Lee Yeon Hee Considering Miss Korea and IU Confirmed for Beautiful Man

I didn’t want to post about this until the official news outlets started talking about it, but last week in an unrelated post the subject of the upcoming K-drama Miss Korea came up and in the comments section I discussed how Lee Yeon Hee was unofficially the leading lady SM wanted for the role. This week the media confirmed the rumors and has started writing articles about how Lee Yeon Hee is “favorably considering the script” for Miss Korea, which is all the more hilarious because her agency SM Entertainment is producing the drama so “considering” has about as much sincerity and truth as “she’s waiting for SM to make the announcement”. It is what it is, and while she’s a pretty limited actress (like the female equivalent of Taecyeon), she does have a lot of cachet in the industry having been heavily promoted by SM so I’m not surprised she’s the actress from their acting stable they want to give this juicy leading role to. Whenever I re-watch the sublime Ratatouille and I hear “anyone can cook”, that’s a noble and egalitarian sentiment to be sure but I’m not certain “anyone can act” is equally as valid. What I want most out of Lee Yeon Hee is improvement, showing me she’s learned something from all her movie and drama starring roles. In episode 1 of Gu Family Book she did pleasantly surprise me, but by episode 2 she was back to sucking again. I really don’t get it, but she’s a good pick for Miss Korea purely looks-wise since she’s drop-dead beautiful and can easily be uglified for the pre-beauty pageant segment. Miss Korea comes from the production team behind Pasta and I’m hoping SM can land the right male lead for the role to help make up for what Lee Yeon Hee lacks. SM has been rumored to be heavily courting Gong Yoo for the role, and I suffered through multiple rounds of One Fine Day for Gong Yoo and Nam Gong Min while FF-ing Lee Yeon Hee. But if this pairing happens then I’m all in. On the KBS side of things, the upcoming manhwa adapted Beautiful Man quietly did a poster shoot this week with select cast members including Lee Jang Woo, IU, and Han Chae Young. That about confirms it that IU has indeed signed on to be the plain ugly duckling to Jang Geun Seok‘s world’s most beautiful man.

I’m actually not upset IU took on this role. I like her, limited acting aside she has a very down-to-earth affable warmth. If anyone can make Jang Geun Seok look less narcissistic, she’s game for the attempt. The upcoming December Wed-Thurs drama match ups will now be Miss Korea on MBC, Beautiful Man on KBS, and My Love From Another Star on SBS.