland that fast. YAY! \(^o^)/

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8 jweko

November 10, 2010 at 5:33 AM

hmm that's bad news for me .... i never liked kang ji hwan

i really wanted lee jun ki in this one.

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Anonymous

November 10, 2010 at 6:32 AM

Same here bad news for me too, never liked KJH, to me he's just a so so actor. Man aged slowly but in KJH case is not, he looks older than this real age.

Lee Jun Ki >3, misses you!

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Jane

November 10, 2010 at 8:38 AM

I think he's a great actor but I do agree that he sometimes does look older than his age. Which makes me wonder if he's like JaeBin from Last Scandal Of My Life (he pretended to be 32 even though he was really 39). lol... that would be hilarious if it's true.

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mariah

November 10, 2010 at 9:02 AM

hehe, he is 33 n I don't think he looks like a 40 years old man. Of course he doesnt have a baby face. I'm not in love with him but I can't deny his talent.

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poo

November 10, 2010 at 9:09 PM

Yeah me too...never was a fan of Kang Ji Hwan...nooooo Lee JUn Ki Come BAck!!!!
Bad BAd Bad News! :(

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9 badtanline

November 10, 2010 at 5:35 AM

woot woot!

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10

November 10, 2010 at 5:43 AM

This is the best news since the announcement of Kim Kang Woo in Poseidon! I love Kang Ji Hwan... he holds a special place in my heart!

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gala

November 10, 2010 at 12:14 PM

too bad dark clouds took over due to *some* of the casting in Poseidon. i wanna watch the awesomeness of KKW and i dont mind Eric, but adding Yunho to the mix just simply put a bitter taste in my mouth.

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danna

November 10, 2010 at 12:42 PM

i couldnt agree more....HTTG is not a drama i remember on good terms....hopefully he would have improved....he seemed ok in haru..or at least in what little of him i saw there

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11 corrakun

November 10, 2010 at 5:57 AM

five years later and kim hee sun is as adorable as ever ♥

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12 absothe

November 10, 2010 at 5:58 AM

...Forgot what you were saying..Phillip Lee has such a pretty face...Continues to stare at his face...

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13 langdon813

November 10, 2010 at 6:13 AM

SOLD. I am SO in.

*cue banshee squeeing*

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14 pohonphee

November 10, 2010 at 6:34 AM

Oooo Kang Ji-hwan in Kdrama land again, YAY!!

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15 supah

November 10, 2010 at 7:01 AM

OMG!! Sandglass PD, historical drama, Choi MIn-soo, and a possibility of Park Sang-won joining too and now Kang Ji-hwan,too? Heaven!

I don't mind Kim Hee-sun, she was annoying in Tomato but that was a long time ago. Heard she was also in Sad Story Sadder that Sadness. Lulz.

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16 mona

November 10, 2010 at 7:05 AM

i kept refreshing the page today,
just to confirm this news,

thank you so so much javabeans ^^
i'm so looking forward to this one

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17 Precious

November 10, 2010 at 7:21 AM

Thank God, I though I was going to have to keep rewatching Coffee House and the happy episodes of Hong Gil Dong to get my fix.

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18 cathy

November 10, 2010 at 7:24 AM

love KJH , such a talented actor , for me this is a good news.

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19 momosan

November 10, 2010 at 7:38 AM

Doing the happy dance!

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20 Kim

November 10, 2010 at 7:47 AM

Aaahhh!!! Squeal.

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21 Diana Hansen

November 10, 2010 at 7:51 AM

count me in! i am so watching this! squeal!

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22 602pyk

November 10, 2010 at 7:52 AM

sorry, but title is nit FAITH.
it means doctor of god ( great doctor )

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23 Sophia JiHye

November 10, 2010 at 8:10 AM

this is a GREAT, WONDERFUL news!
I'm really happy for my favorite star, JiHwan.

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24 Han Mania

November 10, 2010 at 8:27 AM

Excited for another Kang Ji Hwan fix!

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25 jinkzz

November 10, 2010 at 8:31 AM

Whoa...this is a wonderful surprise....I was just thinking yesterday that it would be great to see Ji Hwan in another drama and...Bam! So looking forward to this... ummm, i hope it will air in early 2011.

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26 yen_nguyen

November 10, 2010 at 9:03 AM

Kim hee sun? She's just so pretty, however, she never left any special in me.

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27

November 10, 2010 at 9:50 AM

"I’m currently making a sound right now that can only be heard by dogs and small animals, such is my surprise and excitement."
actuall JB, I could hear you in my head as i was reading the title.... actually not even the whole title...just the first thre words
whenLee Jun Ki dropped i thought they wouldnt find a better replacement...but not only did they find one...but a whole lot wonderful one at that....i think Kang Ji Hwan is a better match for Kim hee sun too
looks like i'll be seeing a lot of Lee Philip in the upcomong drama seasons

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28 oh! tht! chick!

November 10, 2010 at 10:07 AM

oh i pretty much made the same sound JB did but it was for KSS! never fear jb im not one to poach your men ( though not for lack of tryin :P ) !! KSS omo omo such a HAWTIE!! this drama is gonna be the death of me!!if its a KSS vs KJH situation i will absolutely not know what to do *ahem KSS ahem KJH ahem KSSKJH DIES*!!

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29 YM

November 10, 2010 at 11:10 AM

Yay! I'm actually glad that Lee Jun Ki is not going to be pairing up with KHS. I like this pairing much more. I feel KJH is a much better actor and can pull me into the show more!

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30 Moony

November 10, 2010 at 11:13 AM

EEEE! Kang Ji Hwan!!

Lee Jun Ki who? xD

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31 GrandmaFran

November 10, 2010 at 11:18 AM

ummm i'm excited about kim seung soo! he was awesome in I am Legend as the bastard ex-husband who you were suppose to hate but ended up loving instead. yay!

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32 Jenju

November 10, 2010 at 11:54 AM

Yes!! YEs!! YES!!!!

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33 hjkomo

November 10, 2010 at 12:41 PM

I heard the sound! You saying I'm a small animal??? :P

Kang! Ji! Hwan! :D
Not thrilled about KHS, but oh well...

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Javabeans

November 10, 2010 at 12:47 PM

...or the other thing.

I KID, I KID!

(but you totally set yourself up for it...!)

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hjkomo

November 10, 2010 at 6:00 PM

I sure did, didn't I...멍멍! :lol:

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34 Cam

November 10, 2010 at 3:25 PM

Oooh, I really enjoy watched him in that drama "Coffee House" -- but it was very amusing and fun, heh!

(Especially for him as a GREAT actor in that movie "Rough Cut" with So Ji Sub -- that's HOT, ofc!)

Wow, I hadn't seen Kim Hee Sun in any drama nor movie since for a long time, but I am not fan of Kim Hee Sun, yup.

(aw, I really missssssss my best favorite actor Lee Jun Ki sooo much) =( =(

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35 crazedlu

November 10, 2010 at 3:29 PM

not my taste either, but i love myself some kang jihwan, so i'm in!!

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36 Endroine

November 10, 2010 at 3:54 PM

I was ~somewhat~ curious about this article, skipped trough it and found a picture of Philip Lee D: no idea who this guy is but daaaaaaayum hes kinda hot in that pic xD

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37 ar_arguably romantic

November 10, 2010 at 4:07 PM

this drama already sounds awesome, but with KJH in it, it's going to be epic!

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38 Hanjanman

November 10, 2010 at 5:16 PM

KANG JI HWAN ON 3D?!?! Imagine a close up shot of him doing a pouty kissy face. Lord knows what I'll do to my television screen!

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39

November 10, 2010 at 5:30 PM

Why is it that just looking at him.. I can remember his antics in the Coffee House and the subsequent ending that didn't satisfy me.. I don't dislike him but I don't seem to like him either..hmm..

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40 Miki

November 10, 2010 at 6:49 PM

No one can replace Lee Jun Ki...*sigh*
I am not a fan of Kang Ji Hwan, but I is still worth watching because of Philip Lee xd

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41 gia

November 10, 2010 at 8:58 PM

bring me back a hong gil dong mood

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42 eka wachyu

November 11, 2010 at 3:49 AM

like ji hwan ... since he played in Firework, 99 days, hong gil dong and the last in the Coffee Shop ... I'm looking forward to his work ... I want to see how far he can progress further .... fighting Ji Hwan