Categories: K-dramas

Cheese in the Trap Turmoil Behind the Scenes as Park Hae Jin Openly Voices Displeasure with Story Direction

Hoo boy, things are looking progressively more dire on the set of tvN drama Cheese in the Trap, which is actually ending soon but the drama offscreen is threatening to end things on a down note. The drama was super buzzy early on when casting since it’s based on a popular webtoon, and the early episodes premiered to great audience feedback as leads Kim Go Eun, Park Hae Jin, and Seo Kang Joon perfectly embodied their characters. I actually watched the early episodes intently but lost interest around episode 8, for no reason related to the quality or acting, just that this particular college age tale failed to fully engage me as it progressed.

I thought the drama was solid with its devoted fans so failed to read up until now on the increasingly frustration with the recent episodes, which bottled up over weeks and spilled over today with male lead Park Hae Jin openly and directly voicing his displeasure over what is a very douchey and unprofessional thing from the production. Apparently his scenes in recent episodes have all been vanished, cut down so significantly that he nets mere minutes per episode, and worse yet the scenes were actually filmed but simply not aired. WTF is going on in cheeseland?

Viewers are voicing their displeasure at male lead Yoo Jung becoming basically a side character as the drama has increased the screen time for second male lead In Ho. It’s turned into In Ho’s story more than Yoo Jung and female lead Hong Seol’s story, and that’s so weird I can’t even since Cheese in the Trap refers to Yoo Jung and Hong Seol’s interesting dynamic. Seo Kang Joon’s In Ho is my favorite character in the drama, don’t get me wrong, but hearing that he’s suddenly the lead in screen time is so much no I can’t even. That shit is wrong, if Park Hae Jin signed on as the male lead and the storyboard said he was the male lead then by golly keep it that way!

In Ho can come cuddle with me but there is no reason to shove Seol with him, or spend the majority of the running time on his scenes and backstory, especially at the expense of Park Hae Jin. He gave an interview today directly asking the production to explain what is happening, and I don’t blame him even if it’s a ballsy thing to do. Reportedly he was also not notified that the entire production was headed on an overseas trip after filming wrapped. He seems like a super dedicated and professional nice guy so I don’t know if he got on anyone’s bad side but I feel terrible about what happened on this drama to him, not to mention as a viewer it just sucks to see the story derail so spectacularly.

ockoala

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  • Park Hae Jin got screwed just because he is known to be mild mannered and generally a nice person. I am glad he dares to bare his teeth this time. Take that Ms PD!

    "Who Stole My Cheese?" should be the title of the drama.

  • I think drama viewer will love Inho character more because Jung never gets explain in the drama and they cut his scene.
    I feel bad for Park Hae Jin esp after remember that he doesn't want to take the role since he feels he is too old but the PD and webtoon fans liked him then the drama turn into InHo Cantabile , smh

    • I personally HATE In Ho's character. I didn't like him for constantly forcing himself on Seol; and showing such a disrespect to her when she's in a relationship; always pulling her alone. More than that, I could see him being forced down my throat in every episode start with 7--that's when it began to irritate me. Seol also irritated me because she painted as woman who has no loyalty to her boyfriend.

      NOTHING, can convince me that a deal wasn't made with the PD and someone backing Seo Kang Joon who saw this as an opportunity to promote him in a lead position. I doubt very seriously hat Park Hae Jin did anything wrong on set to tick anyone off. I think because he is such a professional and actors usually don't voice their complaints that the PD thought she could get away with this foolishness. She was wrong. I don't feel sorry for Seo Kang Joon because everything was done to benefit him which confirms he's no innocent in all of this. I will avoid his dramas and movies in the future.

      • I can't stand In Ho and his sob story either. Get that boring cheesefest flat pancake of a character out of my screen please.

      • Now don't talk anything bad about my Seol. She is loyal but overthink things and just don't want to make things complicated (which complicates things even more).

        I actually like In Ho's character and the growth we see (he starts off actually worst in the Webtoon but grows on you eventually) however he's just a usual character. Jung is what is different in this story. The title itself refers to his trap to Seol. In Ho just serves as an interesting dynamic to Jung. He's what Jung cannot achieve.

        Anyways sad this whole thing had to happen. Park Hae Jin did such a terrific job I couldn't ask for a better Jung.

      • Inho does not grow at all. He starts as a self centered self absorbed back stabbing spy who rats on Jung to his father and has a complex about Jung's popularity and talks trash about him behind his back. He has hallucinations about himself being a second Mozart and looks down on everyone with less talent and that foul mouth gets his hand crashed but he puts all the blame on Jung because he doesn't see his own faults.
        He finishes the same; just being defeated by Jung in love takes a little wind out if his ballon self. Detestable jerk!

      • I’m glad that someone shares the suspicion I have had about this change of direction so I’m just gonna come out and say it: Inho must’ve sucked something with that Zoolander face of his. There, I feel better already.

  • Personaly, I really love the drama and the story. In Ho is the character the most interesting because he's maturing. I don't understand why Seol fall in love with Jung because I'me not a fan of him, I don't like the fact that he always acting behind the back of people, manipulating them. Even I understand his issue with his father ! I think they didn't show scenes with the couple where I find the chemestry cute or lovable. So I'm happy that the story shows more InHo. I find the spirit of the manhwa in this adaptation.

    But I fully understand that people who read the story (I started but stopped in the middle) was angry. It could be frustrating.

    • He's only maturing because they gave him Jung's role. You're not a fan of June because the PD deleted his scenes and gave them to In Ho. Jung is the one that always came to Seol's rescue. He is the one that she told In Ho has always been their for her. The PD tried to make Seol and In Ho a couple and in the process made Seol appear to be a shady person sho didn't reject In Ho firmly like she should have as a woman in a relationship--with a man she appears to care strong . The writer did a disservice to the actors (except the beneficiary Seo Kang Joon), the viewers and the writer of the original script.

    • The title refers to Jung and Seol's so it makes no sense to make In Ho the lead. They made Jung in the drama that direct cause of In Ho's hand. They manipulated the story this way. I've seen 12 episodes and in all episodes Seol showed Zero romantic interest in Inho how will they explain the change? It just doesn't make sense in the story that In Ho becomes lead. The story is about Jung even if they break up in the end.

  • I noticed that the story changed after episode 8 or so. Each episode focused more and more on the side character In Ho. It got to a point where, in a single episode, he'd get several useless scenes just playing the piano or moping around.

    But since they pre-filmed most of the drama I really didn't think they'd have the balls to change the story and delete Park Hae Jin's scenes.

    I'm very surprised and angry at all this. I didn't expect tvN or this PD to be so cruel. To the actors and to the fans.

    As an ex-fan of the drama, I feel betrayed.

    • I saw that they deleted some park hae jin scenes, and refilm it with seo kang joon.. if that pd wants seol to go with kang joon, she should just do it in the original script. And not delete the scenes without the male lead knowing.

  • I loved this drama through the first 10 episodes, but it started losing steam and flow in 11 and 12 because it was always supposed to be more about Yoo Jung and how he ended up this way and the journey he and Seol take together because they actually make each other stronger.

    It seems to me they opted to make In Ho much sweeter than he was in the webtoon for the purpose of shipping wars and they got what they wanted. Basically they didn't trust their audience and they went with an overused, boring trope. So 11 or 12 were okay and by episode 14 I was actually skipping scenes; it was boring.

    So now I have that icky feeling that the last two episodes are a train wreck and there is no excuse because this was 50% pre-produced so they didn't have to rush. Park Hae Jin has admitted he doesn't even know how it ends because they film so much, but he doesn't know how it was edited. He is being really candid which I find k-drama stars very rarely are so he must be unhappy.

    Sorry to go on so long, but I loved this drama and still cannot believe how sideways it has gone when it was so good in the first half.

  • Speaking more realistically, I have no idea why soel started dating Jung, she knew him but have not talked to him and out of the blue they start to date ,and if she is continually questioned her feelings for him and ?????
    Obviously she has feelings for inho but doesn't know what she feels because she feels kinda of " obligations " towards Jung.
    The drama made Jung character so dull and just there .

    • because they cut down Jung's back stories so people who haven't read the webtoon never understand the motives or rationales/ psychology behind his actions.
      and more devotion to Inho character makes viewers also think Seol likes him without herself knowing. and here we go, a love triangle, lol

    • "Obviously she has feelings for inho but doesn’t know what she feels because she feels kinda of ” obligations ” towards Jung."

      WTF?
      Have you been watching the drama? Jung Loves Seol and she also loves him!!! She fell for him because for the first time someone was really there to ear her, and help her and love her! The same way she is healing his wounds, he is healing hers. They are very similar and very different at the same time, so they complete each other.

      Jung and Seol <3

    • Of course you wouldn't understand. Instead of showing Jung's backstory we get to see unnecessary scenes of In ho playing the piano, In ho walking on the street, In ho doing push up, In ho taking out the garbage...

      • lol. couldnt agree no more. Jung's scenes are deleted and they show only In Ho's useless parts.

  • PS: The only way I'll forgive them is if they released a special DVD version. Kind of a Director's Cut.

    The DVD should show the drama as it was originally conceived. And include all of Jung's scenes. And cut out the excess In Ho scenes.

    • They will release one with a photo book It's available by pre order..
      It's called Park Hae Jin behind the story

    • But it shouldn't be director cut but we already have bad director's cut airing right now. Maybe they should call it real webtoon version and release it after the webtoon is completed.

  • I am also quite upset with the way the drama is turning. I was watching for Park Hae Jin and his character Yoon hung but since episode 12 his character has been completely shafted. Yoo jung appeared for 5! minutes in episode 13 and about the same for episode 14. I do like in ho but I am sick of the number of scenes dedicated to him..the drama has basically devolved into a love triangle between baek in ho, his piano and his hand LOL This is NOT what I wanted to see!

    • LOL@"the drama has basically devolved into a love triangle between baek in ho, his piano and his hand " hahaha xD

  • They cut out the important seems where we are suppose to understand Jung and the relationship with his father and the reason why he is the way he is. They also gave some Jung scenes to Inho. Like it was Jung who save Seol and they are sweet Jung-Seol moments they turned into Inho-Seol so basically the Inho starting from episode 8 is actually Jung.
    I cannot believe the way they USED PHJ to promote this drama both in Korea and China. PHJ is really popular in China which is why it sold for so much money. Also he initially rejected this role but they continued to pursue him only to treat him like this!? Even not telling him who is the lead about the vacation trip. It messed up on so many levels. All this probably wouldn't have bothered me so much if it wasn't for the fact that they promoted the drama on the basis of how PHJ fit the role of Jung.

    Actors need to remember this director and stay far away from their future work.

    • I read the web toon a whole do I don't remember all the plot details. Can you give examples of what were Jung scenes but now In Ho scenes in the stands? Thanks.

      • There is a scene where Seo fights with minsoo in the webtoon it was Jung who puts ointment on her face in the drama its Inho.
        The scene of Inho sitting in the hosital in the webtoon it was actually Jung who was with her holding her hand.
        The one who saves seol from a fall in the webtoon is Jung in the scene with sangchul.
        They also cut out a scene of Jung's childhood that was suppose to explain why Jung's father treats him like that. PHJ even confirmed that this scene was filmed but wasnt aired.

      • @lololo wow, those are pretty significant moments to change in favor of another character. so far the drama has only emphasized Jung as making things difficult for Seol and Seol accepting him despite that, but very little of what Jung offers to Seol and why she would like him. The moments they changed were of Jung actually giving something to Seol in the relationship. I mean they seem small but consider the impact it had when Jung was there when Seol ran away from home and felt so alone. Timing and being someone who can anticipate Seol's needs are huge advantages. I can't believe they would undermine Jung like that. thanks for the background.

      • It was Jung who tend to the wounds of Seol after the fight with Min Soo, It was him that saved her from Chang Sul after the incident with Jung Notes...

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