Kim Ok-bin and Lee Hee-joon pair in new JTBC drama

20 April 8, 2014April 8, 2017

by javabeans

JTBC is planning their next Monday-Tuesday drama offering, Yoo-na’s Street, and Kim Ok-bin (Sword and Flower, Thirst) has been cast as the lead, Kang Yoo-na. She’ll star opposite Lee Hee-joon—aw, I like him. (His most recent dramas are God of the Office and Jeon Woo-chi, but it was You Who Rolled In Unexpectedly that was his big break.)

The drama sounds has an interesting setup: Lee Hee-joon plays a character who joins a multiplex house where “extremely delinquent” people live, and he helps recover their “lost consciences” for them and also saves the woman he loves (Kim Ok-bin) from “a swamp of crime.”

Kim Ok-bin’s character Yoo-na is the daughter of a legendary pickpocket and is a former member of a crime organization with three pickpocketing convictions on her record. After her release from prison, she gets a job working at a friendly unni’s cafe. Despite being rough around the edges, she’s got a warm heart and doesn’t hate people very easily. One theme of the drama will be that “life isn’t about chasing wealth and fame, but how kindly one can live”—so I’m expecting warm and thoughtful, with maybe some humor? Granted JTBC shows don’t tend to prioritize humor, but I’d love if they made an exception for this one.

In her career thus far Kim Ok-bin has been alternately really good and rather bland, so I know she’s capable of putting in good performances but not always sure when that’s going to happen. I do generally like her in the right role (Sword and Flower was NOT the right role), though, and Lee Hee-joon is an actor with a lot of charm, whether he’s playing doofy or villainous, so I’ll cross my fingers for good things. The premise sounds like it’s just asking for a ton of colorful characters, and I can see this drama having a quirky appeal. (I do think it’ll all be dependent on tone in the end, but I’m willing to wait and see.)

Directing Yoo-na’s Street is PD Im Tae-woo of Dandelion Family and The Duo, while Kim Woon-kyung is the writer, having previously written Seoul Moon and The Duo. The drama follows Secret Love Affair and will premiere in May.

Via Max Movie

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1 shisuisen

April 8, 2014 at 4:10 AM

I have a soft spot for Lee Hee Joon and the drama sounds interesting enough for me~ Shall check this out when it starts airing.

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Rashell

April 8, 2014 at 8:40 AM

Me too! He was my favorite in Unexpected You. I love him when he plays the sweet guy which it sounds like we'll be getting here.

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2 mary

April 8, 2014 at 4:18 AM

I didn't get him at all in Jeon Woo Chi but when I watched Unexpected You (a bit late, yes hehe) he was so adorkable there! :DDDD

Gonna keep an eye out for this drama. Hope it's as fun as Unexpected You. :)

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3 Quiet Thought

April 8, 2014 at 4:21 AM

After that steaming slough of stagnant sewage that was 'Sword and Flower,' Kim Ok-bin could use a break. She should remind the writer that she knows how to use a sword and other sharp implements.

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mary

April 8, 2014 at 4:57 AM

*giggling* you're on a roll with your comments today :D

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4 Alex

April 8, 2014 at 5:24 AM

Lee Hee-joon always looks *so much* like Sulu to me.

Any other classic Trekkers around? ;-)

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5 Alex

April 8, 2014 at 5:25 AM

Lee Hee-joon always looks so much like Sulu to me. :-)

Any other classic Trekkers around...?

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6 kanz

April 8, 2014 at 5:28 AM

One theme of the drama will be that “life isn’t about chasing wealth and fame, but how kindly one can live”.
I believe every kdrama also has the same message, that your life is messed up if you're rich and one has to be kind all the time to all people no matter how people treat you...

I love Kim Ok Bin on her film with Lee Jung Jae, Accidental Gangster and Mistaken Courtesan. That film is so funny so I believe Kim Ok Bin can pull off humor, if there's any humor. Lee Hee Joon is so cute in Queen of Office. This sounds promising

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Coolrepublica

April 8, 2014 at 5:36 AM

What kdramas have you been watching?. Lol give us a list.

From kdramas I learned that rich guys always get the girl especially if they are kind do a prick. Lol

But your kdrama watching list sound way more interesting than mine.

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7 captaincrunch

April 8, 2014 at 6:06 AM

Idk, personally I found her performance in B&P good. I like her alot, and this sounds interesting (the team is good too, I've heard excellent things about The Duo).

JTBC are probably my favourite channel, they've been churning out consistently good content for the past few years (apart from things like Her Legend and their terrible dailies). Sounds promising.

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girlatsea

April 8, 2014 at 8:26 AM

I agree, I liked her in Blade & Petal. Her and Choi Min-soo (of course) were the best parts of that mess. I'm still bitter about that drama to be honest, so much wasted potential.

Loving JTBC right now, really enjoying Secret Love Affair and Wild Chives and Soybean Soup. I'm just realizing that I'm not really watching any major network dramas at the moment (although God's Gift & now Hotel King are definitely on the list!)

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8 redfox

April 8, 2014 at 7:23 AM

her dress looks like meat...

I don´t think I am familiar with either actor. His role seems like male Yankumi/Na Bo Ri. Seems like this sort of role is usually a womens´ role. Raising and taming a delinquent.

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9 Abbie

April 8, 2014 at 7:53 AM

I like him. Not sure about her. Still, it sounds interesting.

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10 canxi

April 8, 2014 at 9:01 AM

Sounds good! I hope it goes for quirky.

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11 windsun33

April 8, 2014 at 12:20 PM

"... she’s got a warm heart ..."

Hm... you just described every candy heroine in k-drama history since about 1902.

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12 kngdrama

April 8, 2014 at 5:58 PM

She was so bland in Blade and Flower, one facial expression, unmoving, staring ahead.

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JT

April 9, 2014 at 9:10 AM

I thought she did a pretty good job there. The heart-wrenching scenes when Uhm Tae Woong's character was in jail or supposedly dead, and also the rare moments when they were being cute together.

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13 Jyyjc

April 8, 2014 at 7:20 PM

I've only seen her when she's bland.

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14 sabelita

April 9, 2014 at 2:23 PM

He is a good actor I have seen him in
WILD Romance doing a half-envious paparazzi who turns to be better ate the end,
In Conspiracy in the court a traitor
In the Queen of the office he was a sweetest guy in the place and He was fantastic in all of them so BRAVO JTBC

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15 byuldreamer

April 9, 2014 at 5:07 PM

this is DEFINITELY going on my TOWATCH list. please please have humour though. reminds me of one of my first drama love's - Bad Family. How I love that drama still.

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Yoo-na’s Street