It's definite. Ha Ji Won's latest leading man will not be Rain. Instead she will pair up with Lee Jin Wook for the upcoming drama "The Time I Loved You, 7,000 days."
It has been a year since Ha Ji Won appeared in "Empress Ki" with co-stars Joo Jin Mo and Ji Chang Wook. The role earned her three MBC drama awards and nominations at the Baeksang Arts, APAN and 7th Korea Drama Awards. After that she appeared in the film "Chronicle of a Blood Merchant," a screen adaption of a bestselling Chinese novel.
As the winner of dozens of previous awards for roles in dramas such as "Secret Garden" and "King 2 Hearts," she is often referred to as "a sure thing." Her appearance in a drama almost always guarantees success. And it usually predicts great romantic chemistry. She was nominated for "Best Couple" awards with Joo Jin Mo, Ji Chang Wook, Lee Seung Gi and Hyun Bin, winning one for her body-swapping role with the latter.
This time she will play a couple with Lee Jin Wook, who was last seen playing a prince in "The Three Musketeers" with Jung Yong Hwa. Lee won praise for his role as a man who traveled through time to right his family's wrongs in the 2012 drama "Nine: Nine Time Travels." The role won him the Mnet 20's Choice Award and earned three APAN Star Awards and Korea Drama Awards. He will appear in two films this year, "Time Renegade" and "Beauty Inside."
It was originally rumored that Rain would take the role. Many actors are eager to work with Ha Ji Won. Not only is she a "sure thing" when it comes to drama success but she has a reputation of being easy to work with and interested in making her co-stars look good.
"The Time I Loved You, 7,000 Days is a Korean remake of a Taiwanese drama. The characters they play are friends. Lee Jin Wook plays a man who is popular with women but despite dating for a decade, he never seems to find the right one. That's because Ha Ji Won's character is the woman for him but he just doesn't realize it.
Jo Soo Won, who directed "I Hear Your Voice," "Gapdong," and "Pinocchio," will direct the drama. Min Ho Jung, who wrote "Cat On The Roof," is the screenwriter.
Altogether these are some impressive credentials. The drama is set to air in June. What do you think about this onscreen pairing? Would you rather have seen Rain in this role?
