Categories: K-dramas

First Look at Reunited Lee Dong Wook and Lee Dae Hae for Hotel King in Section TV Interview

These days the K-drama world really doesn’t get viewers solely on stars as much anymore. In the heyday of Hallyu, I’m sure Bae Yong Joon can star in a sageuk about a monk and viewers would tune in. These days plenty of star vehicles have tanked, but there is still the outlier success of You From the Stars to show us an A-list actress with star power and acting chops like Jeon Ji Hyun can actually bring in the audience. The upcoming MBC weekend melodrama Hotel King might not garner viewers from either the star power of Lee Da Hae and Lee Dong Wook, but they might bring in a good chunk of viewers nostalgic for their My Girl days and curious about what a reunion between then 9 years later feels like. I for one am super curious and quite pleased they chose a melodrama to do rather than a rom-com trying to recapture the effervescence of MG. MBC’s Section TV visited the set during a poster shoot and managed to sit down with the two leads and chat about this opportunity to work together again. Lee Dong Wook revealed that he called up Lee Da Hae personally to ask her to star and she said yes. LOL, that was easy, why couldn’t they have done this sooner after My Girl? In addition to the two leads, this one boasts a pretty deep cast in Lee Deok Hwa and Kim Hae Sook as the elders, Wang Ji Hye, Im Seulong, Gong Hyun Joo, Alex, and Kim Ye Won. Writing is the screenwriter who did Feast of the Gods and Golden Fish while the PD directed Just Like Today and Life is Good. Hotel King premieres the last weekend of March after Golden Rainbow wraps up and is slated for a 32-episode run.

ockoala

View Comments

  • What happened to her face? She looks different now. Surgery? I thought I read that somewhere. She looked better before...IMO.

    • I agree. When I was watching My Girl, I thought she was so beautiful like perfect. Then I saw her in East of Eden, she look like she had lost a lot of weight. Still I look forward to this drama.

      • No it's not weird. She's just got skinnier and a bit older. And she can be so comfortable wearing these kind of dresses. Good to see.

      • yes, she's more simple and cute in my girl. Hope she will stop her surgery, I like her before than her looks today.

    • it's her eyes and nose. Seems like she can't even blink. look at the comparison of the old and new photo. I liked her in Chuno.

      • And her chin, makes her whole face longer...she list weight too, but the PS is also very obvious... especially when you compare side by side with the old pic

  • Wow, called her personally to work with him again. I hope other actors will do the same to their favorite costars.

    • haha... am already seeing some first wave hallyu fans wanting bae yong jun to call up choi ji woo. and them doing solid hijinx romcom, that would have people curioser an checking it out...

      but as for me, my ultimate wish for re-team would be ha jiwon an jo in sung... and romcom would be epic!!!

  • Oh I thought it was 50 episodes thanks for the info ... I guess I'm the only one who thinks she looks the same I mean her face looks skinnier and I would guess Botox since she doesnt look like she aged at all but I don't see anything major different

    • Same here....I don't see much difference in her face...Yes, she has become A LOT skinnier in all these years but her face looks almost the same..

  • Jeon Ji Hyun also called up Kim Soo Hyun to star in My Love From The Stars as well. They were both offered the roles at the same time.

    • Wasnt it kim soo hyun who called up jeon ji hyun though? But thankful for him cos we got to see one of the most entertaining performances ever from goddess JJH.

    • @karecity

      There were articles saying that KSH called up his noona and then afterwards there were articles saying JJH called up KSH.
      We learn that both were chatting and keeping in contact after thieves. First it was just friendly updates, but then they started discussing which projects they were offered and should star in, with talk that they should collaborate again. Naturally, both arrived at YFAS because they were offered the roles, and then his JJH noona said "lets do this together". And so they did.
      (This came out of KSH's mouth btw)

  • Okay Da Hae's plastic surgery aside why in the promo pics does a black guy have to be beating up the kid? Seriously? Racism much? I swear kdramaland does this all the time in perpetuating stupid stereotypes (like in Big). This upsets me. >:(

    • I agree, as a black person I think i'm a bit disappointed with our representation in Asian media. Not to say that they all racist but it's just upsetting to see them play the typical stereotypes.

      • And then in Hollywood Asian men are almost always the bad guy too... We need to stop this kind of racism everywhere, NO MORE STEREOTYPING...

  • Jang Hyuk also suggest LDH name in Chuno after Han Hyo Joo turned down the offer. Looks like she always have a good relationship with her main actor.

  • Oh the power of good comraderie. The same thing happened in YFAS, contrary to previous rumors that KSH asked JJH to do the drama, it was actually Jeon Ji Hyun that personally asked Kim Soo Hyun to do the drama. if only more actors made personal phone calls, oh the OTP pairings would be endless (come on YEH call Joon Ji Hoon and do another drama together ).

    • Yes to YEH calling JJH! Would love to see the 2 doing a drama together again.

      I am looking forward to Hotel King mainly due to the reunion of My Girl's OTP. :)

  • Obviously there will always be star-helmed shows that will tank. But it is a little misleading to call YFAS an outlier. Apart from UFAS this winter's two other ratings monsters have been The Heirs and Empress Ki. Both staring big stars. In fact, Empress Ki have destroyed all other competition on Monday-Tuesday for 4 months now. Of course, it is possible it would also have done so without Ha Ji Won as a headliner. But I am sure MBC think they have made a very sound investment getting an A-lister.

    • Hard to say really, Heirs was underperforming for most of its run despite the all-star cast (the last 8 episodes were where it picked up the 20+ % ratings).

      Though obviously having experienced actors does seem to pay off for SBS, anyway - Lee Bo Young in I Hear Your Voice, So Ji Sub and Gong Hyo Jin in Master's Sun, and Jeon Ji Hyun in YFAS.

  • Kim Hee Ae called Yoo Ah In to star in that noona-romance. :D

    You know who else needs to call whom for a new drama?

    Gong Hyo Jin. So Ji Sub.

    • You know who else needs to call whom for a new drama?

      Gong Hyo Jin. So Ji Sub.

      YES! He openly admitted to getting on board Master's Sun because of her, I wish they'd work together again soon even though I haven't quite recovered from the MS swoons <33333333333333333333

Recent Posts

Current Naver Poll of 2024 Baeksang Drama Awards Has Kim Soo Hyun and Ahn Eun Jin Leading the Public Vote for Best Actor and Best Actress

So there is a popularity award in both the film and the television sections of…

4 hours ago

Reviews are Bad for Yang Mi’s Performance in Period Spy Thriller C-drama In the Name of the Brother

I have such a soft spot for C-actress Yang Mi and it just makes me…

12 hours ago

Queen of Tears Lead Cast Posts Commemorative Posters to Celebrate the Drama Breaking 20% Ratings

So Queen of Tears was filmed in 2023 and wrapped awhile ago so it's not…

20 hours ago

More Spring 2024 C-drama Douban Ratings are Out with Best Choice Ever at 6.4 and Blossoms in Adversity with 6.7

I think viewers are being either honest or stingy with their votes but the latest…

1 day ago

First Stills of Kim So Hyun and Chae Jong Hyeob in Romance K-drama Is It Coincidence

Oh what a great surprise! This drama was announced two years ago and I've long…

1 day ago

This website uses cookies.