News bites: September 10, 2016

by awcoconuts

Lee Sang-woo, Kim So-yeon

• Cute couple alert: Kim So-yeon and Lee Sang-woo have confirmed they are in the early stages of dating. The two contemporaries allegedly became close on the set of Happy Home. [Joongang]
• Chief Kim, the latest effort from writer Park Jae-bum (Good Doctor), was supposed to be the last Wednesday-Thursday KBS show of the year, but the drama about a department chief who fights for his employees has now been pushed to 2017. (The real question: Will Chief Kim be as good as Chief Oh?) Taking its place on the schedule is My Fair Lady, for which the screenplay about a father with an 8-year-old daughter battling dementia won a grand prize this past July. My Fair Lady will follow On the Way to the Airport in November. [Joongang]


Kim Young-kwang, Lee Soo-hyuk

• Confirmations are in, and real-life buddies Kim Young-kwang (D-Day) and Lee Soo-hyuk (Lucky Romance) will vie for Su Ae‘s attentions in The Man Living in Our House. In the upcoming KBS drama, Su Ae is a stewardess leading a double life, while Kim’s a younger man who suddenly appears in her life and claims he’s her stepdad. I haven’t seen the webtoon the show is based on, but there must be more to the story, as he’s described as a swoony, manly man who will take risks to protect the dumpling restaurant her mother left behind, as well as his “stepdaughter.” Lee is cast as a chaebol heir who is incredibly driven and has his sights set on acquiring an even bigger global conglomerate. He’s sworn off romance since getting dumped by his first love, but he’ll have a change of heart after getting mixed up with our leads. The sweet romance (er, once they work out the family registry issues) will air after Moonlight Drawn By Clouds in October. [Osen, SPOTV News]


Yoo Da-in, Shin Hyun-soo

• The lead foursome for Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju are all confirmed. The titular character will be played by Lee Sung-kyung (Doctors), and she’ll be reunited with Nam Joo-hyuk (Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo), who will take on the role of a competitive swimmer (again). Nam’s swimmer once got disqualified for a false start at an important competition and now has a complex about starts. Kyung Su-jin (Bluebird’s House) will step into the shoes of a rhythmic dancer who breaks up with her boyfriend (Nam) when the pressure of competing gets to be too much, but she’ll come to regret pushing him away. She’s Bok-ju’s roommate, and she’ll be hurt when her ex and her roomie begin to show interest in each other. Lee Jae-yoon (Oh Hae-young Again) is Nam’s older cousin and an obesity clinic doctor who supports Bok-ju’s aspirations financially. Finally, Yoo Da-in (Doctors) has been added to the cast as Nam’s childhood crush. A gorgeous doctor, she was also in the same class as cousin Lee in med school. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju will air on Wednesdays and Thursdays on MBC beginning in November. [DongA 1, 2]
• Awww yay for Age of Youth’s Shin Hyun-soo (the sunbae who dated the maknae) — he’s been cast in Star of the Universe, which will be written and directed by Splish Splash Love’s Kim Ji-hyun. Shin will play a paramedic in three of the nine episodes, a mature and attractive character whose name literally means savior. EXO’s Suho and Ji-woo have also been cast. [TV Report]


Kim Ji-suk, Bora

• Kim Ji-suk (Oh Hae-young Again) has snagged the lead opposite SISTAR’s Bora (Doctor Stranger) in a TV movie called Irish Uppercut. In it, Kim’s a lowly kitchen worker who dreams of becoming a chef. There’s a twist though, and instead of just being a story of personal growth, Kim will travel between this world and another. (Anyone else envisioning a Pasta and W–Two Worlds mashup?) Most of the filming has already taken place on Jeju Island, and scenes will wrap at the end of this month. The airdate and channel are still TBD. [My Daily]
• Rocky Chinese-South Korean relations may delay Saimdang, Light’s Diary, which was to premiere on SBS in October, but may not air until 2017. Filming on the historical drama starring Lee Young-ae and Song Seung-heon began in August 2015 and wrapped in June of this year, but tensions have gotten high and many South Korean entertainment companies have withdrawn from China in recent weeks. Saimdang is currently undergoing review by China’s State Administration of Radio, Film, and Television and its fate will be determined in the next few days. [Sports Chosun]

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