Kim Yoo Jung Passes on Cheerleading KBS Drama, Jung Eun Ji in Talks for Female Lead
Loving Jung Eun Ji is like appreciating an organic chocolate chip cookie – all natural tasty wholesome goodness. It’s hard to find an idol who is good at the singing and acting in equal measure, though not yet outstanding in either pursuit but good is hard enough to come by I’ll take it as is with her. KBS has been readying a school drama to take over the Mon-Tues slot from Eccentric Daughter-in-law (The Virtual Bride), clearly noticing Who Are You: School 2015 got a lot of buzz earlier this year, and rival network MBC also scored major points with Angry Mom. Initially the drama was titled Cheer Up and was courting child actress turned beautifyl teenager in 16 year old Kim Yoo Jung, but today news broke that Kim Yoo Jung has passed on the project and KBS is in talks with Jung Eun Ji for the lead role. I was sad for a millisecond upon hearing the one-two news of Kim Yoo Jung passing but Jung Eun Ji potentially headlining the drama.
Jung Eun Ji’s last drama also aired on KBS, the hot mess that was Trot Lovers (Lovers in Music). I don’t think the drama was abysmal, but it definitely never lived up to expectations the entire way through. The new drama has gotten a name change from Cheer Up to Rude Go Go, or something like that. I’ll wait to see what title the network settles on but for now things are looking up that Eun Ji is considering the role for her drama return.
I don’t mind this swap. Eun Ji’s acting is far from perfect, but she did a terrific job playing a crazy fangirl in Reply 1997, so she’ll probably make a good cheerleader. This sounds like a rare type of drama where idol experience can actually be beneficial for the role.
I don’t mind the change, but doesn’t this premiere at the end of the month? shouldn’t they be further along the casting process by now? well, I guess there’s still a couple of weeks left.
i don’t mind the change. Eun Ji’s acting is fun to watch…
I love love love her as sung siwon but after that not so much. I watched her in TWTWB and TL and I was a little let down. Maybe its the case where he blew me away in Reply 1997 and expected great great things and whe she just did okay, my disappointment was great great great.
Anyway I am a little sad Kim YooJung passed this up, was hoping to see her in a new drama but I guess she does have a rathee full project list already as it is.
But from the idol world, I guess if I had to choose one then EunJi would be a good fit.
I’m sad to hear that Kim Yoo Jung won’t be taking up this drama, I want to see her on screen more. I probably won’t be watching this now, but I’ll keep an eye out for recaps and if reviews are good, I’ll give it a try.
Kim Yoo Jung probably passed on this because of the comparison with Kim So Hyun.
kim yoo jung hasnt get any ‘lead’ title yet, correct me if i was wrong? so why? she’s a good actress.
eunji is a good idol-turn-actor. at least, she’s better than some other idols. but, she failed with her previous drama, trot drama or something..
not many dramas were successful with ‘idols’ as the lead actors.
She is only 15 years old, there will be plenty of opportunities for her to have lead roles in the future. Minors are in general not the best ‘lead’ material and for a good reason.
Yeah there’s no labour law restricting the number of hours they work….. so 15 year old Kim So Hyun had to go without enough sleep for weeks to do the School 2015 live shoot.
omo, i almost forgot that she’s only 15. and yeah, kim so hyun worked really hard and even got home schooling bcuz she was so busy. but kyj deserves a lead title too 🙂
eunji is running away when it come to idol trun actress. suzy/iu canthold a candle to her when it come to acting.
eunji need to do a drama with the park hyung shilk. they both will set the screen on fire with their acting.
Jung Eunji’s That Winter and Trot Lovers performance was not as great as her in Answer Me 1997, but I guarantee that if some idol actresses who get criticism for their acting had produced that same performance, they would be praised to the skies for ‘improving’.
She is on par or slightly behind IU as an actress (IU can emote better) but still much much ahead of Suzy, among idol actresses. She is much more natural onscreen. If Lee Hyun Woo takes the male lead role they will make a really cute couple.
This is totally disheartening. Sad. Huhu. I was really looking forward to see Kim Yoo Jung reunite with her Lee Hyun Woo Oppa. On a bright side, I think I can start wishing on the stars again to have Yoo Jung act opposite Yeo Jin Goo again on her next drama. Yay!
Well I’m a bit sad because Kim Yoo-Jung won’t be in it. I’m always looking forward to her next projects and she surpasses many actors older than her talent-wise. So I think if somebody is leading material then it’s her. But she is young and she will be cast for a lot of drama as the lead in the future I’m sure. 🙂
I like her a lot, but stop casting her as a high school student. It’s just silly!
Totally agree!
Yay! Eunji!! I adore her eversince I watched her in Reply 1997..part of me is wishing to see her pair up with her “beater-half” Seo In-guk again (though i’m 100% sure it will not happen lol!)But whether it’s with SIG or not, as long as its Eunji I will surely watch this!
Yeah..I really, really like her too..but she is not a high schooler. This is almost as bad as when they cast Lee Min Ho in Heirs. I really hate it when they move these actors to adult roles…major adult roles with careers…and then try to move them back down to high school. Also, I think she is beautiful, but I also think she is the unusual Korean woman who doesn’t look younger than she is. In fact, I thought she was closer to 25 until I looked her up. I know 22 is not far from 25, but in the Korean acting world, you usually look a lot younger. Another reason I cannot buy her in a high school role. Especially not for the entire series.
Jung Eunji is a pretty youthful-looking 22 (she just turned 22) and can easily pass for a teenager if the drama’s stylists get rid of that stupid middle part in her hair and stick her in a school uniform.
This isn’t even close to as terrible as the Lee Min-ho casting in Heirs (he’s known to be a smoker and looked every day of 26 and then some). Hell, she looks way younger than Baro in Angry Mom and that guy was supposed to be Kim Yoo-jung’s love interest.
Honestly, I am glad she passed this drama. 🙂 Just saying!!! I love Kim Yoo Jung and love how she has so much potential!!! She definitely is leading girl material. That’s not even a question. Just wait for it. This girl has got ‘it’ and there’s no reason for her to be greedy.
No worries, let her enjoy being a teenager and have her continue to do doing things at her own pace. In a few years though, the right roles for her will keep coming her way! AND I CANNOT WAIT!!!
Honestly, I am glad she passed this drama. 🙂 Just saying!!! I love Kim Yoo Jung and love how she has so much potential!!! She definitely is leading girl material. That’s not even a question. Just wait for it. This girl has got ‘it’ and there’s no reason for her to be greedy.
No worries, let her enjoy being a teenager and have her continue to do doing things at her own pace. In a few years though, the right roles for her will keep coming her way! AND I CANNOT WAIT!!! Good luck to Eun Ji if she decides to do this…not too familiar with her though.