Lee Jung-jin makes cameo for tvN's Basketball » Dramabeans Korean drama recaps

29 June 28, 2013June 27, 2013

Lee Jung-jin makes cameo for tvN’s Basketball

by javabeans

It’s only a cameo, but here’s another reason (in a growing list of rather compelling ones) to watch out for tvN’s upcoming period drama Basketball, with Lee Jung-jin slated to make a guest appearance.

Basketball is set against the complex and compelling backdrop of 1930s and 1940s Korea, during the twilight of the Japanese occupation. That encompasses the independence movement, as well as smaller narrative threads as our main characters become part of the 1948 Korean basketball team that made it to the quarterfinals of the Olympics (the first and only time Korea sent a united team). Korea gained its independence in 1945 and went to war in 1950, so the drama has a lot of turbulent history and rich conflict to work with.

Lee Jung-jin’s connection to the show comes through director Kwak Jung-hwan, who directed him in 2010’s jet-setting action drama Runaway Plan B, which was a drama that lacked in many areas but which I still found compulsively watching, mostly because Lee Jung-jin would come onscreen and I would forget to think. He was pretty goddamned sexy in that, and I don’t even know why — the show was chock-full of good-lookin’ stars other than him — but sometimes you don’t question the chemistry.

Lee Jung-jin is just coming off a weekend series, Hundred Year Inheritance, which had a fairly strong viewership despite going crazy in any and all narrative ways. Good for it, I guess? He explained that PD Kwak had made the request a while ago, so while they hadn’t kept in touch recently, he agreed to the shoot and is heading down to film the spot this weekend. (Given that Basketball plans to pre-produce a good portion of its material and won’t air till September, I’m encouraged to know that they’re filming well in advance.)

After filming the guest spot, Lee Jung-jin will head to the Philippines on July 1 for a post-drama vacation. Stalk— er, fans, take note!

Via TV Report

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Tags: Lee Jung-jin

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1 Leona

June 28, 2013 at 4:09 AM

Hmm overloaded schedule.... LJJ take a break
I didn't know that this drama started the filming

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2 hawoojinruinedme

June 28, 2013 at 4:10 AM

LEE! JUNG! JIN! IN THE PHILIPPINES!!! THANKS FOR THE TIP! NOW I KNOW WHAT I WILL DO NEXT WEEK.

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panda

June 28, 2013 at 4:34 AM

I actually laughed out loud.

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ck1Oz

June 28, 2013 at 4:53 AM

:-) Gee, you're eager. Go for it and post some photos.

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3 Nahla JW

June 28, 2013 at 4:12 AM

Lee jung jin ♥_♥ despite all crap in HYI I liked him with Eugene they look cute together

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Jossy

June 28, 2013 at 4:33 AM

This. I feel like that drama robbed me hours of my life, okay I watched up until ep 25 or so then read about the rest, it would've been a pretty good drama at 20-24eps heck max 30eps but 50? Bleh. I only felt compelled to find out about the end because LJJ is such a babe! And he and Eugene are cute together. Time is precious people TT

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TG

June 28, 2013 at 6:42 AM

Totally agree. It was pretty awful. I would watch on fast forward, so spent about 10 minutes an episode. Pretty much cut out everything that had to do with her ex husband and family, and everything that had to do with the boring relationships of the other siblings in the family.

I loved Lee Jung Jun in 9 Ends 2 Outs, but I didn't like him in HYI. The kissing scene was so awkward. It was kind of embarrassing to watch actually.

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parksedul

June 28, 2013 at 9:34 AM

I quit at episode 25 as well

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dorisp

June 30, 2013 at 6:35 PM

me too...also stopped at ep25...maybe becoz that's where the noble idiocy begins??....though on my part I stopped at ep25 and waited for the last episode to come just to take a peek of what will the ending be before I'll be able to decide whether its worth spending another 25hrs....the verdict? LJJ is way too hot for me to stay away from so I guess just have to sleep 1 hour less for the next few days lol!....

4 blassst

June 28, 2013 at 4:15 AM

oh may god.. july is busy but nooooooooooooooooo .. i'll stalk him all i could ..

bwahahahaha .. deadlines be dammed!

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5 snow_white

June 28, 2013 at 4:26 AM

Loved him in Fugitive Plan B and 9 End 2 Outs....so yay for the news :)

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6 gaeinalee

June 28, 2013 at 6:11 AM

I LOL and nodded so vigorously at this:

..mostly because Lee Jung-jin would come onscreen and I would forget to think..

and this,

..He was pretty goddamned sexy in that, and I don’t even know why..

- So true! ◕◡◕

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7 Cynthia

June 28, 2013 at 6:25 AM

I've always enjoyed watching him in his various projects with the one exception of Pieta (reviewed here on DB just a little while ago). I always wonder how some actors can tackle such dark subject matter.

He did a really good job in this last family drama of a Hundred years noodle factory considering what a total crack fest it was. I admit that I enjoyed every hour that I spent with this family drama, it was that good, in large part due to Mr Sexy dominating every scene he was in.

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8 Dramafed1782

June 28, 2013 at 7:22 AM

Oh gosssshhhhh!!!!!!! Dramaworld is gonna kill me!!!!! First on my list is Empire of Gold, then Good Doctor and now how am I gonna make time for this drama???!!!!! I think Korean drama storytelling is more vibrant and novel than the Korean movies. There is just so much variety coming these days in dramas. But a girl has gotta do what she gotta do :D

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9 phjfever

June 28, 2013 at 7:40 AM

wished it wasn't just a cameo, i luv him since LSinH drama! oh i envy those fans in Phil they'll get to see him, i'm sure he's heading to one of the nicest beaches, Boracay! that's just a couple of days away, July 1st, woah i'm jealous Philippines!

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dorisp

June 30, 2013 at 6:50 PM

hmmm....i suspect too that's where he is headed or maybe if he opt for a more secluded part, Palawan? somewhere in El Nido??.....but then I read before that he also went to slum areas in the Philippines particularly Tondo area to do volunteer work (just forgot the name of that famous NGO about housing for the poor where he do the volunteer work)....

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10 nheony

June 28, 2013 at 9:47 AM

You know what I don't get is whenever Korean actors go to Philippines is when I'm here in San Diego stuck watching them on TV. Why why why!!?? Then when I go there on vacation I get NOTHING!!!

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11 Quiet Thought

June 28, 2013 at 9:52 AM

The only REAL character in Runaway Plan B. If he'd been in the lead instead of the Flower Boy, that series would have been fit for grown-ups.

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12 gnel07

June 28, 2013 at 10:49 AM

so it's going to be raining korean men in the philippines this coming july! july 1st is lee jung jin oppa and on july 6 its lee min ho! that is why it's more fun in the philippines!:)

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13 Mar

June 28, 2013 at 10:55 AM

I watched Runaway Plan B just to watch him and Rain run like crazy people and fight.

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Quiet Thought

June 28, 2013 at 12:33 PM

I was surprised to learn after watching RPB that Rain had done some decent work after becoming an actor. The shallow character he played made him look like he'd just wandered in from singing to school girls. And, of course, whenever Lee jung Jin is on screen, radiating working class machismo, Rain looked even more like a teen-idol.

I did get through most Runaway Plan B, and it was easy to see why it had money problems. That was caused by Sung Dong-il chewing the scenery to the floorboards every time he got in front of the camera. Between him and the other character actors hamming it up, they busted the production budget.

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14 Anvesha

June 28, 2013 at 11:00 AM

So this is different from the Answer me sequel? I almost got confused..

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15 Jo

June 28, 2013 at 2:09 PM

This drama and its historical context sounds gravely heartBREAKINGGGGGg

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16 PollyRose

June 28, 2013 at 3:00 PM

Aww Lee Jung Jin! I LOVED him in 9 Ends 2 Outs! It makes me happy every time I see him, even if it's for something I'm not likely to watch (like HYI).

On the fence about this drama, not sure what the tone is going to be for it (ie just how serious, dramatic, underdoggy it will be), but I think it could be good. Maybe I'll check it out.

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17 LindeBe

June 28, 2013 at 7:22 PM

lee jung jin going to the Philippines? l think I need to go home and be with my man jung jin. lee Minho too? OMG!

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18 nozomi

June 28, 2013 at 9:37 PM

Where in the Philippines is he going? I'll go there!!!!

I just love this man especially after I watched 9 ends and 2 outs.

I wouldn't mind stalking him!

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19 anon

June 29, 2013 at 12:56 AM

what is the song playing during the kiss scene?

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20 Net-chan

June 29, 2013 at 5:43 AM

Gyaaah. Lee Jung Jin will cameo, which is reason enough to watch the entire drama ;p.

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21 Kay

June 29, 2013 at 6:49 AM

9 Ends 2 Outs will always be my fav drama of his....it was super funny and cute and ofcourse he just looked so damn hot!

I quit Hundred Years Inheritance after I couldn't stand that horrendous mother in law anymore, not to mention Eugene's role was almost like a prop....really annoying

Looking forward to this drama, I love sports themes especially when theres underdog tones involved

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