Monday & Tuesday Korean Drama Line-Up - Spring 2013

Can't believe that we've almost passed the 1st quarter of 2013, time flies by so quickly this year that it's hard to believe we're going to welcome new line-up of Spring Dramas. Hopefully the new bunch of dramas will make up the lackluster 1st quarter of 2013.

So what can we expect in the dramaland as the flowers will be blooming beautifully this season? Let's see.

KBS2 - God of Workplace (16 Episodes)






KBS2 newest Mon-Tues drama will be the adaptation of Japanese Drama The Pride of the TempGod of Workplace (also known as Queen of the Office), an office romantic comedy drama about a mysterious temporary worker "Ms Kim" (Kim Hye Soo) who holds more than 120 certificates & licences in various areas (including office-related works), making her the most capable but unique worker who can suddenly bursting her random skills at work. Ha... Jang Kyu Jik (Oh Ji Ho) is one of the superior in the company who puts his life on the line for his work. A very dedicated senior worker. Although he's graduated from prestigious university in the USA, however, he tends to release his childish behavior. Obviously, things will change as this mysterious temporary worker is challenging him with her various random skills.

Jang Kyu Jik's friend and work colleague, Moo Jung Han (Lee Hee Joon) is his opposite, he doesn't really care about work. Jung Joo Ri (Jung Yu Mi) and Keum Bit Na (Jeon Hye Bin); both were employed at the same time, but due to her lack of education, Joo Ri is only the temporary worker while Bit Na with her glowing resume was hired as the permanent employee. Bit Na was Kyu Jik's girlfriend (ha, talking about coincidence here ^^) and Joo Ri is in love with him. Very complicated love relationship hehehe...

The plot sounds fun and I love office rom-com. Moreover, as I love to take random courses (at the moment I'm doing Computational Photography & Nutrition online courses), I can relate with Ms Kim hahaha.... I can't wait to see how these lovelines will unfold.

The press conference was held on Monday, 25 March 2013. Queen of the Workplace premieres on April 1, 2013.


MBC - Gu Family Secret (24 Episodes)




Gu Family Secret will follow MBC's 51st Anniversary Drama "Horse Doctor". A period piece about Choi Kang Chi (Lee Seung Gi), a male gumiho (or some say he's half-human & half-beast); who's on a journey to find the Gu Family Book to find a way to become full human.

His father Gu Wal Ryung (Choi Jin Hyuk) is a guardian God of Jiri Mountain who falls in love with Yoon Seo Hwa (Lee Yeon Hee) who run to the mountain to escape from Cho Gwan Woong (Lee Sung Jae). Seo Hwa decides sends newly born Choi Kang Chi down the river, in the basket. Park Moo Sol (Uhm HoSub) picks him up and raises him up with his two children, Park Kyung Jo (Lee Yoo Bi) and Park Tae Soo (Yoon Yeon Seok).

Kyung Jo is Kang Chi's first love. Then, he begins to develop romantic feeling with martial arts expert Dam Yeo Wool (Suzy) who will help him on his journey to become a human and later down the track, he will discover his parents (and confront his father who lost his memories and serves the enemies).

This will be the first historical drama for some of the casts, including the main casts, Lee Seung Gi and Suzy; senior actor Lee Sung Jae who will be the villain, the evil mastermind in GFS; Sung Joon & Lee Yoo Bi.

Truthfully, I don't really like fantasy period drama; I never finished watching Iljilmae, Return of Iljilmae, Arang & the Magistrate and some other famous fantasy period dramas. The only one that I like is The Legends (but the ending disappoints me). But I'll be watching Gu Family Secret because of my love for Lee Seung Gi; so hopefully this drama will change my mind about fantasy period drama.

Gu Family Secret premieres on April 8, 2013 and the press conference will be held on April 2, 2013 - 3PM.


SBS - Jang Ok Jung (24 Episodes)




And the last one which will conclude Monday - Tuesday line-up is another period drama, Jang Ok Jung (previously known as Jang Ok Jung, Live for Love). Adapted from novel Jang Ok Jung, Live for Love (published in 2008).

When I searched about this drama on Nate, I saw that the writer wrote another book titled Jang Ok Jung, Live for Love (published in February 2013). Unsure what's the difference between these two books, but I vividly remember that the publisher planned to re-print the 2008 novel because of increasing demand (I guess viewers want to read the novel first to get a basic understanding of the plot before the drama airs).

Jang Ok Jung / Jang Hee Bin is a famous villain (as King Sukjong's concubine who deposed and then poisoned Queen In Hyun to be the Queen). However, in this drama, she will be the heroine and we will follow Jang Hee Bin's (Kim Tae Hee) journey from her childhood, her first love's (played by Jae Hee) story, then after she lost her first love, she enters the palace as a court lady. In the palace, King Sukjong (Yoo Ah In) who is 6 years younger develops a romantic feeling to this beautiful fashion designer and takes her as one of his concubine. He's married with Queen In Hyun (Hong Soo Hyun).

Dong Pyung Goon (Lee Sang Yub) also falls in love with Jang Hee Bin, not knowing that she's King's precious woman. Interesting...

I'm not sure how they'll put Choi Sook Bin (Han Seung Yeon) into the love equation. ^^

Jang Ok Jung will also premiere on April 8, 2013. The Press Conference will be held on 1 April 2013 2PM (live stream)