Austin's Choice - Korean Drama : 9. Coffee Prince

The First Shop Of Coffee Prince Shes back! Following her roles in Princess Hours and The Man of the Vineyard, which made her an icon of trendy Korean dramas, Yoon Eun-hye is now starring as a tomboyish young girl dressed as a man in The First Shop of Coffee Prince. This big hit in Korea, which is based on a novel with the same title, has attracted a large female audience by casting some well-known actors to play handsome princes in this marshmallow drama. This is the first long dramatic series ever to be produced by MBC's first female drama producer Lee Yoon-jung, who had previously directed shorter dramas such as Taeneung National Village. With her sophisticated and feminine dramatic sensibility, Lee has succeeded in capturing the hearts of viewers who are largely young males and females in their thirties. Drama Information  Broadcast Network : MBC   Broadcasting Dates : July 2 ~ August 28, 2007 at 21:55 every Monday and Tuesday  Producer : Lee Yoon-jung  Cast : Yoon Eun-hye, Gong Yoo, Lee Seon-gyeon, Chae Jung-an  Website : http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/drama/coffeeprince (Korean)

Synopsis As the head of a poor family, the lively and independent Eun-chan has worked at just about every job there is. She is hired to work at a coffee shop by Han-gyeol who mistakes her for a male and asks her to pose as his boyfriend. A relationship begins between Han-gyeol, who pretends to act as a homosexual to scare off the blind dates arranged by his grandmother, and Eun-chan, who needs to hide her gender to make money. At his grandmothers request, Han-gyeol takes charge of the failing Coffee Prince. He re-opens the shop together with a few princes including Eun-chan and builds a partnership and friendship with them. In the process, Han-gyeol finds himself drawn to Eun-chan, and this homosexual attraction confuses him.

About the Characters Choi Han-gyeol Played by Gong Yoo  Han-gyeol is the heir to the Dongin Foods Company. He had been working in the U.S., but returns to Korea at his grandmothers request. Smart, witty, and handsome, he is popular with women. He hasn't settled on any particular job, and still has so many things he wants to do. Clearly, taking over the family business is not what he has in mind. He is unable to defy his grandmothers requests, however, so he starts managing the coffee shop, Coffee Prince, and grows to enjoy the taste of its coffee. Definitely stubborn, he doesn't want to ask for favors or give them. Likewise, he acts with indifference toward others. However, deep inside he is warm hearted. He meets Eun-chan, a lively boy (who is actually a girl) and falls in love with him, which has him deeply troubled about his sexual preference. Go Eun-chan Played by Yoon Eun-hye Eun-chan is definitely a manly-looking girl. When she was in high school, girls of her age often mistook her for a pretty boy and tried to date her. Since her father passed away, she has worked at all kinds of jobs to support her family. Despite her difficult situation, she maintains a courageous and forthright demeanor. A likeable person, she enjoys eating good food and is friendly to everyone. Influenced by her coffee-loving father, she has an uncanny ability to judge the aroma of coffee. Thanks to this ability, she lands a job at Coffee Prince and dreams of becoming a hostess one day. She falls in love with Han-gyeol who is cold and wild, and since their encounter, her life is no longer as peaceful as it had been. Choi Han-seong Played by Lee Seon-gyeon Not only does Han-seong have a sweet voice and smile, but he is also easy-going and can make friends easily, though not revealing his true feelings. Like other artists, he is stubborn and somewhat eccentric. A musician working at a broadcast company, he lives alone - away from his family and the family business, Dongin Foods. As far as work is concerned, he is full of confidence and active. He has found it difficult to be close to women ever since he broke up with his ex-girlfriend, Yoo-joo. However, he finds he is drawn to Eun-chan who befriends him. Han Yoo-joo Played by Chae Jung-an Yoo-joo is a stylish and sexy artist. The raven-haired beauty has been working actively in both New York and Seoul. She is liberal to the point of selfishness, wearing whatever fashion suits her taste. She makes friends with others quite easily, but her unrestrained character often leads to loneliness. Deep inside, she is hurt easily and has trouble getting over it. She once loved Choi Han-seong but her passion for art caused her to break up with him and go to New York. She later goes back to Han-seong only to learn the painful truth - that he doesnt feel the same way about her.

Film Locations The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince at Hongdae The 1st shop of Coffee Prince is actually an old coffee shop that was remodeled for the drama. This inconspicuous coffee shop was packed with fans that flocked there to catch a glimpse of the production in process. Set to reopen after filming, both the exterior and interior have been totally overhauled in line with the film. Inside, visitors can find a painting by Han Yoo-joo as well as a number of props from the drama. The only thing missing are the people like Han-gyeol, Eun-chan, Mr. Hong, Wapeulseongi, Minpyeminyeop, and Jappeokarim. If you are a real fan of the drama, Coffee Prince, you may want to stop by for a cup of coffee and enjoy the memories of the drama.

Seoul Animation Center Seoul Animation Center can be visited by walking up Namsan Mountain from Myeongdong station. It was opened in May 1999 as a Mecca of Korean cartoons and the animation industry. The center hosts an animation festival, and offers a variety of facilities like a theater, an information center, exhibitions, and daily education programs. It also holds many theaters and galleries including a library, a visual material information center, a theme exhibition gallery, and an animation exhibition gallery. In particular, AniCinema is the nations first animation-only theater with 179 seats and a dolby digital sound system. It also has facilities for education such as an experience gallery, seminar rooms, and digital education rooms, as well as a video editing room and recording room for professionals. Thanks to its location at the foot of Namsan Mountain, the center has a great view that can be seen from the rooftop. This was the location of Han-gyeols house in the film. Built of wood, it has a romantic garden with a wooden deck and a swing, offering a panoramic view of downtown Seoul.

Sandongsugyodaewang (Chinese Dumpling King) In an effort to reconcile with Eun-chan, Han-gyeol asks her to meet him at a Chinese restaurant. In one scene, Eun-chan eats a dish full of sweet and sour pork as Han-gyeol watches, smiling at her. Han-gyeol can't drink but decides to order something alcoholic, and the two soon make up. In this scene, which was filmed at a Chinese restaurant in Yeonhee-dong, the two have fun just like brothers. On the 500-meter-long street there are about eight Chinese restaurants. The street is also called Yeonhui Matgil (Yeonhee Street of Flavors).

Bugak Skyway Palgakjeong The day after her father's memorial day, Eun-chan prepares some food from the memorial service and goes to visit Han-gyeol. Wishing to avoid meeting her, Han-gyeol says he is jogging. He calls Yoo-joo, and the love triangle scene unfolds, which includes Yoo-joo (who prepared a nice lunchbox upon Han-gyeol's request) and Eun-chan (who walks back and forth restlessly with the food). The scene was filmed at a jogging course at Palgakjeong on the Bugak Skyway. From here, you can see a great view of Seoul and enjoy the beauty of nature all within the city limits. No wonder it is popular as a dating spot for young couples. In the evening, many are out to enjoy a drive. Together with Namsan Mountain, this is a popular night time attraction in Seoul.

Kyobo Bookstore in Gwanghwamun Eun-chan possesses a natural gift for smelling and distinguishing good coffee. As such, she works for Coffee Prince and dreams of becoming a barista. Han-gyeol quickly notices her ability and one day takes her to a bookstore where he buys her a book about coffee. The place where the exterior of the bookstore was filmed is Kyobo Bookstore in Gwanghwamun, which is the largest bookstore in Korea.

Hongdae Playground Han-gyeol has been involved in a one-sided love with Yoo-joo, who is the girlfriend of his elder cousin. After many years, he still has romantic feelings for her. One day, he goes out on a date with her, and has a great time. Yoo-joo shows an interest in a hat sold by a street vendor and Han-gyeol buys it for her. The date scene was filmed on the street in front of the playground opposite Hongik University. In the evening, street vendors sell a variety of accessories and clothes. On weekends, a flea market is held on the open grassy field, where you can buy everyday necessities and accessories made by young artists. There is also an Indie-band performance.

Duksung Girls High School One rainy day, Eun-chan returns home with a doll in her hand, when she bumps into someone else walking along. The other person is about to give Eun-chan a hard time when Han-gyeol suddenly appears to help. They pick up the rain-soaked doll and run to get out of the rain. The scene in which Han-gyeol saves Eun-chan, which resembles something out of a fairy tale, was filmed in front of Duksung Girls High School. The street starts from Pungmoon Girls High School (across from Insa-dong Street) and continues until you reach Art Sonje Center. It eventually leads to Samcheong-dong where there are numerous small shops, cafes, and restaurants. Photo courtesy: Cine 21, MBC Information & written by KTO

Austin's Choice - Korean Drama : 8. Worlds Within

“Worlds Within” was produced by a Korean drama dream team. One of Korea’s best drama writers, Hee-kyung Noh, teamed up with director Min-soo Pyo and two of Korea’s favorite stars, Song Hye-gyo and Hyun Bin, to produce a first-class drama series. It’s the story of a drama production team and their everyday lives and relationships, and the story unfolds in an understated yet heart-touching manner. The drama focuses on the beautiful love story between Junyoung and Jio (played by Song Hye-gyo and Hyun Bin), and their realistic yet powerful emotions struck a chord with many viewers.

Drama Information Director: Min-soo Pyo Script: Hee-kyung Noh　 Starring: Hyun Bin, Song Hye-gyo Broadcasting Company: KBS Airing Period:October 27, 2008 through December 16, 2008 Website: Click Here (KOR)

Synopsis When Junyoung, a director, joins the drama division of a broadcasting station, she finds herself working with Jio, a senior director and her former boyfriend. When Junyoung breaks up with her current boyfriend, Jio confesses his true feelings for her, and they get back together. Meanwhile, Gyuho Song, an established director in the broadcasting world, begins a risky romance with Haejin, a young yet fearless actress. As well as these love stories, the drama paints a compelling picture of the professional lives of directors, scriptwriters and actors. Cast Ju Jun-young performed by Song Hye-gyo　 She joins the broadcasting station to fulfill her professional ambition of making a drama. Her passion for work gains her recognition from her colleagues and seniors. At work she appears quite confident and is undaunted by her mainly male colleagues. Although on the outside she is frank and direct, Jun-young is actually quite sensitive and gets hurt easily. At work, her meticulous nature sometimes hurts the feelings of her colleagues, and she is still naive when it comes to relationships, often, unwittingly, hurting her boyfriend's feelings. However, she has a sweet and warm-hearted personality. Jung Jio performed by Hyun Bin　 Jio is a gifted director who makes good productions that get high ratings. He is passionate and serious about his work, as well as being warm hearted and considerate of others, which has made him an idol among the junior directors in the company. He enjoys other people’s company and is always surrounded by people. Although his ambition was to become a film director, he gave up his dream due to his family’s financial situation. Instead he joined a broadcasting company and finds fulfillment through making dramas with heart-warming stories. At times he still pines for first love, Yeonhui. Song Gyu-ho performed by Eom Gi-jun　 Smart and stylish, Gyu-ho is one of the broadcasting company’s star directors. However, he is the selfish, ambitious type who would do anything to get a higher rating and is often given the cold shoulder by his colleagues. He has a cold and proud personality, and he doesn’t bother making friends. Although Gyu-ho often finds himself always at odds with Jio, he actually likes him. Gyu-ho’s character changes during the drama, influenced by his romance with the young, sweet actress, Haejin. Main Locations Jingwansa Temple Before breaking-up due to pressure from Gyu-ho’s father, Gyu-ho and Haejin take one last trip together. The scene where the two lovers share their pain and tears was filmed at Jingwansa temple. This was also the filming location for one of Hyun Bin’s previous dramas, the very popular <My Lovely Samsoon>.  Jingwansa temple is famous for its small yet beautiful temple, the stonewalls that line the mountain trails, and the dark green foliage that surrounds the temple garden. Visitors can follow the path past the temple to enjoy trekking on Bukhansan mountain. Jingwansa temple is home to female Buddhist monks, and it also runs a temple stay program for visitors. Wondang Horse Farm This is the place where an accident involving one of Jio’s camera crew was filmed. Jio’s ambitious drive leads him to film in this location, despite his unclear eyesight, and the head cameraman ends up getting injured. Despite this unfortunate event, this location is in fact an incredibly beautiful spot. Beautiful slender white poplar trees line the road that leads to Jingwansa temple. Some 40 dramas and commercials have been filmed in this area, these include <The First Shop of Coffee Prince> and <One Fine Spring Day>. The farm is spread out across rolling fields and visitors can watch the horses leisurely grazing in the meadows. Since the farm is only 30 minutes distance from Jingwansa temple and both are on the outskirts of Seoul, they make for a good day trip. Walking Slowly (Neurige Geotgi) The first scene of this drama takes place in front of a café called Walking Slowly in the Cheongdam-dong area of Seoul. In the scene, Jio is filming for a drama with his fast-moving camera crew. Walking Slowly café is a popular spot for filming due to its serene design and the scenic ginko trees that line the road in front of the café. This café serves “slow food” and caters to food lovers and the health conscious. Wine and tea are also served.   Information & written by KTO

Austin's Choice - Korean Drama : 7. The Moon That Embraces The Sun

Based on the novel of the same title, The Moon That Embraces the Sun (also known as "The Sun and the Moon") reached almost 20% in viewership from its first episode. The acting and the visual appeal of the young actors have stolen the hearts of young female viewers, and the show’s ratings only improve with each new episode.
The Moon That Embraces the Sun is a historical drama depicting the first love of a fictional king, set in the royal court of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). It is a sad but beautiful love story of innocent young people, with the story developing around the conflicts and conspiracy of political powers vying for the throne against the king’s efforts for good politics.
The drama is a quality fusion historical drama enhanced by the strong acting of the main and supporting actors, its visual appeal, and the engaging dialogue that draws from the humor on the Internet.

Drama Information

Head producer:

Oh Gyeong-hun

Directed by:

Kim Do-hun, Lee Seong-jun

Screenplay by:

Jin Su-wan

Cast:

Han Ga-in, Kim Soo-hyun, Jung Il-woo, Kim Min-seo

Aired on:

January 4, 2012 - March 8, 2012 (20 episodes)

Broadcasting channel:

MBC

Website:

http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/drama/sunNmoon/ (Korean)

Synopsis

Heo Yeon-u, the daughter of a high-ranking official, visits the royal court with her mother to see her brother attend a ceremony congratulating his first place in the state examination. By chance, she comes across crown prince Lee Hwon, and the two feel attracted by each other. Yeon-u’s brother, a person of high scholarship with a great personality, is ordered by the king to become the mentor of the crown prince. After learning that his mentor is Yeon-u’s brother, the crown prince uses him as a messenger of love.
Inside the palace, there is a conspiracy to have Yoon Bo-gyeong, the daughter of a family clan that is in opposition to the king, selected as the crown princess. Lee Hwon manages to have Yeon-u selected as the crown princess, but his great-grandmother Yoon asks shaman Nok-yeong to cast a spell on Yeon-u so that she becomes stricken with an unknown sickness. Yeon-u is taken to her home in her last remaining days of life, and passes away. Nok-yeong secretly visits Yeon-u’s father and tells him how to break the spells. Upon being resurrected from her grave, Yeon-u lives her life as a shaman by the name Wol, without any recollection of her past. Meanwhile, after Yeon-u’s believed death, Yoon Bo-gyeong becomes the crown princess and expands her political power in the court. Amid difficult political circumstances, Lee Hwon grows to be a cold and aloof king. As time passes, his yearning for Yeon-u only grows. One day, he sets out on an excursion to a hot spring. Seeing him in the royal procession from afar, Yeon-u (Wol) becomes confused as Hwon comes back vaguely in her memory.

Characters

Heo Yeon-u played by Han Ga-in

Yeon-u - the moon containing the sun. Though her name means ‘misty rain,’ Yeon-u is like the clear sky after a shower. The daughter of a high-ranking official, she is educated and wise. She comes across Lee Hwon when she happens to visit the royal palace to attend a ceremony congratulating her brother’s first place in the state examination. Her first impressions of the crown prince turn into love. Though selected to be the crown princess, she is stricken with an unknown illness and is forced out of the palace. At home, she dies in her father’s arms. Not knowing what had happened to her, Yeon-u is brought back to life and becomes a shaman. One day, she comes across Lee Hwon again.

Lee Hwon played by Kim Soo-hyun

Lee Hwon - the sun reaching out for the moon. Handsome and always bright, he learns from his mentor (Yeon-u’s brother) the pleasure of scholarship and the etiquette expected of a king, while also learning about the world outside the palace and the joy of first love from Yeon-u. After the sudden death of Yeon-u, who was selected to be his crown princess, and the court’s decision to declare Yoon Bo-gyeong as the crown princess, he turns into a cold and cynical king. During a royal procession one day, he steps inside a shaman’s home to escape the rain. There, he meets a shaman called Wol who looks uncannily like Yeon-u.

Yang Myeong played by Jung Il-woo

Yang Myeong - a sad light overshadowed by the sun. Though he looks like he doesn’t care about anything in the world, he strives to be free from his destiny. As the half brother of Lee Hwon, he grew up in the shadow of Hwon. His father, the king, shuns him. To cope, he leaves the palace and roams about the world. He is a friend of Yeon-u’s brother and feels love for Yeon-u, but he falls in despair after Yeon-u’s death.

Yoon Bo-gyeong played by Kim Min-seo

Bo-gyeong - a mirror longing to be the moon. With a ladylike demeanor, she has a nice, warm personality on the surface. But her affection of the elderly, the respect of those who serve her, and the sympathy of the royal relatives are all the outcomes of her carefully crafted strategy to become crown princess. It was her father that turned the innocent young Bo-gyeong into an ambitious person. When Yeon-u dies, her wish to become Hwon’s consort comes true. But eight years later, her worries start to grow after seeing shaman Wol appear in front of the king

Filming Locations

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The residence of Choi Champan is the background of Korea’s noted historical novel Toji (The Land) and a famous filming location. In The Moon That Embraces the Sun, it appears as the house where Yeon-woo spent her childhood. The residence is housed in a hanok building and has on exhibit various items showing the lifestyle and culture of the later part of the Joseon Dynasty. It boasts a splendid natural landscape with an expansive neighboring field and the Seomjingang River. In the spring, the area is bright with cherry flower blossoms along the river, and in the fall, the area turns into the venue for the Toji Literature Festival.

Yongin MBC Dramia

Yongin MBC Dramia is the filming set where Korean historical dramas like Jumong, Queen Seondeok, and Dong Yi were filmed. The facility features buildings from the Three Kingdoms era (the era of the Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla Kingdoms, between the 4th and mid-7th century) to the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). In The Moon That Embraces the Sun, royal palace scenes were mostly filmed here. With the popularity of Korean drama series, Yongin MBC Dramia is becoming a major tourist destination for both local and international tourists.

 

Korean Folk Village

The Korean Folk Village features the lifestyle and private houses of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). It has on exhibit various items from the era, including household tools, farming tools, and crafts. Various events are held by season, such as farmers’ music performances, tightrope dancing, and traditional wedding reenactments. The market inside the village sells various traditional foods like injeolmi (rice cake), bindaetteok (mung bean pancake), pajeon (spring onion pancake), and Korean liquors. In The Sun and the Moon, the local markets, the private residences of the commoners, and the night scenes were filmed here.

Information & written by KTO

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