Cast: Kim Kang Woo, Jo Yeo Jung, Nam Gyuri, Jung Suk Won
Writer: Hwang Eun Kyung (New Heart; City Hunter)
Director: Song Hyun Wook (Brain)
Episodes: 16
Premiere Date: August 6
Air Time: Mondays & Tuesdays
Replaces: Big on KBS
Haeundae Lovers is a romantic comedy drama about a public prosecutor (Kim Kang Woo) who falls in love with a gangster’s daughter (Jo Yeo Jung) after developing amnesia.
Five Fingers (다섯손가락)
Cast: Joo Ji Hoon, Ham Eun Jung, Ji Chang Wook
Writer: Kim Soon Ok (Smile, Mom; Temptation of An Angel)
Director: Choi Young Hoon (War of Roses; OBGYN)
Episodes: 30
Premiere date: August 11
Air Time: Saturdays & Sundays
Replaces: A Gentleman’s Dignity on SBS
Five Fingers is a story about young adults who overcome their past scars, find love, and fulfill their dreams. Joo Ji Hoon plays a genius pianist with a tragic past, and Ji Chang Wook is his younger brother who is jealous of his talent. Ham Eun Jung plays Joo Ji Hoon’s love interest, a poor girl who dreams of being a pianist.
Faith (신의)
Cast: Lee Min Ho, Kim Hee Sun, Lee Philip, Ryu Deok Hwan
Writer: Song Jin Ah (The Legend; What’s Up)
Director: Kim Jong Hak (The Legend; Sandglass)
Episodes: 24
Premiere Date: August 13
Air Time: Mondays & Tuesdays
Replaces: The Chaser on SBS
Faith is a time-traveling fantasy sageuk set in the turbulent setting of the late Goryeo Dynasty. Lee Min Ho plays General Choi Young, the head bodyguard of the King, who kidnaps a modern day plastic surgeon Yoo Eun Soo (Kim Hee Sun) into the 14th century. It is a drama about leadership, political struggles, and love that transcends time and space.
Arang and the Magistrate
Cast: Lee Jun Ki, Shin Min Ah, Yeon Woo Jin
Writer: Jung Yoon Jung (Chosun Police)
Director: Kim Sang Ho (Can You Hear My Heart)
Episodes: 20
Premiere Date: August 15
Air Time: Wednesdays & Thursdays
Replaces: I Do, I Do on MBC
Arang and the Magistrate is based on a famous tale of a young woman named Arang who was murdered and returns as a ghost to haunt the magistrates that are posted in her town. In the drama, Lee Junki shows up as the new magistrate and they- with Shin Mina as Arang- fall in love.
To the Beautiful You (아름다운 그대에게)
Cast: Sulli (f(x)), Choi Minho (SHINee), Lee Hyun Woo, Kim Ji Won
Writer: Lee Young Chul (Once a Upon a Time in Saeng Cho Ri; High Kick 3: Counterattack of the Short Legs)
Director: Jeon Ki Sang (Witch Yoo Hee; Boys Over Flowers)
Episodes: 16
Premiere Date: August 15
Air Time: Wednesdays & Thursdays
Replaces: Ghost on SBS
To the Beautiful You is the Korean live-action adaption of the popular Japanese manga, “Hanazakari no Kimitachi E.” It will follow the chaos that will ensue when a girl (Sulli) disguised as boy enters an all-boys boarding school to revive the career of her idol sports star (Choi Minho).
The 3rd Hospital (제3병원)
Cast: Kim Seung Woo, Oh Ji Ho, Kim Min Jung, Choi Soo Young (SNSD)
Writer: Sung Jin Mi
Director: Kim Sol Mae (Bad Guy; Iris); Hwang Jung Hyun
Episodes: 20
Premiere Date: August 22
Air Time: Wednesdays & Thursdays
Replaces: I Need Romance 2 on tvN
The 3rd Hospital is a drama about the modern day conflict between Eastern and Western medicine. Oh Ji Ho will play a Eastern medicine doctor who rejected his Western medicine education after someone his lover died from an incurable disease. Kim Seung Woo plays his half-brother who practices Western medicine.
May Queen (메이퀸)
Cast: Han Ji Hye, Jae Hee, Kim Jae Won, Ahn Nae Sang; Kim Yoo Jung
Writer: Son Young Mok (Iron Empress; President)
Director: Baek Ho Min (Assorted Gems; Flames of Ambition)
Episodes: 32
Premiere Date: August TBA
Air Time: Saturdays & Sundays
Replaces: Dr.Jin on MBC
A drama centered around the success story of a woman who overcomes obstacles to become a professional in the ship industry.
Nice Guy (차칸남자)
Cast: Song Joong Ki, Moon Chae Won, Park Shi Yeon, Lee Kwang Soo
Writer: Lee Kyung Hee (I’m Sorry, I Love You; Will It Snow for Christmas?)
Director: Kim Jin Won (Normal Love)
Episodes: TBA
Premiere Date: September TBA
Air Time: Wednesdays & Thursdays
Replaces: Bridal Mask on KBS
Nice Guy tells the story of a man named Kang Maru (Song Joong Ki) who gave up everything for his girlfriend Han Jae Hee (Park Si Yeon), only to be betrayed by her. He later gets his revenge by using Seo Eun Ki (Moon Chae Won), who gets caught up in a “fateful storm-like love.”
City Conquest (도시정벌)
Cast: Kim Hyun Joong, Jung Yumi, and Nam-Goong Min
Writer: Lee Kyung Hee (Lie to Me)
Director: Yang Yoon Ho (Iris)
Episodes: TBA
Premiere Date: TBA
Air Time: TBA
The first teaser for Arang and the Magistrate is finally here. What a good week!
Caption 0:02- A legend is newly reborn.
Shin Mina 0:05- “You made a fool out of me?!”
Caption 0:07- Reckless maiden ghost Arang
Caption 0:10- Flower boy cynical magistrate Eun Oh
Caption 0:13- Joseon era fantasy romance action drama
Lee Junki 0:22- “Not this but…” Read more
I’m itching to do a recap so I’m really excited for the start of the upcoming dramas, Arang and the Magistrate, Faith, and Nice Guy. There hasn’t been much promotional material for Faith and Nice Guy so I’m devouring up Arang for now. Here is Shin Mina looking gorgeous for the July issue of High Cut. The concept of the photo shoot is “Black Swan” although I don’t see what’s so black swan about the photos except maybe the fierce gaze? Supposedly she is channeling a Lolita look for the cover photo with the veil. I see that but what’s black swan got to do with Lolita?
MBC has released the first BTS stills of its upcoming drama, Arang and the Magistrate. The stills are from episode 1, when Arang and the magistrate, Kim Eun Oh, meet for the first time. Apparently we are going to see Arang on rooftops a lot. Poor Shin Mina. Also pictured is Lee Junki with actor Kwon Oh Joong who plays Eun Oh’s manservant.
How happy am I that Lee Junki picked a drama for his drama comeback after military service? The combination of a fantasy sageuk, Lee Junki and Shin Mina just seem to be destined for some awesome crack.
Arang and the Magistrate is based on a famous tale of a young woman named Arang who was murdered and returns as a ghost to haunt the magistrates that are posted in her town. In the drama, Lee Junki shows up as the new magistrate and they- with Shin Mina as Arang- fall in love. It will be directed by Kim Sang Ho, who also did the excellent Can You Hear My Heart. The drama is written by Jung Yoon Jung who penned seasons 1 and 2 of Chosun Police. I didn’t watch the series, but obviously this woman knows her sageuk stuff.
Scattered Joonni 