Here are the stories that made headlines in K-dramaland this week:
1. Kim Nam-gil in talks to star in SBS’s upcoming drama Hot Blood Priest
The actor’s agency confirmed that he received the offer to play Kim Hae-il, a Catholic priest with Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), and Post-Traumatic Embitterment Disorder (PTED). The character is also a top agent of the special anti-terrorism team of the National Intelligence Service. Talking about a chaotic premise!
2. Han Ye-seul has officially parted ways with Key East and is currently in talks to join Partners Park
This was recently confirmed by the agency itself. Partners Park is a new entertainment agency that was created by Shin Hyo-jung who used to work at Key East. Celebrities under the label are Gu Hye-sun, Cha Ju-young, and more.
3. Suzy faces civil suit from Once Picture over Youtuber Yang Ye-won incident
Once Picture studio officially filed a civil suit for compensation for damages against Bae Suzy and other individuals who posted the government petition calling for an official investigation on the alleged sexual harassment faced by YouTube content creator Yang Ye-won’s while working part-time as a model three years ago.
4. OCN confirms fifth season of God’s Quiz, courts Ryu Deok-hwan to reprise his role.
The cable network has officially announced that God’s Quiz Season 5 is looking for a November 2018 premiere, and is courting Ryu Deok-hwan to return as the eccentric neurosurgeon and forensic doctor Han Jin-woo.
5. Kim Yoon-jin returns to K-Dramaland after 19 years
SBS has confirmed that veteran actress Kim Yoon-jin will lead its upcoming drama Miss Ma, Goddess of Revenge, the drama adaptation of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple stories. She will play the role of a mother who’s falsely accused of killing her own daughter. The upcoming SBS drama will take over the time slot of To Speak of Her.
6. Young actor Lee Min-ho changes name to Lee Tae-ri
Starhaus Entertainment announced that they have signed actor Lee Min-ho and that he decided to change his stage name to Lee Tae-ri. He recently joined the upcoming tvN short drama The Curling Team alongside Jang Dong-joo (Criminal Minds).
7. Jung In-sun to pair up with So Ji-sub in Terius Behind Me
After several casting rejections, the So Ji-sub-led MBC drama Terius Behind Me finally found its leading lady! Jung In-sun (Laughter in Waikiki) accepted the female lead role in the upcoming spy romantic comedy about a single mother and her next-door neighbor.
8. Jang Hyuk books his follow-up project via action drama Bad Papa
The cutie ahjussi is set to portray a former boxing champ who becomes a mixed martial arts fighter with the help of a mysterious drug.
9. Yoon Park, Park Kyu-young, Jung Gun-joo to star in The Tuna and The Dolphin drama version
Yoon Park (Radio Romance), Park Kyu-young (Queen of Mystery 2), and rookie actor Jung Gun-joo are all confirmed to star in the upcoming KBS drama special The Tuna and the Dolphin (literal translation). The drama will be an adaptation of a web novel that revolves around the love story about a woman never had a boyfriend yet falls in love easily, a man nicknamed as Dolphin, and a male swimming teacher.
10. Lee Da-hee offered to join drama adaptation of The Beauty Inside
On June 14, her agency Huayi Brothers announced that the actress is currently reviewing the offer for The Beauty Inside. Earlier reports also confirmed that Lee Min-ki (Because This is My First Life) and Seo Hyun-jin (Temperature of Love) are both courted to play as the drama remake’s main leads.
11. Esom in talks to star opposite Seo Kang-joon in new rom-com
Esom (Because This is my First Life) is reportedly considering the offer as the leading lady in the upcoming JTBC drama The Third Charm.
12. Go Soo to lead new SBS medical drama
Go Soo (The Flower in Prison) is set to lead SBS upcoming drama Thoracic Surgery as medical fellow Park Tae-soo, whose mother is in dire need of a heart transplant.
DRAMA STILLS, TEASERS, AND SCRIPT READINGS
Let’s Eat 3 (Baek Jin-hee and Yoon Doo-joon)
Your House Helper (Ha Suk-jin, Bona, Go Won-hee)
12 Nights (Han Seung-yeon, Shin Hyun-soo)
Mr. Sunshine (Lee Byung-hun)
My ID is Gangnam Beauty (Jo Woo Ri, ASTRO’s Cha Eun-woo, Im Soo-hyang, Kwak Dong-yeon)
Life (Cho Seung-woo, Lee Dong-wook, Won Jin-ah)
Sources: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (9)
