[News] New Crime Drama 'Princess Aurora' Features Cartoon-Inspired Killings

The new drama, "Princess Aurora," begins with the mysterious murder of a woman in a department store. The only evidence left at the crime scene is a sticker of the cartoon character "Princess Aurora."

No one imagines that the isolated crime will lead to another killing, but two days after the first murder, a second homicide occurs. A woman is suffocated to death and another sticker is found at the crime scene.

Does the killer like cartoons or is the killer a cartoon character? What exactly is the message that the cartoon stickers are supposed to convey? And will the detective assigned to the case be able to solve the mystery before the cartoon-inspired killer strikes again?

While gathering the few clues he can find, the veteran detective begins to suspect that his ex-wife is the killer but he does not tell anyone. He wants to be sure first and rule out other possible suspects. As the killings continue, the only thread he can find to tie them together is the puzzling "Princess Aurora" stickers.

It may be a complicated case to unravel and there may be a lot of false suspects, as the upcoming drama is going to have 120 episodes.

The drama stars Oh Chang Suk as Hwang Ma Ma, Jun So Min as Oh Ra Ra, Lee Ah Hyun will play Hwang Ma Ma's wife, and Jung Joo Yun will play Park Ji Yung.

Oh Chang Suk appeared in the dramas "Love, My Love," "Ten," and "Athena: Goddess of War."
Jun So Min previously appeared in the dramas "Yeongdok Women's Wrestling Team" and "I'm Glad I Loved You."

Lee Ah Hyun appeared in "Samsaengi" and "To The Beautiful You."

Other actors in the cast are Byun Hee Bong as Oh Dae San, Aeo Woo Rim as Sa Im Dong, Park Young Kyu as Oh Wang Sung and Kim Bo Yun as Hwang Si Mong.

Im Seong Han, who wrote "New Giseaeng Story," has written the drama. The writer is well known for casting rookie actors in her dramas and prefers not to work with popular stars.

Kim Jung Ho will direct. Kim previously directed the dramas "Sweet Home" and "Na" and produced the dramas "The Scarlet Letter," "Assorted Germs" and "Don't Be Swayed."
 "Princess Aurora" will be aired on May 20, after "Oh Ja Ryeong Is Coming."

M/s : kenvilthomas@kpopupdates.com

[News] Kpop Idols Create Excitement In New Dramas And Films

 

 

Having kpop idols appear in kdramas and films is a successful formula for adding fans to the viewing audience. Every new wave of Hallyu dramas and films is bound to have a rookie or a veteran actor who is already well known to kpop lovers.

This season is no exception. Fans are loving miss A's Suzy in "Gu Family Book" and recently ZE:A's  Park Hyung Sik gave an impressive first performance in "Nine: Nine Time Travels." Eugene's presence helps raise viewer ratings in the drama, "One Hundred Years' Inheritance" and Park Gyuri of KARA appears in the new comedy, "Nail Shop Paris."

For the most part singers-turned-actors do a great job. Fun performances by idols turned actors include 2PM's Taecyeon in "Dream High," Infinite's Hoya in "Dream High," Girls Generation's Yoona in "Love Rain," JYJ's Kim Jae Joong in "Protect the Boss," BigBang's TOP in "Iris" and 2PM's Chansung in "Level 7 Civil Servant."

A few of these idols go on to become respected actors. Perhaps the best example is JYJ's Park Yoo Chun who won awards for his performances in "Miss Ripley, "Sungkyunkwan Scandal" and "Missing You."

The coming months will feature a new round of kpop stars appearing in films and dramas. Girls Generation's Yuri was recently cast in the first Korean swimming-themed film, "No Breathing." Yuri will play Jung Eun," a girl who dreams of becoming a musician. One of her love interests in the film will be another popular singer-turned actor, winner of Superstar K talent show, Seo In Guk.

Beast singer Yong Jun Hyung is very excited about his new drama, Monstar, which starts this week. 

He never acted before but his musical background does help prepare him for the role and he is eager to portray the bad-tempered kpop idol Yoon Sul Chan. In the drama, Yoon Sul Chan's troublemaking ways get him kicked out of his group and sent to high school, where he joins the school band.

Singer Goo Hara of the pop group KARA is no kdrama rookie. She portrayed the president's daughter in the drama, "City Hunter" and appeared in a Japanese drama "Urikara."

She has signed on to appear in the next drama by Kim Kyu Tae, the director of "That Winter The Wind Blows." In the drama, Goo Hara will play a college student with cancer who spends her days crossing things off the bucket list of things she hopes to accomplish before she dies. In the end she finds romance. That short drama is expected to air in September.

M/s : kenvilthomas@kpopupdates.com

[News] Kim Bum To Play Moon Geun Young's Love Interest?

A love match between Kim Bum and Moon Geun Young? It could happen as Kim Beom is currently considering a leading role in the upcoming MBC drama, "Goddess of Fire."

As more members are confirmed for the cast, the popular actor is reading the script and deciding whether to take on his first saeguk role. It will be a last-minute decision as cast members for the 32-episode drama have already attended some group script readings. Kim Bum can afford to be choosy as he just finished appearing in one of the year's most popular dramas. The young actor first appeared as an F4 member in "Boys Over Flowers," and then as an indie rocker in "The Woman Who Still Wants To Marry" but he has been taking on increasingly serious roles, as an angel in "Padam, Padam" and gambler in "That Winter The Wind Blows."

"Goddess of Fire" will follow the story of Baek Pa Sun, the first female ceramic artist in Joseon times. The china maker for the royal family was one of many artisans who were captured during the Japanese invasion of Korea in 1592. She helped create many new types of pottery then considered Japanese works of art.

Moon Geun Young, who starred in "Cheondamdung Alice," "Mary Stayed Out All Night," and "Cinderella's Sister," will play Baek Pa Sun. She is already perfecting her pottery skills for the part.

Lee Sang Yoon, formerly in "Seo Young, My Daughter," will pay Gwanghee Gun, a Joseon-era king who was deposed after a15-year rule and sent to Jeju Island.

The latest cast member to be confirmed is Lee Kwang Soo, who starred in "Nice Guy." He will play Lee Sang Yoon's older brother.

Han Go Eun, who appeared in "Me Too, Flower!" will play royal concubine and political schemer Kim In Bin.

Park Geon Hyeong, who played the blind date doctor in "I Do, I Do" will play Lee Yook Do, the eldest son of a prestigious potter family.

There is no word on who Kim Beom will play but rumors say he will be Baek Pa Sun's Japanese love interest, a man so devoted he is prepared to die for her. And other rumors say he will become her husband. Netizens have expressed some excitement about the possibility of this onscreen pairing.

Kwon Soon Gyu has written the story. He was the writer for "Warrior Baek Dong Soo," another saeguk that Kim Beom considered playing in. The director is Park Sung Soo.

"Goddess of Fire" follows "Gu Family Book" and will premiere this summer.

M/s : kenvilthomas@kpopupdates.com