'Coffee Prince' actors reunite for documentary
After 13 years, Korean actors Gong Yoo, Yoon Eun Hye, Lee Sun Gyun, Kim Jae Wook, Kim Dong Wook and Chae Jung An reunite and revisit the cafe from their popular drama Coffee Prince in a documentary.
Based on the teaser video posted on YouTube, MBC, the television network behind the successful drama, announced that the two-part documentary will air on September 24 and October 1, at 10:40pm (KST).
In the documentary, the cast will return to their iconic filming locations - a coffee shop in Hondae, which was the "cafe" owned and managed by Gong Yoo's character in the drama, and the Sanmotoonge Cafe in Jongno, which served as the house of Lee Sungyun's character.
The 17-episode Koreanovela aired in South Korea in 2007. A gender bender, the drama revolved around the romance between a tomboyish woman who dressed up as a man to get employed in a coffee shop, and a young chaebol who didn't want to join the family coffee business and was tasked to manage a cafe. Problems arise when the cafe owner started falling in love with her.
With its lovable characters, the kilig moments between the leads, and its endearing story arcs, the romantic comedy drama gained popularity not just in South Korea but around the globe. Aside from the syndication of the original drama, the Koreanovela has spawned local adaptations in China, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
In 2008, GMA Network announced that it had bought the format rights of Coffee Prince and planned to produce a local version. The localized drama aired in 2012, with actors Aljur Abrenica and Kris Bernal taking the lead roles, and actor-director Ricky Davao taking the directorial helm.
After Coffee Prince, the cast have moved on to bigger projects. Gong Yoo, who played the young chaebol Han Gyul, made waves with his role in the film Train to Busan, as well as his small screen character as the goblin in Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, or simply known as Goblin.
Playing the tomboyish lady Eun Chan, actress Yoon Eun Hye starred in Lie To Me, Missing You, and Marry Him If You Dare.
Lee Sun Kyun, the second lead actor portraying talented music producer Han Sung, continued his career in Golden Time, My Mister and Diary of A Prosecutor.
Chae Jung An, who took the role of Han Gyul's first love, can be seen in various dramas including The Prime Minister and I, Man to Man, Suits and Legal High.