2013 really has been a year of K-drama casting randomness. I don’t think there has been a single lead pairing that I’ve longed to see, almost every one feels like it came out of left field and bonked me over the head. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t work, just that I never thought about putting those two together in the same project. Lee Jun Ki ended up turning down the 1930s Shanghai rebel period drama Inspiring Generation and is instead coming back to television with what sounds like a modern-take on the currently airing Mandate of Heaven. He plays a man falsely accused of murder who goes on the run, and discovers that he has a young daughter with leukemia that needs his help. This one has a twist beyond the time period, the drama is called Two Weeks and the duration of the drama will span exactly two weeks in the story. It’s written by So Hyun Kyung, who recently wrote the ratings champ weekend drama My Daughter So Young, but I know her for the memorable 49 Days, the different but not quite there Prosecutor Princess, and the addicting but pedestrian Brilliant Legacy/Shining Inheritance. She doesn’t exact have a style or MO based on her previous works, though the two week gimmick has shades of the 49 days conceit. This drama doesn’t air until August but its getting all its ducks in a row by finalizing casting now. Joining Lee Jun Ki as his leading lady has just been revealed to be Kim So Yeon. I’m sure this will send squeals of pleasure in some circles, but I’m rather nonchalant about it. I like her, she’s a fabulous actress, so stunning and classy, but there is this aloofness about her that has never caused me to warm to her beyond appreciating her leggy charisma and nuance onscreen. While Jun Ki plays a man on the run, Kim So Yeon plays a righteous prosecutor, who is obviously going to be his foil and likely later his ally. Rounding out the male cast as the antagonist is pretty (stone-faced) boy Song Jae Rim, who was singularly unmemorable as the King’s bodyguard in The Moon Embraces the Sun. He plays the man who chases after Lee Jun Ki, which is a dream job if you ask me. All I can say is – the cheekbones on these three actors are so sharp they can slice cheese, prosciutto, and bread each to make me a nice snack when I watch Two Weeks.
The drama will air on MBC Wed-Thurs following The Queen’s Classroom, which itself follows When a Man Loves.
OMG. If Lee Jun Ki ever works with Yoon Eun Hye, he’d have worked with all my favourite kactresses. I love her so much, she’s gonna be awesome and the chemistry is probably gonna be through the roof. And also I can forget The Great Seer ever happened. Yay!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IKR…. I wanted Yoon Eun Hye to act with him… one of my dream costar for her… But still waiting for my dream couple of Yoon Eun Hye and Hyun Bin…
Yoon Eun Hye and Hyun Bin would be great. I don’t think it’ll ever happen though 🙁 tbh I just wanna see YEH in something good, her project choices have terrible lately.
Can’t wait to see my man Jun Ki on the small screen again. Miss K I know you had your reservations about Arang and the Magistrade but I absolutely adore the series and the OTP! Let’s hope this OTP will be just as enchanting.
Anyone who can put “cheekbones” and “snack” in a sentence and make it work is an international treasure (see how it does NOT work here?). You, Madame Koala, are my hero.
I am thinking that maybe you should write a drama.
Kim So Yeon!!! I’ve been waiting for her to come back to dramaland for ages! (Her appearance in Iris II didn’t count for me)
Aloofness indeed whoever her co-lead was, with zero romantic chemistry whatsoever. No dreamy OTP for me this year.
That is one gorgeous cast…you have a goddess and two pretty boys who are prettier than pretty girls but still hot…i love the LJK &KSY pairing, I never thought of it before either but seeing as their both favorites I cam totally see this workin..excited!
Very good actress
Yeah, this is one pairing I would never have thought of, but I can totally see it working. I love her in more serious roles, where she has this wonderful ability to be both intense and yet somehow vulnerable at the same time. She was great in Iris, and one of the few, (very, very few) highlights in Athena and Iris 2.
Awesome pairing (never thought of it)! I love both LJK and KSY!!
Can’t wait!
I am also really looking forward to HJW’s new drama..arrrgg can’t wait to know the male lead!!