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Kang Ji-hwan, Moon Geun-young courted for new drama Home Alone

Good news: Kang Ji-hwan (Big Man) and Moon Geun-young (Goddess of Fire Jung-yi) may be teaming up for a new drama! Aw, I’ve missed them in good dramas!

Less good news news: The drama comes from writer Kim Do-hyun of tvN’s weirdly mishmashed rom-com-murder drama My Secret Hotel, and is produced by Dream E&M, which did the absurd weekend makjang King’s Family and the heart-transplant melodrama My Spring Days.

But on the upside: Directing is Lee Jung-seob, the PD of Healer. Whee!

But maybe less of an upside: Let’s take a look at that plot. Titled Home Alone, the drama is about a man who loses his family, moves to the U.S., and finds success there as a businessman. He then returns to Korea, where he ends up falling for the woman who takes care of his home and beloved dog. Anybody else get She’s So Lovable twitches just now? I suppose that drama could have been more painful if it hadn’t been so darned boring, though that’s hardly a silver lining.

According to a source at KBS, Moon Geun-young was offered the lead role and showed “a positive reaction” to the script, and is in the negotiation phase. Kang Ji-hwan is also reportedly “positively considering” the role and is discussing scheduling arrangements for the drama. It looks like Moon’s agency-mate Jeon Hye-bin (Joseon Gunman) may be taking a role as well.

I’m pretty torn about this news, because I’m always rooting for Kang Ji-hwan and Moon Geun-young to pick better projects but bummed when their dramas turn out mediocre—I like both actors, but not enough to sit through bad dramas. (They’ve had a bad string of choices, what with the lackluster Big Man, Incarnation of Money, Goddess of Fire Jung-yi, and Alice in Cheongdam-dong.) And My Secret Hotel… oy. Not a writer I want to follow… except then there’s Healer, which won me over completely. So many contradictory feelings!

Well, I expect we’ll be hearing follow-ups come out in the coming days, so we’ll have to see what else comes to light. Home Alone is looking to broadcast in mid-October, following Taming Mother-in-Law.

Via TV Report, Munhwa

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Omgoodness!!!! Please make this happen ASAP...LIKE YESTERDAYS'S ASAP:)

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The Secret Hotel is not that bad compared to She's so Lovely. It has some moments which were really good, what was wrong with it? The ending was ok, it was concluded nicely so ...

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I'm like you and didn't find MSH off putting. But I gave up on it a few episodes before it ended. Don't remember the specifics, but usually I do that when the characters' actions/choices stop making sense.

I'm one of the small minority that watched SSL to the end. The shortcomings of idol acting is obscured if you don't speak the language. (I had been planning to learn Korean so I didn't need to rely on subs, but the consensus about the acting in SSL was the thing that made me put those plans on hold.).

And I tend to prefer dramas where the plot is redemptive and undergirded by the characters working out their inner issues. I'd much rather have that than the conflicts be driven by (at best) misunderstandings or (at worst) something utterly unexplainable.

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The reason SSL appealed to me was that it made satisfying progress each episode in the uncovering, exploration and resolution of the inner conflicts that were at the root of the OTP relationship barriers. My main complaint about that drama was the unexplainably meddlesome second female lead.

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I totally agree

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I hope its good too , thanks for the resume can't wait for this duet

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Alice in Cheongdam-dong is a GOOD and successful drama for Moon Geun Young. It's nice that PD of Healer will direct this drama. Why didn't he invite Ji Chang Wook? I want to see him in a drama soon.

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I think Alice in Cheongdamdong was good in the beginning and had lots of potential. But the last few episodes were horrible which really made the momentum fizzle out.

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I really miss Kang Ji Hwan. And, in my opinion, Wang's Family was great, Incarnation of Money also extremelly good. Both of those dramas are in my top 10 dramas in 2013.

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the writer/director combo is giving me serious confused feelings, because on the one hand, healer, but on the other... my secret hotel

but moon geun-young &kang ji-hwan might just tip the scale, even if the plot sounds less than inspired. gah. can someone else write it pls :|

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Though you're right about MSC, let's not forget the project switched writers after the first 4 episodes; the second writer wasn't even given the luxury of rewriting the whole drama from the begining but just unfolded the story of the first one who died or got seriously ill (I'm sorry, I can't remember what exactly happened).
Besides, I've seen writers with rather mediocre resumes improve from drama to drama and vice versa (e.g. the same writer gave us the magnificent TBDW and the dull Dr. Jin, not to mention the recent and horrible, as far as I'm concerned, Temptation)
So, it's not over until the fat lady sings - and, in our case, until the drama airs on our screens, right?:-)

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i don't think the writer is a problem here...Heirs was sucks anyway...and glad to watch KJH-MGY make a comeback..

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I think something is wrong with this sentence: " I suppose that drama could have been more painful if it hadn’t been so darned boring, ......."
Shouldn't it be less painful?

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I'd say the point is that yawning is painless; frustration over senseless plots and/or characters is another matter :-p

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I think it's better to know the general consensus about a drama before putting it in a 'bad choice' and 'lacklustre' category, even if you haven't seen that show.

I'm talking about Incarnation Of Money, which was such a good drama and rating wise or international fandom wise, it was a success as well.

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I suppose the term success can be used in contradictory ways. Ratings wise, Incarnation was disappointing -- I recall reading a lot of headlines about how numbers were down, despite reviews. I'd love for them to be in dramas that are both good and successful, really.

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Of course you must be knowing better than I do but the average rating was 15.4 % and from what I gather the ratings throughout were pretty decent.

http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Incarnation_of_Money/Episode_Ratings

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That's a pretty good rating for a 2013 drama.

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In a year when there were so many weekday miniseries dramas either broke 20, or was very close to doing so (like IHYV, GFB, GD, Heirs, YFAS to name a few), 15 percent in the weekend is definitely disappointing. 2013 was before the major ratings slump, so I can't see how IOM would be considered a ratings hit or even a commercial hit when even its Seoul ratings never reached 20 - in either TNMS or AGB) even if it aired in the weekends.

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Shouldn't we always consider how the previous and the next project did ratings-wise in a particular time slot and on a particular day in order to reach to a more objective conclusion? I'm not an expert but I think Statistics is a quite accurate science in which facts follow certain rules . I'm not sure if we are allowed to add up every drama and every single day of the week ignoring those factors.
Besides, an average of 15% in 2013 could be very well considered as a fine 7-9% of 2015. I can think, at least, of some critically acclaimed (and widely accepted) dramas with that average in ratings, especially in weekdays. The fact that SBS' weekend zone is under some wicked spell for years is another story...:-)

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You're free to consider it, but I don't and won't. Because a good drama doesn't need a push - it will increase its numbers by itself the way IHYV and Secret did that year for example. Also, competitions differ at different times so the most logical way (IMO) of determining if a drama is a ratings hit is comparing it with how the rest of the pack did at that given year. No one here is ignoring "certain rules". It's a statistic that's very clear cut. In 2013, 15 percent for weekends is not what is deemed a hit for miniseries. I don't consider 15% being equal to 7-9% but even then, that's still not a 'hit' today because breaking double digits would be.

Critically acclaimed doesn't mean high rated. Like Empire of Gold that year which was amazing but low rated nationwide and in Seoul. IOM was neither critically acclaimed nor a ratings hit. Statistics and reviews from the Korean media will prove that.

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@Mandy, wow! I'm surprised that you "won't" and "don't" consider Statistics and scientific facts. Of course, it's your prerogative to ignore a whole science as I'm free to study the undeniable facts and try to understand as objectively as possible.
Anyway, an average 7-9% in 2015 is a good "indicator" ratings-wise and I insist on my opinion that some popular dramas (especially in blogs of international viewers) had these kind of ratings this year- and the year's not over yet. As for the comparison between every drama of every time slot of all the 52 weeks, regardless the genre and the competition, sounds a bit mumbo-jumbo and not very logical either. Peace out^^

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To be honest, I didn't hate My Secret Hotel at all, and I was more disappointed the characters didn't go in the direction I would have thought for that premise. On the other hand, I was pretty meh over Healer though I guess that wasn't really at the fault of the PD.

I also haven't watched She's So Lovable so all this is a recipe to give this one a shot if these two sign on, lol.

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Yeah, Healer was enjoyable but way overrated (those last few episodes were extremely disappointing), but it wasn't the PDs fault.

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I'm just happy for their comeback if they signed , Moonie miss you $$

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Yay so happy Moon Geun Young will be coming back to dramaland =)

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Hoaaam experience told to not excited (even overexcited) about drama casting. Especially if it comes to the actors/actresses that I like T_T

But why the title is "Home Alone“? It's a famous Christmas Movie LOL

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everybody have different definition in good drama, for me as long as the story is strong could make me keep seeing the next episode ,the story is originall n the acting is good that is good drama, the rating doesn't matter. many good drama have mediocre rating because the story is't everyone taste. i like both lead that enought to make check it, the rest it depend on the story

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As much as I like them both, I think the pairing is off. He's too old for her!

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He's 38. She's 28.

That doesn't seem bad at all.

I'd agree with you if she were like 22. Or he was like 48.

Oh, and btw, people, this is an example of people saying the guy is too old for the girl, and yet the age gap seems reasonable, unlike say a high schooler who is in his teens being with a 35+ mom....

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It's how you look at it. As one gets older, the gap seems to matter less. But if you think about it, when he was 10 she was just born. And when she was 18, he was 28. I'm sure there are many parents out there who wouldn't want their 18 yr old teen dating a 28 yr old.
Again, I think he's rather old for her but you're entitled to your opinion.

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He's not 28, and she's not 18.

If they were, I'd agree with you, the age gap is too large.

It's quite different as people age.

I could just as easily it's different because when he turns 48, she'll 38.

Then, a 10 year age gap, is pretty insignificant.

While somewhat largish at this point, 38 to 28 is no where near as significant as 28 to 18.

Part of it is life experience. You don't change as much after 28 vs. 18. Your life/values stay pretty similar because the most significant changes have occurred (university, start of dating, drinking, working- in this case taking on starring roles, etc.). There just aren't that significant changes you'll have after 28. The only real one is parenthood and that's only going to change because you're likely in a relationship, but will usually NOT be a change that will be that drastic like when you're 18.

Let me guess, I'm pretty sure you're younger than 28. Correct?

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I guess I'm one of the few out there who really, really liked Big Man (horrible title aside). Jung So Min was adorably obnoxious, Daniel Choi made a spine-chilling villain, and Kang Ji Hwan's earnestness and vulnerability drew me in from the very beginning. Plus especially in the first half, the pacing and suspense were just right and kept me hooked. If you're wondering about this drama, give it a chance!

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Count me among the few Kara. Big Man was so good
and I enjoyed Incarnation of Money! Korean drama has something for everyone.

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both actors are fugly!

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If you think they are fugly, then I am way super fugly then. Kang Ji Hwan and Moon Geun Young, in my opinion, are beautiful people. I envy their looks.

As for this drama, I'm happy that they are considering a drama comeback but the synopsis is terrible and boring. I'm conflicted.

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In comparison to whom? Please elaborate...Some might agree with you and some might disagree furiously. Either way, 4 mere words sound more as an insult and less than a personal opinion. I believe this particular blog hosts people with above average IQ plus manners, so comments like these belong by far to sites like AKP, don't you think?

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Dont feed the trolls.

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Oh, I have hardly noticed any troll in DB lately...There's no blog secure enough nowadays,I guess. That's a disturbing fact, @Kiara :-(

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We have been good at ignoring them :).

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FUC-kLY Yourself lol Not waste your time to hate , life is short and enjoy everyday ok??

I actually don't care who acts with Moon,I miss watching moonie acting again ; She's my ultimate idol ever with Ha Ji Won ,Yoon Eun Hye, Goon Hyo Jin !I wanna see her again on tv ,Can't wait for this!!im super excited and I hope they will be having a great chemistry on screen.. Just hope this time a good story line drama..

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aww they aren't plastic and perfect looking enough for you?

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And I was just waiting for a news for MGY to comeback Hahahaha

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Not a fan of Moon, but the rest is what is actually worrying. Come to cable, darling. We'll treat you well. Let's see how things go anyway. I will follow. Blindly, like a migrating lemming. Because darling.

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I am thrilled with the possibility of Ji Hwan and Geun Young comeback... and the possibility of them working together in one drama. I have never really thought of their pairing in a drama before. Now that I have read this post, I am warming up to the pairing and cannot wait to see them together.

I do agree with Javabeans though...both have made not so stellar drama choices in the past. It is no secret that I am crazy over and a huge fan of KJH but I wasn't really much of a fan of both Big Man and Incarnation of Money. I have long wished and pray for KJH to star in a drama that is not only good but also successful ratings-wise.

KJH Hwaiting!!!!

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Didn't plan to comment initially. But you just had to mention Healer, didn't you! Lol
Love the two actors.
Aah, and there will be a dog! Barashi please! Miss that dog :-D

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:D Hi @pastmidnite

Yup the mention of Healer got me too!!!

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Yeah Pastmidnite(and @GB!) the magic word is HEALER. I love these actors, but I'm going to love the drama for LEE JUNG-SEOB. And for that I'd like to believe that the writer had bad luck with MSH.

;-) *waves*

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Hope MGY decline. The premise isn't doing it for me (it's meh and definitely not lovable--pun intended). She really deserves good drama as her comeback.

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I vehemently dislike sageuks but I actually watched Painter of the Wind twice because of Moon Geun Young. Only a handful of actresses can get me to check out a drama with no questions asked.... Yoon Eun Hye, Moon Geun Young, Ha Ji Won, Kim Sun Ah and Gong Hyo Jin.

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I read somewhere there were rumors about Moon Chae Won courted for the role. I was excited by the news but Moon Geun Young is also fine for me :)

My problem is Kang Ji Hwan. I really have nothing against him it's just that i never felt anything special for him either. And the pairing seems a bit odd for me

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I like Kang Ji Hwan but he moves around (his head especially) too much when he acts. It's distracting. Must be because of his musical background.

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If she signs on, she's in for some wet, passionate ummm... kisses. Kang Ji Hwan gets really "involved" in his kisses. I remember when Cinderella's Sister came out the big news was that Moon Chaewon would have her first on-screen kiss.
Not sure how Korea will handle him doing that to the nation's little sister!

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I'm conflicted. They both are a great actors and I miss Moonie on my screen twice a week.. But the premise is meh, the writer is unknown and MSH is boring.
I don't think I could take another flop project with Moonie. She has had enough of bad luck with dramas.

And if she does accept, I'll pray really hard the drama won't suck.

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My Spring Days was a good drama though ...

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I agree. MSD really has a simple plot but it was fun to watch. The pairing between the two leads did'nt seem odd at all for me.

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I liked my Secret Hotel so I'm cool with the writer. The premise as it is now doesn't sound that thrilling and I'm no a fan of KJH, but I really want to see MGY in a new project. So if it happens I'm most certainly going to watch it. If MGY signs on I hope it's a hit, she doesn't need another flop project on her list. Fighting !!

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Me too. Have mixed feelings about this. I so want to see her back on screen though...

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IMO, KJH is an actor who could bring out the best of emotions in any character he plays. MGY, fighting too! Hope this drama goes through as I really miss KJH in dramas like right now...

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LOL! JB Reading your article gave me a see-saw feels - good that its these actors, not so good for another reason, etc etc up and down ... but the PD of Healer??? Now that does get me interested.

I've liked Kang Ji Hwan and Moon Geun Yeong separately. It will be interesting to see them together. If only the writer will not try to do whatever he was trying to do with My Secret Hotel, we may have a good show! :D

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LOL @GB
Yup! I think we're commenting for, or should I say because of, tthe exact same reason :-D

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I'm looking forward to Moon's comeback but not too excited to have KJH as her co-star. The pairing is kinda off...wish it was someone closer to her age. He looks more like her uncle.

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Seems like KBS is finally grabbing onto big name stars after sinking in rating for prime time compared to MBC and SBS. Moon GeunYoung, Kang Ji Hwan on pairing is still unconfirmed. It's more important that the script writer is good than the castings nowadays.Legendary example of crappy script is Hyde, Jekyll and Me.
Casting in DISCUSSION therefore UNCERTAIN
I'm still waiting for KJH Oppa and see that it will make a drama with the cute and talented Moon Geun Young,
I'm still starting lineup, hope to that the script does not spoil everything ,erff !

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I like Kang Ji Hwan and think he can do a very good job as can Moon GeunYoung. It is all about the script and director and I am hoping they can delivery something good. I'll give this a watch if the actors sign on...the story is not grabbing me but the actors are.

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Anything with Moon Geun Young, Moon Chae-Won, Park Bo-young will get me interested in checking it out. I'm even more excited with the addition of Jeon Hye-bin. Fantastic 2nd lead scene stealer. I'really like the manly Kang Ji-hwana lot.

I hope this will good for all of their sake especially Moonie.

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Yay, I was just thinking about Kang Ji-hwan and what kind of drama he'll do next! Love him to bits! I went on a KJH binge recently. I rewatched Coffee House (still my top three favorites, soooo underrated), watched Incarnation of Money (got swept up in that revenge), and watched Big Man (which turned out to be a nice surprise). KJH was amazing in all of them, so looking forward to his next project!

(PS, Capital Scandal--also one of my favorites, also underrated!)

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I can't imagine this pairing in my head and I really am not fond of Kang Ji-hwan so hopefully Moon Geun-young passes on.

Also, I can't believe the MSH writer has any offers after the mess she made of a drama that had such a promising start. It's not like that drama had online hype, so I hope the actors would consider well before signing up on this.

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Hmm I don't really see a producer saving (possibly) bad writing and the success of healer for those that were into it was a combination of different factors. I'm excited to see KJH though, hope the drama ends up being good either way.

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I'm also super anxiously waiting for new drama of Moon Geun Young but the premise doesn't sound appealing at all...

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Sigh... at least IOM and Alice in Cheongdamdong were enjoyable, I couldn't sit through Big Man and didn't even touch Goddess of Fire. Honestly this sounds like a potential trainwreck with this writer on board and the fact that it's KBS.

I wish Moon Geun Young got another character like Eun Jo :(

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In love with this pairing. Please drama gods don't mess this up.

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I appreciate how the write of this article Voice his/ her own concern for this project. As a long term Fan of Moon Geun Young, You can't tell how much I want to see her back on the screen BUT in another hand, it will be suck if the drama turns flop because of the boring script and the main actors will get criticized by people for taking part in that drama. I really don't want that to happen. As the plot I see above, it looks pretty....SUCK, or maybe the plot is more than that but the production just doesn't want to spoil us too much... I don't know!!! I just hope they don't mess up Moon Geun Young or even KCH's careers if they decide to take part in this drama. Our Moon Geun Young has enough bad projects in her bucket, I can't handle another one from her. I want to see Moon success with complicated characters with a lot of pain like ( EunJoo, the character she plays in Cinderella Sister) SooAe in Mask or even Hwang Jung Eum in Secret love. Try those kind of characters, Not a naive weak chick in a drama for teenagers anymore. Her talent should never be wasted in such kind of drama. I truly pray Moon will consider this offer carefully, She deserves to be in a good drama with a wonderful script. I'll always support Moon and hope she can decide what is best for her. If this drama is ACTUALLY good and can help her career shines then she should takes it, if its not then just pass it and wait for another chance. Love Moon and cant wait too see her new movie SADO with Yoo Ah In in Sep. It will be Fantastic :) :)~

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I am KJH supporter and i had watched almost all of his dramas and movies. His team up with MGY is something i look forward to . My main concern is the story . I have not seen any of the dramas written by this writer but it seems they"re no good as JB pointed out

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Look!

People who always complain about idols crappy acting, complaining about MGY's looks, because she isn't considered beautiful for them, doesn't care about her acting skills. Ugh.

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I am curious if Lee Jung-seob, the PD of Healer, is now working for cable tvN, but not for KBS anymore??? What has happened to him? He has been working for KBS for years....

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Ay! Noooooooooooooooooo ella no me gusta para nada y menos haciendo un drama con ese gran actor como lo es Kang Ji-hwan PROTESTO!!!!

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Have no problem with the producer since My Spring Day was such a beautiful drama. Don't think Wang's Family was bad at all, though making it too long made it suffer towards the end.

No faith in the writer though! My Secret Hotel was a disaster.

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