Casting Updates: Lee Tae Ri, Wi Ha Joon, Kim Kyung Nam

Lee Tae Ri

Lee Tae Ri(formerly Lee Min Ho) has announced that he will be joining Lee Min Ki and Seo Hyun Jin in upcoming drama “Beauty Inside.”  Tae Li will play ‘Jung Joo Hwan’ a talented, but realistic person who loves his life, but has dreams of wealth. He will be Lee Min Ki’s right hand man and help protect his secret – that he has a facial recognition disorder.

“The Beauty Inside” is a re-envisioning of the recent movie “Beauty Inside.”  It follows the unusual story of a top actress(Seo Hyun Jin) who is forced to spend one day out of every month in someone else’s body.  Lee Min Ki plays the role of her love interest, a man without the ability to recognize people’s faces.

The premise of facial recognition disorder seems to be popping up pretty often in dramaland lately;  first with “The Girl Who Sees Smells” and recently with “Handsome Guy and Jung Eum.”  However, it could work well with this story line.  The premise of a woman who can’t keep the same face and a man who can’t tell the difference could beautifully explore the power of love by the heart and not by sight.

“The Beauty Inside” will air later this year.

[Sources: NSPNA, Soompi]

Wi Ha Joon

With Cha Tae Hyun and Bae Doo Na now onboard, upcoming drama “Best Divorce” is on a casting spree.  The most recent addition is Wi Ha Joon from “Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food.” Ha Joon has accepted the role of Im Si-ho, a once succesful lead vocalist of a band at a Hongdae club.  He is a man of simple nature who is enthusiastic and easily moved by small talk.  His role will supposedly have a deep effect on Cha Tae Hyun and Bae Doo Na’s story.

“Best Divorce” is a remake of Japanese drama “Matrimonial Chaos” and tells the complicated love story of married thirty-somethings, Jo Seok Mo(Cha Tae Hyun) and Kang Whee Roo(Bae Doo Na).  Jo Seok Mo is a working man with dreams of becoming a famous musician. But when his dreams fall through, he is forced to get an ordinary job working at a security company.  In addition to resenting his job, Seok Mo begins to suspect that his wife of 3 years and he are growing apart.  Just as Seok Mo’s suspicions begin, his ex-lover Jin Yoo-Young(Lee El) and her husband Lee Jang-Hyun(Son Seok-Koo) enter their lives.

Best Divorce is planned to air in October.

[Source: BreakNews]

Kim Kyung Nam

An offer has gone out to Kim Kyung Nam(Come and Hug Me) to star in upcoming drama “Fox Bride Star” (formerly People of Incheon Airport.)  As yet no details have been revealed about his character.  (Although, it is obviously a secondary character since Lee Je Hoon is still considering the leading role.)

Fox Bride Star is the story of the new hires at Incheon International Airport.  Written by the woman behind “Baker King, Kim Tak Goo” and “Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim,” it will be a feel-good drama about the people working behind the scenes.  The story focuses on two new employees, a man and woman, who work at the airport’s customer service center.

There isn’t any news yet on whether Lee Je Hoon and Chae Soo Bin will be taking the leading roles.  But it should finish casting soon, since it is being planned for an air date in September.

[Sources: YTN News, SEDaily, Hancinema]