It's Just Like the Drama Within the Drama! (MW the Spy news!)

[walkwithheroes]

If you're a fan of Korean dramas - and unless you've been hiding out - you'll know the drama that's been going on with Spy Myung Wol this past weekend. Well, it's all settled now. . .sort of. Leading lady, Han Ye Seul has gone to LA. And, it has been decided that she'll be replaced by another actress, who may or may not be playing the character of Myung Wol. It's just like the stupid drama-within-the-drama: will they have Myung Wol die off screen? Will they have the new actress play Myung Wol? Will Myung Wol simply disappear? And, what of the other characters (and cast members)?

Well, koala, of koalasplayground.com has the story.





A representative for Lee-Kim Productions spoke with the media and gave their side of the story:

During the meeting on the 15th, Han Ye Seul apparently agreed to come back to filming on August 16th, so her suddenly leaving South Korea for LA is as much as shock to the production as it is to everyone else. They think Han Ye Seul is trying to end her career in Korea, otherwise her actions are so extreme there is no going back for her.

Lee-Kim Productions actually takes the side of Han Ye Seul in her fight with the PD, explaining she got as much time off as everyone and she didn’t miss a lot of filming to do CFs contrary to reports. As for the discord between PD Hwang and Han Ye Seul, the production said the fault lies 80% with the PD and 20% with Han Ye Seul.

While it’s true the relationship went South between the PD and lead actress, but the production emphasized that this is not the way Han Ye Seul should have dealt with it, negatively impacting the rest of the cast and crew. The PD runs the entire show, and when even if there is a dispute, Han Ye Seul is in the wrong for allowing her frustration to be resolved in this manner.

The only known statement from Han Ye Seul is what she tweeted right before she left for LA: “It’s all my fault, be happy.” Eric gave an interview where he emphasized how hard everyone has been working on set, and that he hopes Han Ye Seul comes back so they can finish the drama. He revealed that he told her it would be bad for the drama to change PDs at this point, so clearly he knew about her discord with PD Hwang and tried to defuse the situation.


Also, Lee-Kim Productions, the people making the show, are suing HYS for a cool 10 billion won (that's 9.27 million U.S. dollars) and contract charges are forthcoming. Her agency, Sidus HQ, will be participate as well. (I'm guessing they are also suing HYS.?)


So. . .Han Ye Seul's career is basically over. I feel terrible for everyone involved. It's clear things got out of hand. I hope HYS doesn't do anything more - like kill herself. Because, that could happen; her tweet makes it sound like she takes it all as her fault; when there was much more going on then we'll ever know.

Comments

[lastingdreams8.livejournal.com]

omg...that's nuts. I heard on dramabeans that they're thinking of finding a new actress and continuing MW that way...but who knows. Right now, it's a mess and I hope she'll be okay.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I've read about the actress deal. No one is sure if the new actress will play MW or if they will kill off MW. :/
I read a news report on soompi that HYS was dating an older American businessman, and that she had stated she would retire after this drama and marry him. Korean media is being rather harsh, calling her a gold-digger, etc.


There is also speculation that she is pregnant, recently found out, and the 20 hour a day shots weren't good for her health. So, people are suggesting that if she is pregnant, she wanted less physical stuff and lower work hours to keep her unborn child safe. And, when she saw that wasn't happening - and maybe at the urging of her boyfriend -, she left. Again, the pregnancy bit is all speculation.


It's all very confusing and just really sad.

[lastingdreams8.livejournal.com]

Aww, that's really sad. I guess we'll have to wait and see. I didn't even know these things were going on, but I'm glad there is some Internet fan support for the actress. I don't know what kind of reactions other people are having since so much slander is being perpetuated by the media.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Whatever is going on behind the scenes, I just don't know. I feel like I need to support HYS, if only a little bit. Especially with all the Korean actresses and actors who have committed suicide in the past few years. Even though the production company behind the drama have come out saying that HYS and the PD are both at fault, it seems the media (and internet fans) have decided that the blame is fully on HYS. I believe she is unprofessional, and that she's left the cast and crew in a tight spot. But, I also think we don't know the whole story and that the PD sounds like an ass - forcing the whole cast and crew to stay on set for hours, because he wants to "shame" her into coming back? Not cool.

If anything, I do hope that this whole thing makes the Korean television industry rethink their live shooting ways. Because no one should have to film a sixteen episode drama in seven-nine weeks. Nor should they have to work twenty hour days starting in week four of their shooting schedule and continuing that way until the end. This is why their are so many Korean stars being treated for exhaustion and why so many of them get into car accidents while doing dramas - they are exhausted mentally and physically.

[lastingdreams8.livejournal.com]

Oh yea, I wouldn't know what to believe from the media. Yea, I really hope she's ok.

Yea, I've heard people asking why Korean TV is still using live-shoots even when their casts are stressed out and it just gives no room for error. Despite many dramas being successful because of sudden change in scripts and a history of actors/actresses keeping up with the schedule to make people think "oh, you can do it if they did," it's just not healthy or right.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I'm reading everything I can, because I really want to know the truth.
The media seems to be on everything.

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

I'm going to keep an eye on it. It just seems like a lot more is going on behind the scenes. I'll support the actress.

[lastingdreams8.livejournal.com]

All right; thanks for keeping us informed :)

[walkwithheroes.livejournal.com]

Well do.