The mysterious case of Korean stars in Taiwanese dramas

[dangermousie]

Two Korean leading ladies have recently made the news due to their starring roles in Taiwanese dramas. Park Shin Hye (Tree of Heaven, You're Beautiful) is slated to be the leading lady of Hayate the Combat Butler opposite George Hu, and Gu Hye Sun (King & I, Boys Over Flowers) is going to be the heroine of Absolute Darling, opposite Wu Zun (YUM!). Both of these dramas are adaptations of Japanese manga.

The flist seems to largely be unhappy about the news but I have to go again the grain and revel in my glee. Let's take each case separately.

(1) Hayate. I know next to nothing about the manga but I admit that any drama with this title simply begs to be checked out - sort of like 'Vampire Gigolo', just to see what on earth is going on. I find Taiwan makes the best manga adaptations out there overall (much better than Korean and Japanese attempts IMHO), and while George Hu does not set my panties aflame, I like him pretty well (he was awesome as Wallace Huo's love rival in Love at First Fight). And I like Park Shin Hye who has a sweet and fun on-screen presence. Her warmth made me like her YAB character for a lot longer than I would have otherwise.

(2) Absolute Darling - it's an adaptation of Yu Watase's Absolute Boyfriend, which previously had a Japanese adaptation. I AM MADLY EXCITED FOR THIS ONE. Let me explain - I am an unabashed Yu Watase fangirl. Her Ayashi no Ceres is my favorite manga of all time, and the anime adaptation of her Fushigi Yuugi is one of my favorite animes (Tamahomeeeeeeeee! :P) Absolute Boyfriend is a lot shorter, fluffier and weirder than either AnC or FY, but I love it anyway. The main reason I am excited for this adaptation is that the Taiwanese tend to stick closely to the manga and, let's face it, there is no way anyone can make an adaptation worse than the Japanese drama was. I've been permanently turned off the three leads in that jdrama because of it. I did not find the jdrama very good on its own merits, but I suppose if I hadn't read and loved the manga, I would have just viewed it as another mediocre drama. However, if you are the fan of the manga, the jdrama adaptation will make you want to stab out your eyes and eat them. I can deal with them taking out delightful self-referential humor and the yummy and plentiful sensuality (it's jdrama - nobody is allowed to touch! Even if the source manga is about a woman who buys a sexbot!) but they changed the personalities and interactions of the three main characters, not to mention the message of the story. It's like taking a novel about peaceful quakers and turning it into a war film. The drama has about that much resemblance to the manga. So - as I said, I am excited because there is no way twdrama will be as bad, and there is a good chance it will be better - due to Taiwan's tendency to follow the manga and allow people to express physical affection on screen. I actually even like the casting. Wu Zun is not a master actor by even the most liberal interpretation of the term, but he is adequate enough and he's playing a robot, so it's not exactly asking him to tackle Hamlet. And he is ridiculously hot, especially when you compare him to scrawny Hayami Mokomichi of the jdrama. Gu Hye Sun wasn't my favorite person after Boys Over Flowers, what with her overacting, especially evident when she acted opposite someone who was doing a good job (Lee Min Ho) or underacting (Kim Hyun Joong). But her brand of rubber-faced clowning is perfect for twdramas. Think of Rainie Yang or Ariel Lin - GHS does not overact any more than either of those do in twdrama romcoms.

So basically, I am excited for both.

I do wonder why on earth PSH and GHS signed up for this. It is not unheard of a Korean actress to star in a twdrama (Silence, My Lucky Star) but the actresses there are little-known in Korea and take their leading lady chances whenever they can get them. But both the ladies here are bona fide leading ladies in Korea in their own right. So why Taiwan? Twdramas are not as prestigious as Korean ones and surely they cannot pay as much. Hmmmmm.

Comments

[ifruity.livejournal.com]

Wow. I actually approved of the Japanese adaptation of Absolute Boyfriend. I read the manga and was in love with it (especially the perfect ending). I was annoyed at first that they made all the changes because I couldn't see any reason why they had to. Maybe it was because showing a naked robot asking a high schooler for sex was a little too much for Japan. But I guess since I'd read the manga long before I saw the drama, I was able to separate the two versions. The drama made me cry, which is enough for me to stamp my approval lol

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

a naked robot asking a high schooler for sex was

And eventually getting it :) Ahhhh, Watase. It's like she mixed Silver Metal Lover and crack. But clearly, according to Japan, grown-up ladies aren't allowed any sexing either since they turned Riiko into a grown-up.

Jdrama may have gotten good by the end - I have no idea, dropped out about 2/3 through.

[uisceros.livejournal.com]

Goo Hye Sun makes a lot of sense to me. Boys Before Flowers was HUGE in Taiwan. She even starred in a Taiwan tourism campaign with the boys from Fahrenheit. I'm guessing the same thing happened with You're Beautiful and Park Shin Hye by default.
The more recent Taiwanese dramas do usually have a huge budget (for Taiwan - things are cheaper in Taiwan than they are in Korea in general). Since Taiwan doesn't produce as many new idol dramas a year as Korea does, they have more money to spend when they do big budget dramas (think Black & White - huge budget on that one). I'm assuming they offered both actresses a lot of money, with the added plus of being better well known in the Chinese market.

I personally can't say I'm super excited for either. I love the Zettai Kareshi manga, and agree that they really didn't do much with the jdrama adaption. I would have preferred to see a Taiwanese actress in the role though. I don't know how Goo Hye Sun (or, for that matter, Park Shin Hye) is going to do it. As far as I know, she doesn't speak Mandarin. They might dub her voice (like they did for Wu Zun in the early days), but for all that trouble they could have gotten a great Taiwanese actress.

[stillingfleet.livejournal.com]

IA about having Taiwanese actresses too - I was watching a Taiwanese entertainment show and they were interviewing both PSH and GHS, and neither of them can speak Mandarin (and dubbing is always ABSOLUTELY PAINFUL).

that said, GHS looked adorable with Wu Zun in the interviews, so I'm kinda excited.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the explanation of the mechanics.

I bet they will dub both of them - they did with Yoo Hana in MLS. I can't think of anyone I love who didn't get the role because they cast a kdrama actress though so it doesn't bother me (only ones I can think of who'd even fit would be Ariel, Rainie, and the female lead of FTLY but even though I like the first two, it's not enough to prefer them strongly in any particular role).

[ejekyll.livejournal.com]

I hated the Jdrama for Zettai Kareshi too, although I suspect part of the reason was because I loved the manga so much that I had set my expectations too high, and I'd seen the male lead in some other dramas, playing bit parts, and I didn't think he's suck quite as much as he did. That said, I'm still gonna try an ep or two of his new drama - Hammer!

but if I remember correctly, the korean actress in Silence was the actress had just come out of her role playing second lead in Dae Jang Geum, and she was experiencing a HUGE wave of popularity in Korea because of it (like GHS). But pls... Rainie Yang is my secret love. I adored the TWD version of Akuma no Sourou, and I'm sure at least 60% was because of her, she was so cute!

However, my first thought when I'd heard of this casting was that Wu Zun's manager had gotten him the PERFECT role! no acting required! Simple, earnest and good-looking.

But I HAVE to challenge the comment that the TWD couldn't be worse. Please consider the travesty that was Wu Zun's Hanakimi.... errgh. Hanakimi is MY favourite manga. And my favourite male Chinese singer in the whole wide world had a cameo role in it. Jiro Wang was perfectly cast and delivered. but they still contrived to make a drama that I .... have no words for.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I hated the Jdrama for Zettai Kareshi too, although I suspect part of the reason was because I loved the manga so much that I had set my expectations too high

Yes, I was in the same boat.

Re: Hammer. Is it about a carpenter or a serial killer? :) Mokomichi isn't my cup of tea but at least he is one of the few genuinely tall jdrama actors :P

I like Raini - her dramas are hit or miss for me though (but omg ToGetHer was so perfect).

However, my first thought when I'd heard of this casting was that Wu Zun's manager had gotten him the PERFECT role! no acting required! Simple, earnest and good-looking.

Ahahahahahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Re: Hana Kimi. I don't know, I liked twdrama better than jdrama which completely went insane. Not that either of them is in my all-time faves or anything. A lot of it has to do with my liking of Ella though.

[ejekyll.livejournal.com]

Hammer is about a con-artist who ends up being a teacher... you kinda get the drill. its pretty standard JDrama material. But height isn't really important to me, in drama or real life (I'm five feet nothing. I'm not one to talk).

I haven't watched ToGetHer but she's just too darling for words, so I'd adore her anyways!

And the JDrama did go insane, but in a super campy Dasepo kinda way! Entered into the mangaverse a little. I liked it! Plus I remember the creepy ghostie guy was so priceless in the Jdrama version! I loled.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

TGH is really really awesome and highly recced

[algelic.livejournal.com]

I don't really approve of having Korean leads in Taiwanese dramas. To help with the language problems, they'll definitely cut down on the dialogue and what little they have will be incomprehensible.

But Wu Chun in Absolute Boyfriend? <3333333333333

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am 100% sure they will dub them. They dubbed Yu Hana in My Lucky Star. Twdramas aren't as dub-happy as the Mainland ones but they do dub. I don't mind, it's not as if I am madly in love with PSH or GHS voices.

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry but I liked the jdrama version of ZK. I felt there was something deep- which can be hardly found in tdrama remakes of manga, expect Mars, and kdramas, expect dramas like God of Study- about this show as this is the case of most of Jdramas. And I argue that every taiwanese remakes of mangas were cringworthy, exxagerately cheesy- they use tons of kissing scenes to hide their flaws- and bad acted as this is the case in 99% of Tdramas- "Meteor Garden", "Hana Kimi","devil beside you" that I can understand why it was addicting with millions of kisses same to ISWAK. For example HYD jdrama- wich remains the best version of this story even beats the anime and one of best asian dramas in my view- made me respect the characters at some point namely in season 2 unlike the Tdrama- I did not take them seriously- or the kdrama which was mediocre from begining to the end.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think we will have to agree to disagree on that one )

[ejekyll.livejournal.com]

hmmm..yeah dangermousie, we know your views. Prolly why the commenter chose to stay anonymous! and really anon? HYD was one of the best asian dramas ever? interesting.......

[jennyhime.livejournal.com]

What's weird is that in the original manga the main female character is a 12 year old girl and what I know there is no romance though the girl believes the butler is in love with her (even though I can imagine a lot of doujinshi manga with creepy stuff in them)

I love Yuu Watase myself, I love zettai kareshi and Fushigi yugi genbu kaiden is even better then the original fushigi yugi.
Ayashi no ceres made me cry buckets!
But I'm a but sceptical about the tw drama not that I was a fan of the jdorama either, Wu Zhun cannot act at all and I'm no Gu Hye Sun fan at all especially after BOF (in that HYD will forever be my favorite version)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

12 years old? Eeeek. Though seeing that they cast PSH, presumably they will make the heroine older, the way they did with Meichan.

I kept following Genbu Kaiden but they were coming out so slowly I forgot what happened in between volumes. I really must check it out again.

[jennyhime.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's maybe better to make the heroine older unless you want to have creepyfactor x 100.
I haven't read genbu kaiden in a while even though I love it, but at the moment I'm really into Fumi Yoshinaga's Ooku manga. It's basically a reversed story about what if Japan was ruled by women because all the males have become rare so men are treated as treasures and the shogun is a woman with a whole palace full of men. They even made a movie adaptation of the first volume.
I would also recommend mangas by Motomi Kyousuke, he makes great shoujo manga where the female leads are not really weak or annoying.
You should also try kimi no todoke and Yotsuba especially Yotsuba because it's such a fun manga.

[ockoala.livejournal.com]

I totally forgot you read mangas, too!

I've been reading mangas since I was 5, like over 20 some years now.

The biggest manga award given in the manga industry is the Shogakukan, and I always check it out for the "best" manga of the year. Shoujo is the female category, Shonen male.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shogakukan_Manga_Award


Your fave Ceres won one year. I am an okay Yuu Watase fan, but I've read every one of her works, so I'm a Yuu completest.

Some of the winners are the best mangas I've ever read, epic and breathtaking in scope.

I recommend:

Basara and 7 Seeds, both by Tamura Yumi. Her drawing style I've never liked, but her storytelling is Shakespearean and epic-drama in scope. And after a while, I've grown to appreciate her drawing style, it's stark and raw around the edges, akin to sketches in scenes but conveys the viscera so well it's art in a new form.

And Red River by Chie Shinohara is also quite an epic tale. Just some unsolicited manga suggestions. We have a manga room at home with shelves of the mangas we own. I think mangas are definitely my first love. Too bad most of the older stuff is unavailable translated, as stuff from the 70s and 80s are unparallel in quality.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link!

I adored Red River. I got to the part where Yuri was kidnapped by Ramses and then ran out of all translated volumes. I really must go back, I am sure they are out by now. I have to say the mangaka really stuck close to Hittite history for that one which I liked (I had a book on the Hittites before that which is why I was interested in the manga).

I tried Basara and got about halfway through but the artstyle was soooo offputting. More importantly, I loathed Shuri so there was that. Maybe I'll go back to it someday as I do have all the volumes.

[ockoala.livejournal.com]

Yoy loathe Shuri? LOL, totally understand, but you probably stopped somewhere in Part I. Basara is split into two parts. Part I is really Sarasa's story and her growth, and ends at book 13 after Shuri and Sarasa discover their real identities. Part II is Shuri's story - where he understands humanity, humility, and truly becomes a worthy hero for the book, though paying his dues for his own crimes.

I actually think Tamura's 7 Seeds, which was her follow up to Basara, and also won the Shogakukan manga of the year award a few years back, may end up being more epic and better than Basara.

7 Seeds does not have a dark protagonist, all the major leads are super awesome people, so that might interest you more. I wrote a little bit about it.

The love lines in 7 Seeds made me weep, and the potential love triangles are sooooo gasp-worthy to consider.

http://ockoala.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/7-seeds/

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

7 seeds sounds too bizarre/farfetched for me - I am a huge fan of dystopian stuff but not so much of survivalist genre. Maybe I'll go back to Basara though, but only if Shuri pays and pays and pays. It takes a lot for me to dislike a manga hero, but he made it.

[ockoala.livejournal.com]

I thought I would not like 7 Seeds all that much either - I like my mangas epic but not survivalist in the least. But it's just so compelling that it took me about 4 books to buy into the story (right around the time Winter Group shows up).

As for Basara - how 'bout I tell you what Shuri does to pay and pay and you decide if its enough.

In Part II, Shuri becomes a slave and has to find a way to survive and make his way back into power. He does, and saves people in the process. When he gets back into power - because the Capital and the monarchy are under seige - he agrees to become his father's successor.

It may have been his goal when he was younger, and it appears he has again taken an antogonist position against Sarasa and the rebels again, this time with full knowledge of who is he battling (the woman he loves). But in the end, its revealed that Shuri has decided to set himself up as the scape goat for the entire royal family.

Even if the rebel's beat the royal family, there may still be supports who then become rebels trying to over throw the new regime. Shuri understands the only way for change to stick is if there is no one longing for the old regime.

So he takes power and proceeds to make the regime even more terrible, and in the final fight, he wants to be cast as the devil incarnate so that when Sarasa kills him, she is ending a regime that no one could possible mourn or try to bring back.

Of course, I won't you how it all ends....

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I may give Basara another chance then (oh, if only the art wasn't so hideous).

I may check out 7 seeds if heroine hooks up with wolf-killing guy :) (From your write-up it seemed awfully low on shoujo stuff, sadly).

[ockoala.livejournal.com]

Yeah, 7 Seeds is lower on the shoujo sweetness we love and adore. In fact, the main OTP hasn't even met up like 18 books into it, though whether they stay main OTP I don't know.

It's really a story about humanity, and hope. It's awe-inspiring, and I wouldn't categorize it as shoujo actually.

Basara was much more lovey dovey moments, but also way more hard to stomach shit like what the fates befall some of the awesome characters.

I love that pitcher/wolf man so much, even though the main OTP is sweetness personified, I wouldn't herniate my brain if Tamura split them up.

[issy-chan.livejournal.com]

eeeeeeeee, i'm also a fan of Yu Watase's mangas. Fushigi Yuugi was my first English manga to read then Ayashe no ceres (own both manga and animes) and had to continue with Zettai Kareshi. that's why i had to watch the drama when i find out about it. butwas very disappoiting for me. hated both male and female leads.
also second Basara and Red river, they are just great. unfortunatey have not continue with them for while.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yay! Fellow YW lover! Oh, FY was my first exposure to her too. I was so obsessed it was unhealthy.

I really really hope ZK is good as a twdrama.

Btw, if they ever made a liveaction FY (not that they would), who'd you cast? Younger Takki always made me think of Tamahome :)

[issy-chan.livejournal.com]

Takky as Tamahome? that's interesting but my fav guy in FY was Hotohori, young king.
funny you mentioned Takky, he has been on mind lately. feel like watching something new of him. his Ortherus no inu made me crave for more of him. i always have a soft spot for him. don't know why. he is not even a very good actor. hahah

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

(((Hotohori))) I literally went into hysterics when he died.

I miss Takki too. He is so pretty. He should do another drama asap.

[issy-chan.livejournal.com]

never in my life, i have cried that hard over a fictional character in a book. was depressed for week. :-(

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I literally had hysterics and had to lie down before I threw up. Mmmm, not fun.