Chae Soo Bin and Kim Young Kwang Cast as Leads of Romance K-drama Charge Me Up
A romance K-drama just announced its casting this week and from the one picture I saw of the webtoon cover it looks sexy lol. The K-drama Charge Me Up adapted from the same name webtoon will star Chae Soo Bin and Kim Young Kwang as the leads, with him playing a guy with an artificial heart that is losing electrical charge and she is a woman who can produce electricity. But of course, literally she can fulfill his need lol. Directing is the PD of Big Forest and Birthcare Center, and the drama is likely going to be a streaming offering.
The Korean drama industry is dying and they’re still wasting what little resources are available on corny synopses like this.
Exactly my thought.
This exactly this. If Netflix is going to mess up the industry then at least give resources to dramas that deserve it. This is some Wattapad nonsense that doesn’t need to exist. Nor is the age gap and disharmony of the two actors intriguing enough to watch this stale synopsis.
This Netflix kind of stuff ,they love these trash corny stories
Ummm what? Why do I feel like Korean drama industry hit a bit of a slump on ideas? Similar to what Japanese dramas have been going through for some time in my perspective. You only find 1-2 good dramas out of the many. It’s like where did that charisma and ingenuity we once love about Asian dramas go from these two countries? It is either borderline smutty with no clear point or drive to the story or full of Makjang and hysterical cliche soap opera messiness and illogical story setups. Or shoujou corny stuff that adds no source to a story. I could just read mangas and webtoons for that and not every manga and webtoon needs to be adapted or might not translate well into a live action. That to me is better suited translated in anime form. I’m not saying it can’t be done but it is a bit sad to see this slump in action. I miss the days of good dramas from these countries.
This trend is not limited to J- and K-dramas IMO. I can say the same thing about C-dramas as well. I still cherish “Laughing in the wind” (2001), the first C-drama which I watched when I was a kid (broadcasted by our state TV and it became a huge hit in my country) followed by lots of K-dramas (including Jumong and Jewel in the Palace). I am not saying they were perfect but they had the earnestness (couldn’t find a better word) that most of the dramas lack nowadays. It just makes me sad to see how much the standards of Asian dramas have lowered. I used to watch and enjoy Turkish dramas as well (since I understand the language) and they are in no better condition. I just force myself to watch one or two for the sake of not forgetting Turkish. Unfortunately I can say the exact same thing about the productions of my own country. They are all suffering from the same issues more or less: idol (unnatural) looking cast with weak acting skills, repetitive plots, weak scripts, overproduction.
Fantasy romcom rarely work unless it has good plot. Melting me softly always reminds me how bad fantasy romcom can be. But of course we also have lovely runner who proved it cam work if it has good storyline
I’m always here for a webtoon adaptation but this plot just sounds so ridiculous. Out of all the great webtoons avaliable someone decided that this would be the one?
Agree, what kinda plot is this? Is there no doctor in that world??
There is an interesting comment by the VP of Netflix on the rising drama costs that just reeks of privilege. I’m sharing the translated link for anyone interested to engage in this debate.
https://mydramalist.com/article/netflix-on-rising-production-costs-of-k-ent-we-re-not-importing-steel-from-china-to-make-content
Interesting article.
Don’t agree with all professor Lee said but Netflix helped productions to be world known , but people have to pay . one or two decades ago only curious people who like to broaden their horizons discovered asian dramas , it was perhaps illegal but it was the only way of a french like me in 2006 to watch it . Now i’m not an alien anymore but i lost the pleasure to be a kind of Indiana Jones looking for what the others haven’t ear about .Netflix produce some great contents but they also tend to give just what the audience want and we don’t fully embrace all the genres that a culture can give . Netflix is there to make money so they just give the dessert but not the all course ! But i would say the same about Disney,and others . The same goes for literature,…only the best sellers are translated and sold in others country but what about the others great works,…
@HL , did you watched YEH transformation into Chae kyung 20 years later ?
@cahill, I agree with your comments on Netflix, I personally know so many white friend in UK watching KDrama because they are available on Netflix. Easy to access and storyline is interesting for them.
None of them would have bothered searching for Kdrama to watch previously.
Yes!!!! She is so active recently, everytime I watch her, I think about you. I feel it is so nice to know there is someone else I know that appreciate this beautiful lady. There is a innocence about her I like. Her dressed up back to past is so fun and she still look so young. She inspires me to take better care for my skin…
Everytime I see her, I hope she has someone that will really love and cherish her. I dont care to know if she is dating or not as I like her private life to be kept from unwanted public intrusions.
Thanks@HL , i’m happy to share wwith you about YEH news . She seems to have found a kind of serenity and her physical appearance shows it . When she filmed Love Alert drama , many detractors bodyshamed her , saying that she did PS and ruined her face . She wasn’t healthy back then and now when i read some youtube comments or articles on Naver , they are amazed about how she doesn’t look as someone in her 40’s !
I hope for her to find someone who will cherish and value her .If not, better to stay single . I thought about Barbie Hsu and how much her second husband loved her . It breaks my heart too see that she wasn’t able to live longer with him .
@cahill, I agree about Barbie’s second husband.. he still visits her grave everyday. His action is louder than his words.
The article reports positive prospects for Kdrama produced on OTT in general. For example, the Korean VP of Netflix highlighted the rising costs of drama production mainly thanks to rising compensations for the creators of the drama, which isn’t a bad thing. The headline of a news piece is usually exaggerated to be a clickbait.
The OTT market is exclusive and caters to very limited actors and their agencies. It’s killing the rest of the drama industry with terrestrial channels feeling the heat. Look at KBS today and 10 years ago especially in 2016 it was the thriving channel but now it’s barely breathing. MBC is also seeing a huge dip even though it manages to comeback with a drama now and then. Except for SBS which is still nowhere near the massive success of it 2013-15 era but at least it’s still churning out mostly hits however the rest of the drama industry is drowning. Almost no 20s actors have broken out in the last decade with pretty faces like Song Kang, Go Youngjung, Han Sohee, Cha Eunwoo etc basically coasting on their looks and even then they had to wait till
their late 20s to be noticed. The sense of nostalgia is the reason why the veteran actors are the ones still the most in demand despite them now in their late 40s and 50s. We are still for the Kdrama magic like Lovely Runner which stays true to the formula. Even When Life Gives You Tangerines works because of the Reply Series vibes to it and this should have been a tv drama but Netflix basically stole the winnings which should have gone to a terrestrial or cable channel. Netflix isn’t delivering more quality to justify the rising costs. The dramas that do well on OTT are the ones that have been aired on TV and the Netflix Originals that did well are the ones stayed more true to the old school Kdrama vibe. Ofcourse Tangerines didn’t do well in the West just like none of the Reply series did because it captures a truly Korean vibe but these kind of dramas always have a Pan Asia influence. Marry My Husband was another successful drama that stayed true to the Korean makjang genre something that has been popular for decades. Same with Crash Landing on You and Queen of Tears. They were both typically Korean dramas with predictable plots we’ve seen before. Kdrama has always been diverse even in the past and doesn’t need the Netflix interference that is blowing up budgets where actors are gaining large compensation while the crew and writers are still being paid paltry sums. OTT wants to control Kdrama then only the same 10-15 actors will be on screen with the same plots recycled to meet western taste. Manhwa like this doesn’t need to be adapted.
@durian, I respect different perspectives of you and perhaps many others. Nonetheless, there’s another part of kdrama fans who enjoy OTT products way more than old-school Kdrama only aired on terrestrial channels, me included. I took a hiatus from Kdrama years ago mainly due to very demanding career but predictable and recycled plots with uncreative concepts in Kdrama contributed to my boredom as well. Interestingly even though many fans rave about reply series and are nostalgic for the good old days, I couldn’t finish any one of that series including Reply 1988 given that I’m a fan of PBG. LOL. WLGYT is irrelevant to Reply series at all in terms of artistry, acting, and content values. I love WLGYT while the Reply series failed me. LOL. Funny ppl relate WLGYT to the Reply series.
Netflix and Disney+ aren’t just about CEW and SK etc., who can’t act LOL and neither are their visuals appealing to me. There are quite a few excellent productions led by these OTT with the overall quality including outstanding casting that the traditional Kdrama productions can’t beat at all. And fans worldwide recognize it. In the past, Kdrama only catered to a smaller community of viewers with very limited genres and artistic expressions. Now, Kdrama is able to outreach to a much wider audience who appreciate not only cliche melo or rom com LOL but all genres possible. Korean culture also has deeper influence outside SK thanks to the widespread of Kdrama and other forms of K-ent. This all thanks to foreign investment that made it possible.
@Somebody Literally name one drama in the post Netflix era that hasn’t been done in the past already. You clearly haven’t watched enough Kdrama.
@haberk, it’s easy to answer your question. There should be plenty of examples that Netflix produced series beat the old Kdramas in terms of the overall impact on viewers. Moving, the Glory, D.P., and Squid Games, just to name these more prominent series. Also with foreign investment, Kdrama has more resources to tap for better production quality that’s comparable to big screen impact. When Life Gives You Tangerines is such a classical example with movie quality that I couldn’t find on small screen in the past.
I gave you examples and evidence to make my points. So make your case the same way!
@durian completely agree.
Why cant they have sensible plots which makes some sense..seriously they need better scripts..whats happening to k drama makers
Don’t know about the story, but I am in for the cast.
Me too. Both are solid actors but the premise is up in the air.
Old Kdrama fans may see Kdrama dying and passing the heyday. But after a few years of hiatus from entertainment, I see Kdrama become more diverse and interesting than before. I recall there were mostly melo or rom coms that were also loved by most of the Kdrama fans years before. Now, Kdrama can attract broader viewers with action, fantasy, thrillers, and darker genres. Foreign companies like Netflix and Disney+ are also willing to invest big in Kdrama production. That means the industry is thriving. Why do people have to be nostalgic about the past that was doomed to be getting repetitive and stale at some point? Without foreign investment in the production, it might not be possible to produce excellent works like the Glory, Moving, and When Life Gives You Tangerines. Moving and WLGYT, in particular, have movie quality with more profound impact on viewers’ emotions, maximizing our gratification through small screen. The experience is just fantastic!
Kdrama industry isn’t dying, but to the opposite, going strong in the global market per sale numbers. You don’t like what’s been produced recently? That’s you! It doesn’t mean your preference speaks for the majority of Kdrama fans. Don’t jump to a conclusion without strong evidence to support it.
McDonald’s is also strong in global market but that doesn’t mean its food is healthy and nutritional. The best movie ever “The Shawshank Redemption” was a boxoffice bomb. Regardless of making money or not, IMO Asian dramas have downgraded in terms of quality. Netflix and other platforms play a detrimental role in this process: their main subscribers are in US so their productions should be aligned to US viewers’ taste mainly (I remember the director of “Wolf Hall” complained of Netflix asking British actors to tune down their accent to be more favorable to US viewers). Moreover, these platforms offer considerably higher wages which local producers cannot compete with, therefore eliminating local companies from their own countries markets and that leads to much less diverse productions.
In conclusion, the above-mentioned synopsis made me sick TBH. The point of such a story is beyond my comprehension. And to borrow sth from ur comment: neither ur prefrences speak for the majority of viewers. Clearly they are my thoughts.
LOL. Speaking of foreign investment to make a product global, McDonald’s is a pretty odd analogy as a comparison to the current Kdrama. Why don’t you mention many other local businesses turning global trend, something like French fashion or Italian leather? LOL. Those brand names ALL have huge foreign investment and are listed on New York Stock Exchange.
You can save yourself from getting sick in order to make your points cuz I’m not a fan of any leads of this upcoming OTT drama, neither do I plan to watch it LOL. But jumping to say that OTT has ruined Kdrama industry out of your personal preference of certain plot lines or genres is a reach. As I said, Kdrama is thriving thanks to these international OTT and foreign investment double down. This is from business perspectives, regardless of how individuals like or hate Kdrama nowadays. It’s a fact.
I see. You didn’t get my point (or I couldn’t explain it better). The McDonald’s analogy was not about sth local becoming global. It was about having wider range of cosumers or being popular or having higher sale rates does not mean the product has a higher quality. Regarding Italian leather or French fashion, they seem irrelevant examples in this case because you are comparing luxurious products which not everyone can afford (my speculation, atleast majority of our population can’t) with sth lots of people can afford. The entertainment industries’ approach to its viewers is more like Fast fashion industry IMO: low-quality, shiny, disposable, cheap products.
Regarding ur preferences I didn’t refer to your idea about the above-mentioned synopsis in particular (another misunderstanding) but your general idea that having a wider range (and number of watchers) is equall to being on the thriving road.
@eJc describtion is right on the spot and I don’t think I could have put it in words better (with my limited knowledge in English or writing skill).
@eJC, I got your points, while most fans on this site raved about melo or rom coms LOL. Nonetheless, I don’t appreciate the long list of those classical Kdramas you listed that much as I do for some OTT produced dramas like Alchemy of Souls, Moving, and the Glory, just to name some more prominent series. Among all the examples you listed, I had watched some before I took a break from Kdrama. I did like them back then but found many others abusing similar concepts and became predictable/boring, so I stopped following Kdrama. After I resumed Kdrama entertainment, I tried to pick up some popular dramas including many you mentioned in the list, e.g., Iris, Signal, Reply series, Misaeng, and Queen in Hyun’s Man etc., just to name a few. But they all failed me. I’ve been in a slew of checking any old Kdramas I missed while found only a handful that could retain my attention beyond halfway LOL.
I’m currently following D.P., a Netflix produced and Baeksang best drama, and have been hooked since. Interestingly nobody has ever recommended this masterpiece to me in any blogs LOL. My POV is my POV per my limited experience with Kdrama, YES. Nonetheless, My personal preference also translates different perspectives from a different league of Kdrama viewers, perhaps less prevalent on this OLD Kdrama blogging site. But my preference is also shared by many other Kdrama fans worldwide. These OTTs’ streaming volumes and revenues from Kdrama attest to my main point that Kdrama is thriving and still interesting to many drama fans. It’s not dying as many old schoolers perceive due to their personal preference to old-style Kdramas.
While many visitors here may have been Kdrama fans for longer periods and prefer old-school Kdramas, many other are new to Kdrama and greatly enjoy the current products promoted by the OTT like Netflix, Disney+, and Hulu etc. We appreciate the OTT productions make Kdrama more accessible and popular to the rest of the world.
While it’s tempting to view modern Kdramas as thriving solely because of streaming platforms and genre diversification, this perspective overlooks both historical nuance and the dynamics of current media production.
1. Genre Diversity Has Always Existed in Kdrama!
Contrary to the claim that old Kdramas were “mostly melo or rom-coms,” the Korean drama industry has been producing a rich array of genres for decades.
Consider the following few examples:
• Action/Thriller: Time Between Dog and Wolf (2007), IRIS (2009), Cruel City (2013), Bad Guys (2014)
• Historical/Political: Iljimae (2008), Tree With Deep Roots (2011), Gaksital (2012), Empire of Gold (2013)
• Crime/Psychological: White Christmas (2011), The Chaser (2012), Signal (2016)
• Workplace/Realistic: Misaeng (2014), Answer Me 1997 (2012)
• Fantasy/Supernatural/Time Travel: Secret Garden (2010), Queen In Hyun’s Man (2012), Nine: Nine Times Time Travel (2013), The Master’s Sun (2013)
Clearly, variety in genre is not new — what’s new is the platform of delivery.
2. Distribution Systems ≠ Creative Expansion!
Yes, platforms like Netflix and Disney+ make Kdramas more accessible globally. But this doesn’t automatically equate to greater diversity in storytelling. Similar to how online retail crushed smaller, diverse brick-and-mortar shops, these streaming giants consolidate power by producing only what sells to broad audiences.
That leads to:
• Market saturation with similar styles and tropes (e.g., revenge thrillers, dystopian setups)
• Less room for niche or experimental storytelling, since those don’t guarantee high ROI
• Trends coming and going based on algorithms and quick turnarounds, not cultural depth
So ironically, modern Kdrama may become less diverse over time, with cycles of hype replacing lasting innovation.
3. Foreign Investment Is a Double-Edged Sword!
International funding has indeed elevated production values (e.g., The Glory, Moving), but it also shifts narrative control. These companies often prioritize global tastes, meaning more homogenized plots and “international-friendly” casting and pacing. Local cultural quirks or slow-burning character development, once staples of Kdrama, get diluted.
4. Nostalgia Isn’t the Problem — Short Memory Is!
People reminiscing about “old Kdrama” aren’t necessarily stuck in the past — they remember when the medium offered daring, raw, or genre-defying stories without global streaming budgets. It’s unfair to dismiss those voices just because they question a commercially successful status quo.
To sum it up, the claim that Kdrama is only now getting good because of diversity, investment, and global exposure lacks historical context and ignores deeper industry changes. Great dramas existed before Netflix. And as with any system dominated by a few big players, over time, true creative diversity is at risk — not guaranteed. Kdrama didn’t just become complex recently — it always was. The delivery changed. The heart of it? That’s still up for debate.
I love this comment and you nailed every single point. Not a single drama that Netflix has churned out with its bloated budget is better than anything released in Kdrama in the past 20 odd years. If anything the quality has degraded and in the same genre that too. Be it thriller, horror, romance or family Kdrama has always been better than whatever Netflix is churning out now. The classic Kdramas are popular because they were actually good and not because we are hung up on the past. There has been no diversification of content like Netflix falsely claims. The content was always there and Netflix ruined the production environment and is eating all the profits while killing all the local resources. This is basically a new form of colonialism.
Great explanation. Unfortunately I can replace the “k” of “k dramas” in your comment with many other countries’ names (mostly Asian) and it would still be true. Unfortunately most of the Asian dramas are filmed through western lenses nowadays hoping to attract foreign viewers (making more money) but costing them the authentic essence they once had. I am NOT saying everyone misses the former spirit of Eastern Asian dramas but as a western Asian I feel these new styles of narration and plot lines (even aesthetic) strange and detached (sth is gone and I can’t name it). On the other had I loved “Ne Zha” animation which has become a huge hit in China but attracted much less audience in western hemisphere.
@Gelar, I realize that this is not exclusively an issue for the Kdrama industry.
As a German, my English is not up to par with @Somebody’s level. So, I used spell check and for the first time a rephrasing tool to accurately convey my points.
It’s important to note that if you write your comment beforehand and copy and paste it here, it will appear (hours) later. Occasionally, not at all!
Using spelling check programs is a good advice especially for those of us who are not from English speaking countries. And yes you are right about the delayed/no view of copy-pasted comments.
@Marches, I respect your personal opinion even though your allegation against the quality of Netflix productions falls short of substantial evidence. You’re free to rant LOL. But it’s still just whining based upon your own viewer experience. I can’t find anything credible from there to generalize your rants to an objective and valuable assessment.
@Marches, it’s a reach to say Netflix et al. a new form of colonialism. LOL. I see your victim mentality perhaps brainwashed by Chinese state propaganda against whatever Western???? TBH, I rarely see such an allegations coming out of non Chinese. What about Made in China all over the world an authentic form of business colonialism? LMAO.
The poster looks interesting.
Looks like CSB has found the success formula that works for her. First it was when the phone rings and now this. I don’t know how it will turn out in live action, since this kind of plot works better in a webtoon but I am pretty sure many wll tune in for the sexy parts lol.
Huh but nobody got ruffled like this when that drama with Shin Mina, Joo Jihoon, Lee Jonghyuk, Lee Seyoung based on a webtoon put out the casting & drama details. Lols. To each his own, mates!
I mean that sounds like makjang which is pretty mainstream, while this one, guy with artificial heart who needs electricity and girl who produce electricity, and then couple it with somewhat raunchy poster, it feel so tasteless
Idk why Chae Soo Bin choose this drama.
After finding success with WTPR (while she was well known from INAR, she achieved wider global reach through WTPR), I was hoping she would choose a non romance drama, something meatier like crime, procedural or slice of life drama. She even said so in her interview post WTPR.
This “Charge Me” is nothing challenging to her and it is sad that she’s been typecasted to this kind of role. Idk if this the best from those that being offered to her but this choice seems rather senseless to me.
I was kinda interested in this pairing with a romance genre but then again reading that synopsis made me have secondhand embarrassment…
ps. male lead having electronic heart made me think of ‘Miss Crow With Mr. Lizard’ and that very special crow soundtrack of drama lol
I thought the same but the webtoon picture shown above suggests otherwise lol
CSB need to be very careful, she seem to be cast a lot in erotic corny dramas , she may get stuck in these role .