Yeon Jung-hoon is about to put his gentle image way behind him when his new drama series Vampire Prosecutor hits the airwaves this Sunday, and I’m really looking forward to it — both the drama and his image transformation, since it’s always the extreme shifts that are so intriguing, whether it’s gentle-to-badass or the reverse.

When the initial premise came out, the drama sounded like it could either be hilariously cheesy or compelling and dark, but thankfully the teaser pointed more toward the latter. It’s cable, so that means they get to take some more risks, regarding both the narrative and the visual expression of that narrative. Girl K whetted my appetite for harder-edged fare, and I’m hoping Vampire Prosecutor supplies that.

The premise: Yeon Jung-hoon plays a cold-hearted (in more ways than one) vampire who can see the moment of murder with one taste of the victim’s blood, which ought to come in handy for his prosecuting job. Not to mention his superhuman strength. To get into fighting form for the drama’s action scenes (in Korea, public prosecutors often take an active role in case-solving, like DAs and cops rolled into one), Yeon dropped 5 kg and has been training in the martial art julkwondo. Lesson of the day: Don’t mess with the vampire who can tear your heart out with his bare hands OR with his fangs, depending on whether he’s had lunch that day yet — and then toss your rotten carcass into jail using the legal system to boot. Talk about inflicting a wound, rubbing salt in it, having a taste, and then rubbing it in some more.

Vampire Prosecutor will run for 12 episodes beginning this Sunday, October 2, on cable channel OCN.

Credit:
http://www.dramabeans.com/2011/09/ocns-vampire-prosecutor-in-action/

Yup, Vampires, as in more than one. We’ve talked about Vampire Prosecutor before, but there’s another show in the works — a sitcom this time — called Vampire Idol. Can there be singing and judges?

First, the version we know about. OCN’s series Vampire Prosecutor, starring Yeon Jung-hoon (Jejoongwon, East of Eden) as the titular hero, has released a trailer (watch below) that’s pretty boss: slick, cool, and dark. I’m even warming to the fake blue eyes, which add that hint of ethereal coolness to his overall look.

But best of all is the interesting spin that this drama takes on the whole vampire/investigative genre: Our hero can actually use his vampire powers in his day job (heh), because one taste of the blood left at a murder scene allows him to see the moment of death and glean how it came about. Aw, it’s work AND a meal! Never say vampires can’t multi-task.

Then, there’s Vampire Idol, which has just cast MC/comedian Shin Dong-yup, currently the only actor attached. This one is set to air on general-service (as in, not specializing in specific genres or formats) cable channel MBN, and will be a 30-minute sitcom with 120 episodes.

This drama has two things going for it. First off, the premise: A naive prince from a vampire star comes to earth to become…an idol. It’s a school-set premise as he struggles to realize his goal. Omg. That’s awesome. It’s like Hello, Franceska, only zanier.

And then, there’s the pedigree of the producers. The former MBC PD at the helm worked the New Nonstop campus sitcom series (the one with Jo In-sung, Jung Da-bin, and Jang Nara). One of its writers wrote the hit old-school sitcom Three Men, Three Women, and the other wrote Soonpoong Clinic.

Vampire Idol is looking, naturally, to bring some idols to its young cast, and is reportedly also looking to bring on veteran actress Kim Sumi (of Daring Women, Hooray for Love, and 1N2D’s recent Actress Special).

OCN’s Vampire Prosecutor is set for an October 2 premiere, while Vampire Idol has yet to confirm its timeslot.

Vampire Prosecutor Trailer

Credit:
http://www.dramabeans.com/2011/09/the-vampires-come-to-television/