Kim Hye Yoon Archives • K-POP LIFE

RED VELVET Joy Considering New Webtoon-Based Drama With Kim Hye Yoon

Is Joy Joining The New Kim Hye Yoon Drama?

On June 7, Xportsnews reported that Red Velvet’s Joy is considering an offer to star in the drama “The Year We Turned 29” (working title). This potential casting news has created quite a buzz among fans, eager to see Joy in a new acting role.

Earlier in April 2022, it was revealed that actress Kim Hye Yoon was also in discussions for a lead role in the same drama. This connection heightens anticipation, as both actresses have garnered substantial followings for their previous work.

RED VELVET #JOY reportedly casted to lead new drama 'The Year We Turned 29' along with #KimHyeYoon

Tells the story of three people with the same name Woori, who don't go their way in love, work, or exams and go through a journey together, relying on each other & growing up pic.twitter.com/wyuUeeq4Cy

— dran (@daheeverse) June 7, 2024

In response to the report, Joy’s agency SM Entertainment stated, “Joy has received an offer to appear in the drama ‘The Year We Turned 29’ and is currently reviewing it.” Similarly, a representative from Kim Hye Yoon’s agency Artist Company shared that Kim Hye Yoon is still considering her offer, adding, “Nothing has been confirmed yet.” This leaves fans in suspense, hoping for a confirmation soon.

What is ‘The Year We Turned 29’ About?

“The Year We Turned 29” is based on a popular webtoon of the same name. It is a youth romance drama that revolves around three individuals, all aged 29 and bearing the name Woo Ri, as they navigate the complexities of love, work, and studies. As they approach their 30s, these three characters learn to mature and rely on each other. They also experience the ups and downs of life together.

The drama follows the lives of three central characters. Bong Woo Ri enters art school later in life and works as a temporary designer at a small magazine company after graduating. Meanwhile, Cha Woo Ri is a direct and cold flight attendant who has worked tirelessly all her life. Finally, Kim Woo Ri has been diligently preparing for a civil service exam for years. However, she is currently on a break after being diagnosed with a panic disorder.

Reportedly, Joy has been offered the role of Cha Woo Ri. There’s no information yet on the role proposed for Kim Hye Yoon. Still, her involvement would undoubtedly add significant star power to the series.

“The Year We Turned 29” was initially scheduled for production as a drama in the latter half of 2020. However, the series was postponed but is now back in preparation for production. The revival of the project has sparked excitement among fans of the webtoon and followers.

As fans await further updates, the prospect of seeing Joy and Kim Hye Yoon together in a drama brings a fresh wave of anticipation. Their potential chemistry and the engaging storyline promise a compelling viewing experience. Needless to say, “The Year We Turned 29” as a highly anticipated drama.

tvN’s ‘Lovely Runner’ Hits Season-High Viewership After Shocking Episodes

The tvN drama Lovely Runner, starring Kim Hye Yoon and Byeon Woo Seok, has captivated audiences with its recent episodes, leading to a record-breaking viewership spike. According to Nielsen Korea, episode three of Lovely Runner earned an average nationwide viewership rating of 3.4 percent, a marked increase from the previous episode’s 2.7 percent. It also set a new personal best for the drama.

Episode 3 Preview [ENG] | Lovely Runner (2024)

The drama’s ratings bump

The drama’s third episode picked up with Ryu Sun Jae (played by Byeon Woo Seok) determined to compete in a swim meet despite attempts by Im Sol (played by Kim Hye Yoon) to keep him from doing so. In the end, he won a gold medal, and he also tried to confess his feelings to Im Sol, leading to heartwarming and hilarious moments between the characters.

However, the narrative took a dramatic turn when Sun Jae was injured during practice. The emotional highs continued as he gathered the courage to confess to Sol again. This time, he was successful, and the two even shared a kiss. Unfortunately, Sol was drunk when it happened and forgot about the kiss the next day. To top it all off, another character, Kim Tae Sung (played by Song Geon Hee), confessed his feelings to her as well.

Episode four saw Sol waking up in 2023, confused and desperate to return to 2008. Meanwhile, in the present, Baek In Hyuk (played by Lee Seung Hyub) attempts to contact Sol about Sun Jae, but their call gets cut off. Surprisingly, most of the things Sol did in 2008 remained unchanged in 2023, indicating that she may actually have altered Sun Jae’s future.

As Sol travels back to 2008, she discovers she’s in a relationship with Tae Sung, and Sun Jae is upset with her. Eventually, Sun Jae and Sol reconcile as he saves her from a drunken man, and Sol realizes that Sun Jae was the one who saved her from her car accident all along. These twists kept viewers hooked, leading to the drama’s ratings bump.

Episode 4 Preview [ENG] | Lovely Runner (2024)

‘Lovely Runner’ has gone viral

Lovely Runner has gone viral in Korea and abroad. In the week ending April 20, the drama recorded a 149% increase in digital mentions compared to the previous week. Also, the number of paid TVing subscribers has exceeded 10,000. The significant buzz is evident through the overwhelming number of YouTube comments, SNS mentions, and Naver Talk discussions. All these showed a 160% increase from the previous week, as measured just 12 hours after each episode’s broadcast.

Furthermore, Lovely Runner ranked first in 133 countries during its premiere week on the global OTT platform, Rakuten Viki. This list includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and the United States. The drama maintains a high viewer rating on Viki, receiving favorable reviews that praise everything from the acting and story to the chemistry between the characters.

Based on a popular web novel and penned by True Beauty writer Lee Si Eun, Lovely Runner is a new time-slip romance drama that poses the question: “What would you do if you had the opportunity to save your ultimate bias?”

It’s a question many can relate to, which is partly why the drama is such a hit. – K-Pop News Writer

Featured Image: The third and fourth episodes of the show are its highest-rated to date. Source: X/@ljscentric.