Lee Woo-jung | |
---|---|
이우정 | |
Born | 1976 (age 47–48) |
Alma mater | Department of Trade Sookmyung Women's University |
Occupation | Television screenwriter |
Years active | 2000 to present |
Employer(s) | CJ ENM E&M Division Egg Is Coming[1] |
Organization(s) | Korea Television and Radio Writers Association (KTRWA) |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 이우정 |
Hanja | 李祐汀 |
Revised Romanization | I Ujeong |
McCune–Reischauer | I Ujŏng |
Lee Woo-jung (Korean: 이우정; Hanja: 李祐汀) is a South Korean television screenwriter. Lee was one of star writer. She is best known for writing the tvN television dramas Reply series: Reply 1997 (2012), Reply 1994 (2013) and Reply 1988 (2015–2016). She also wrote the popular variety-reality shows 2 Days & 1 Night, Qualifications of Men, Grandpas Over Flowers, Sisters Over Flowers, Youth Over Flowers and Three Meals a Day.[2][3][4]
She was given a presidential commendation for her work on Grandpas Over Flowers at the 2013 Korea Content Awards, which praised her for its depiction of "four elderly backpackers with humor and warmth."[5]
Lee Woo-jung was born on 1976, in Jinju, South Gyeongsang, South Korea. After graduating from the Department of Trade at Sookmyung Women's University, Lee began her career as an advertising copywriter. During her writer training at the MBC Academy, she made the transition to the broadcasting industry.[6]
At that time, becoming a broadcast writer typically required education from institutions affiliated with broadcasting companies, such as the MBC Academy or broadcasting writers' training institutes. Prospective writers would submit their resumes and portfolios with script composition plans, and broadcasting companies would request manpower from these institutions when they needed new writers. In 2000, writer Lee participated in MBC's pilot program called An Outing with a Girlfriend! which was an entertainment survival program following the global trend of the time. Through this program, she gained experience and entered the broadcasting industry with 21st Century Committee.[6]
After being scouted by KBS, Lee worked as assistant writer on music show Music Bank. In 2002, the first program she was in charge as main writer was a show called "Declaration of Freedom Today is Saturday – The War Of Roses." It was a program where male entertainers and female college students would meet and find a mate at a mountain lodge. It was during this program that Lee met Lee Myung-han, who was the main director, along with two assistant directors, Na Young-seok and Shin Won-ho.[7][8]
They eventually formed a group famous as Yeouido Research Institute,[note 1] also later known as Lee Myung-han's division.[10][11][12][6] They quickly hit it off, sharing similar creative tendencies.[13] They collaborated again on Super TV Sunday is Fun, with Lee Myung-han as the main director and his juniors in charge of directing each segment of the show. Na Young-seok directed "Let's Go! Dream Team - Season 1", and Shin Won-ho directed "Kung Kung Ta".[14]
Lee work again as main writer in Heroine 5, which were directed by Lee Myung-han and Na Young-seok. Heroine 5 was one of the segments of Sunday 101%, which was renamed Happy Sunday since November 2004, and it was broadcast from April 4, 2004, to May 1, 2005, on KBS 2. Lee also worked on the sequel, Heroine 6, with the same directors. When Lee Myung-han and Na Young-seok developed another segments for Happy Sunday, Shin Won-hoo took over as the director. It was aired from May 8, 2005, to April 29, 2007, on KBS 2.
Lee Myung-han and Na Young-seok collaborated on two new segments of Happy Sunday: High Five and Are You Ready? High Five aired on KBS 2TV from May 6, 2007, to May 18, 2008. The show was hosted by Jee Seok-jin and it focused on five female stars who embarked on different job experiences. Throughout the series, they took on roles such as flight attendants, farmers, stuntwomen, and police officers. Given the diverse backgrounds of the stars, comedic twists and events were often incorporated into their training. The initial lineup of High Five stars included comedian Jo Hye-ryun, entertainer Hyun Young, singer Chae Yeon, MC Park Kyung-lim, and actress Kim Min-sun.
Happy Sunday: Are You Ready? was aired from May 6, 2007, to July 29, 2007. Kang Ho-dong served as the host, and the cast included Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won, Kim Jong-min, Noh Hong-chul, and Ji Sang-ryeol. The show centered around the cast and special guests engaging in a variety of games. The initial three episodes focused on games related to the Chinese language, while the subsequent episodes leading up to the finale featured physical and logic-based games. Unfortunately, due to poor ratings, Are You Ready? was discontinued after airing 12 episodes.[15]
Lee as main writer, with Lee Myung-han, Na Young-seok quickly made a replacement segment titled 1 Night 2 Days. The initial cast included most of casts from Are You Ready? such as Kang Ho-dong, Lee Soo-geun, Eun Ji-won, Kim Jong-min, Noh Hong-chul, and Ji Sang-ryeol. Kim C, Lee Seung-gi, MC Mong, and Uhm Tae-woong later joined the cast. 1 Night 2 Days revolutionized Korean reality programming by introducing the road trip format. The show featured a regular cast who embarked on trips to different towns across Korea, spending one night and two days there. During these trips, they engaged in various activities such as games, camping, and sightseeing.[16]
They achieved a breakthrough with 1 Night 2 Days. The show gained immense popularity and became the highest-rated variety program on KBS, captivating audiences nationwide. It achieved a peak viewership rating of 40%.[17] The show not only had a positive impact on the featured locations by boosting tourism, but it also garnered a massive fan base for its cast members and even the production crew. Na Young-seok, in particular, gained significant recognition as he frequently appeared onscreen during interactions with the cast. As a result, he became a well-known figure among Korean audiences, affectionately referred to as "Na PD".[18] Lee received the Writer Award at the 2008 KBS Entertainment Awards for her work on the show.[19][20]
In December 2008, Director Lee Myung-han stepped down from his role in the production of 1 Night 2 Days. He subsequently took on the position of Happy Sunday Team Leader (Producer) within the KBS Entertainment Production Department. In 2009, Lee and creative producer Lee Myung-han collaborated on a new segment for Happy Sunday titled Qualifications of Men, with Shin Won-ho served as director. This variety show aired on KBS2 from March 29, 2009, to April 7, 2013. Subtitled as "101 Things a Man Must Do Before He Dies", the show featured a group of male celebrities with diverse ages and personalities. They undertook missions aimed at helping them become "real men". These missions encompassed a wide range of challenges, both physical and emotional. Throughout the show, the participants met various mentors from different fields, learning valuable skills along the way.
On August 19, 2011, KBS officially announced that Happy Sunday - 1 Night 2 Days Season 1 will be ended after 6 months. It was announced 10 days since MC Kang Ho-dong's intention to get off from the show was announced. After the end of Season 1 of 2 Days & 1 Night, which broadcast its final episode on February 26, 2012. Writer Lee, permanently left KBS to follow Lee Myung-han and Shin Won-ho, who left KBS to transfer to CJ E&M in July.[21][22][23] Prior to that, during the 'tvN Foundation 5th Anniversary Conference' in October 2011, Director Song Chang-eui of tvN and Broadcasting Planning Director of CJ E&M Lee Deok-jae announced their 2012 program lineup and content production investment plan. One of the highlights of the lineup was a new concept reality program created by Lee Myung-han and writer Lee Woo-jung. The program was scheduled to air in the first half of the following year on tvN.[24]
In early 2012, Lee made her debut on the cable channel tvN with the reality program called "The Romantic". Lee and Director Lee Myung-han created the show with former crew members from 2 Days & 1 Night, including director Yoo Hak-chan and junior writer Kim Dae-joo. The show, which consisted of 12 episodes, introduced a unique concept of a comprehensive real love variety show. In this program, 10 ordinary young men and women embarked on a journey to unfamiliar locations, gradually getting to know each other and seeking true love. The filming took place in Dubrovnik, Croatia, spanning over a period of 9 nights and 10 days from late December to early January. Dubrovnik, known as the pearl of the Adriatic Sea for its stunning location in the Balkans, is a beloved honeymoon destination for Europeans. It has also gained recognition as a filming location for a domestic coffee commercial featuring actress Go Hyun-jung. "The Romantic" premiered on tvN at 11:00 pm on a Saturday in February 2012.[25][26][27]
Lee collaborated with the same team for reality programming pilot Three Idiots. Jeon Hyun-moo served as the host, and the cast included Lee Soo-geun, Kim Jong-min, and Eun Ji-won. All cast members, except Jeon Hyun-moo, were original members of 1 Night 2 Days Season 1. The show was broadcast on tvN starting from October 7, 2012, and it became the first weekend entertainment program in Korea to be broadcast live.[28] From November 11, 2012, Three Idiots became a segment of 'Sunday N tvN,' a 135-minute program that bundled two segments in a framed composition. Between the live broadcasts of Three Idiots a pre-recorded program titled "The Romantic and Idol" was aired.[29][30][31][unreliable source?]
The Yeouido Research Institute, were in full force after Na Young-seok moved to CJ ENM in early 2013. Together with Na Young-seok, Lee made Grandpas Over Flowers, a travel-reality show that featured four veteran actors in their seventies: Lee Soon-jae, Shin Goo, Park Geun-hyung and Baek Il-seob.[32] Alongside them, actor Lee Seo-jin in his forties joined as their porter for their backpacking tours to various international destination.[33][34][35][36][37][38] The show's title is a word play/parody of the popular Japanese manga of Boys Over Flowers (花より男子, Hana Yori Dango), and also references the 2009 South Korea drama adaptation of the manga.[39] The first season of Grandpas Over Flowers aired from July 5 to August 16, 2013, on tvN, consisting of seven episodes. It was filmed in Paris, Strasbourg, Bern, and Lucerne.[39] The success of the first season led to the immediate airing of the second season from August 23 to September 20, 2013, comprising five episodes that were filmed in Taiwan.[40][41][42] Lee as writer received Presidential Commendation for this work.[43]
PD Na has often praised writer Lee for her ability to create engaging content that speaks to the heart of people's lives. "When you talk about people's lives with writer Lee, junior writers, and junior PDs, it naturally develops into a broadcasting item," he said at production presentations and lectures. "This writer is the creator who has the greatest influence and stimulation on me."
Following the success of "Youth Over Flowers", Na Yeong-seok aimed to continue his innovative approach. Taking inspiration from Lee Seo-jin's aversion to cooking during his time on "Grandpas Over Flowers", Na cast Lee alongside his co-star from "Wonderful Days", Ok Taecyeon, in a new show called "Three Meals a Day". The concept of the show revolved around the two men preparing three meals a day using ingredients they grew themselves in a rural village in Jeongseon County, Gangwon Province. However, despite the seemingly simple concept, both Lee and Ok, accustomed to city life, struggled with tasks such as cultivating the vegetable garden, tending to farm animals, and managing the sorghum field. As a result, their attempts to feed themselves and their weekly celebrity guests often led to comical situations.
In the show's second season in 2015, a third cast member, Kim Kwang-kyu joined, and raised the difficulty level by adding a four-month project that depicted the entire process of food cultivation, from planting to harvest. The cast members were strictly prohibited from grocery shopping, emphasizing the challenges of sourcing ingredients directly from nature. Na Yeong-seok aimed to showcase the audience the arduousness of procuring the materials for our daily meals, which are now readily available in supermarkets near our homes.[44]
On July 16, 2015, the first web entertainment show written by Lee and directed by Na Yeong-seok's show New Journey to the West, was announced. It was the first project from "tvN Go", a digital-content brand from the cable channel tvN. The concept was a 'Travel Real Variety.' The initial idea came from one of the original members, Lee Seung-gi, who want to travel with former 2 Days & 1 Night members and film all of their activities. It was unprecedented for a variety show to be distributed solely through online streaming (on the web portals Naver TV Cast and QQ).[45]
The show's first season reunited the former 2 Days & 1 Night Season 1 members Lee Seung-gi, Kang Ho-dong, Eun Ji-won and Lee Soo-geun. Each of the four members portrayed a character from the classic 16th-century Chinese novel Journey to the West They embarked on a 5-day and 4-night backpacking trip through through Xi'an, once the capital of China during the Tang dynasty.[46][47][48]
The show was a success, garnering over 42 million views on Naver TV Cast and 10 million views on Chinese portal site QQ.[49]
In 2011, Lee made her debut as a drama writer in Reply 1997[50] Despite having no prior experience in drama writing, Lee was given this opportunity thanks to director Shin Won-ho. Initially, Shin Won-ho had no plans to direct dramas and was focused on exploring new possibilities in reality programming.[51] However, Song Chang-eui, the director of tvN, suggested that Shin direct a drama and assured him that he would be paired with a talented drama writer. Shin was initially hesitant and declined the offer, concerned that his role would be diminished if working with an established drama writer. He expressed his willingness to take on the project only if he had the chance to create a fresh version and experiment with it. Eventually, Director Song Chang-eui agreed to Shin Won-ho's condition, and a production team was formed, including writer Lee Woo-jung and other entertainment writers.[52][53]
In April 2012, tvN announced that the drama Reply 1997 with Lee Myung-han as the executive producer, Shin Won-ho as the director, and Lee Woo-jung as the scriptwriter, was scheduled to air in June.[50][54] This project held great significance for Shin Won-ho, as it marked his first work at CJ E&M after transferring from KBS in July of the previous year.[55] However, due to a one-month delay, tvN first self-produced drama drama Reply 1997 finally aired on July 24, 2012.[56]
Reply 1997 revolves around the lives of six friends from Busan. The story timeline shifts between their past as high school students in 1997 and their present as thirty somethingattending their high school reunion dinner in 2012, where a couple announces their engagement. The drama also depicts the rise of extreme fan culture in the 1990s, with the emergence of idol groups like H.O.T. and Sechs Kies, as K-pop began to flourish. Alongside the nostalgic elements of the era, the love stories of Seong Si-won (Jung Eun-ji), Yoon Yoon-jae (Seo In-guk), and Yoon Tae-woong (Song Jong-ho) add to the enjoyment of the series.[57][58][59]
The initial buzz surrounding Reply 1997 targeted viewers in their 30s, but soon expanded to encompass wider age range, reaching even those in their 50s, thanks to positive word-of-mouth reviews that praised its combination of entertainment and relatability. The key to its widespread appeal and resonance across different generations lay in its storytelling approach, which cleverly utilized the themes of memory, nostalgia, and retro to present the narrative from various perspectives. This strategy allowed the drama to gain popularity and garner empathy from a diverse audience. Moreover, the show's success contributed to a resurgence of 1990s popular culture or retro craze.[53][60]
Reply 1997 attracted attention for its meticulous depiction of the IMF crisis and the political climate of the time, which served as a backdrop to the story. The actors' performances, including their use of regional dialects and the frequent injection of humor, played a significant role in the drama's commercial success. The show capitalized on the creative freedom afforded by cable dramas, presenting a detailed and realistic portrayal of the era while incorporating a compelling romantic storyline that added tension. The exceptional acting by Jung Eun-ji, Seo In-guk, Eun Ji-won, Hoya, Lee Si-eon, and Shin So-yul garnered high acclaim.[53][61]
In April 2013, tvN announced the second installment of the Reply series. Despite having the same writer, director and producer, Reply 1994 is not a prequel to Reply 1997. While it maintains the concept of a coming-of-age drama combined with 1990s nostalgia, it introduces a completely new plot and characters.[62][63] Initially, writer Lee Woo-jung and director Shin Won-ho intended to set their first Reply series in 1994, the year they were college freshmen. However, after casting Sechs Kies member Eun Ji-won, they decided to change the year to 1997. This decision was influenced by the fact that the fandoms of H.O.T. and Sechs Kies were at their peak in 1997, which created an interesting contrast to the struggling Korean economy during the IMF crisis.[64] Feeling that they had enough material for another series, Lee and returned to their original plan and created Reply 1994.[65][66]
Reply 1994 (2013), which deals with the story of young people in the eight provinces in the background of 1994, continued to be a blast, recording the highest ever viewership rating of 14.3% in cable drama history. In particular, Shin, who was originally an entertainment director, has become a hot topic. Regarding this, Shin said in an interview, "There are definitely pluses when people are open to doing what they want to do rather than acting forcedly." I thought it was the same with acting," he said, revealing his intention to direct.[67]
In October 2015, Lee Myung-han, tvN's director, unveiled an impressive drama lineup to commemorate tvN's 10th anniversary. It kicked off in November with the highly anticipated third installment of the Reply series, Reply 1988.
Reply series, Reply 1997, Reply 1994, which aired in 2013, and Reply 1988, which aired in 2016, were all successful in terms of viewership and popularity, despite the challenging Korean climate for seasonal dramas.[68][69] The fact that "even a single line of dialogue was meticulously crafted through collaborative meetings" sheds light on why the series garnered an exceptional response. Through meticulous artistic collaboration, PD Shin was able to achieve remarkable success and establish himself as a prominent director.[70] Lee Myung-Han explained the success of Reply series with black swan theory.[71]
Thanks to her collaboration with PD Shin Won-ho, Lee rose to stardom as star writer. Reply series, Reply 1997, Reply 1994 which aired in 2013, and Reply 1988, which aired in 2016, were all successful both in terms of viewership and popularity, despite the challenging Korean climate for seasonal dramas.[68][69]
Lee viewed by critic.[72]
In 2018, Lee established the production company Eggs is Coming (에그이즈커밍) and appointed ex-KBS and Monster Union PD Ko Jeong-seok as CEO.[73] The company was acquired by CJ ENM in 2022. In 2023, it was reported that Lee Myung-han, former co-CEO of TVING, Na Young-seok, and Shin Won-ho PD transferred to the production company Eggs is Coming.[74]
Year | Title | Network | Credited as | Ref. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
English | Korean | Assistant Writer | Main Writer | |||
2000 | An Outing with a Girlfriend! | MBC | Yes | No | [10] | |
21st Century Committee | 섹션TV 연예통신 | Yes | No | |||
Music Bank | 뮤직뱅크 | KBS2 | Yes | No | ||
2001-2003 | Declaration of Freedom Today is Saturday – The War Of Roses | 자유선언 토요대작전 - 산장미팅 장미의 전쟁 | No | Yes | [8] | |
2001-2003 | Super TV Sunday is Fun — Let's Go! Dream Team - Season 1 | 슈퍼 TV 일요일은 즐거워 — 출발드림팀 시즌1 | No | Yes | [14] | |
2004-2005 | Happy Sunday: Heroine 5[note 2] | 여걸파이브 | No | Yes | [75] | |
2005-2007 | Happy Sunday: Heroine 6[note 3] | 여걸식스 | No | Yes | [76] | |
2007-2008 | Happy Sunday: High-Five | 하이파이브 | No | Yes | ||
2007 | Happy Sunday: Are You Ready?[note 4] | 해피선데이 — 준비했어요 | No | Yes | [14] | |
2007-2012 | Happy Sunday: 2 Days 1 Night Season 1[note 5] | 1박 2일 | No | Yes | [14] | |
2012 | Happy Sunday: The Human Condition (Pilot episode) | 남자의 자격 | No | Yes | [77] | |
2012 | Sunday N tvN - The Romantic | 일요일N tvN - 더로맨틱 | tvN | No | Yes | [78][79][80] |
Three Idiots Season 1 | 세 얼간이 | No | Yes | [81] | ||
2012–2013 | Sunday N tvN - The Romantic & Idol | 일요일N tvN - 더로맨틱&아이돌 | No | Yes | [78][79][80] | |
2013 | Ha Jung-woo's Brothers | 하정우 부라더스 | No | Yes | [82] | |
2013-2018 | Grandpas Over Flowers (Season 1 - 5) | 꽃보다 할배 | No | Yes | [83] | |
2013-2014 | Sisters Over Flowers | 꽃보다 누나 | No | Yes | [84][85] | |
2014-2018 | Youth Over Flowers (Season 1 - 5) | 꽃보다 청춘 | No | Yes | [86] | |
2014-2021 | Three Meals a Day (Season 1 - 10) | 삼시세끼 | No | Yes | [87] | |
2015-2020 | New Journey to the West (Season 1 - 8) | 신서유기 | Naver TV Cast, tvN | No | Yes | [87] |
2017 | Newlywed Diaries (Season 1 - 2) | 신혼일기 | tvN | No | Yes | [88] |
2017-2018 | The Dictionary Of Useless Knowledge (Season 1 - 3) | 알아두면 쓸데없는 신비한 잡학사전 | No | Yes | [89] | |
Youn's Kitchen (Season 1 - 2) | 윤식당 | No | Yes | [90] | ||
2017-2019 | Kang's Kitchen (Season 1 - 3) | 강식당 | No | Yes | [91][92] | |
2018 | Little Cabin in the Woods | 숲속의 작은 집 만들기 | No | Yes | [93] | |
2019 | Coffee Friends | 커피프렌즈 | No | Yes | [94] | |
Korean Hostel in Spain | 스페인 하숙 | No | Yes | [95] | ||
Three Meals a Day in Iceland | 삼시세끼 - 아이슬란드 간 세끼 | No | Yes | [96] | ||
2019-2020 | The Ramyeonator | 라끼남: 라면 끼리는 남자 | No | Yes | [97] | |
2020 | Friday Joy Package | 금요일 금요일 밤에 | No | Yes | [98] | |
Mapo Hipster | 마포 멋쟁이 | No | Yes | [99] | ||
Three Meals for Four | 삼시네세끼 | No | Yes | [100] | ||
Summer Vacation | 여름방학 | No | Yes | [101] | ||
Lee's Kitchen | 나홀로 이식당 | No | Yes | [102] | ||
2020–present | Things That Make Me Groove | 내 어깨를 봐 탈골됐잖아 | No | Yes | [87] | |
2021 | Youn's Stay | 윤스테이 | No | Yes | [103] | |
Don't Look Back | 뒤돌아보지 말아요 만들기 | No | Yes | [104] | ||
The Devils Wear Jung Nam (Season 1 & 2) | 악마는 정남이를 입는다 | No | Yes | [105] | ||
Hospital Playlist Goes Camping | 슬기로운 캠핑생활 | No | Yes | [106] | ||
Athletic Genius Ahn Jae Hyun | 운동천재 안재현 | No | Yes | [107] | ||
Spring Camp | 신서유기 스페셜 스프링 캠프 | TVING | No | Yes | [108] | |
2021–present | The Game Caterers | 출장 십오야 | tvN | No | Yes | [87] |
2022 | Unexpected Journey | 뜻밖의 여정 | No | Yes | [109] | |
Earth Arcade (Season 1 - 2) | 뿅뿅 지구오락실 | No | Yes | [110] | ||
2023 | Jinny's Kitchen | 서진이네 | No | Yes | [111] |
Year | Title | Network | Credited as | Ref. | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
English | Korean | Creator | Writer | |||
2012 | Reply 1997 | 응답하라 1997 | tvN | No | Yes | [112] |
2013 | Reply 1994 | 응답하라 1994 | No | Yes | [113][114][115] | |
2015–2016 | Reply 1988 | 응답하라 1988 | No | Yes | [116] | |
2017 | Prison Playbook | 슬기로운 감빵생활 | Yes | No | [117][118] | |
2020–2021 | Hospital Playlist (season 1–2) | 슬기로운 의사생활 | No | Yes | [119][120][121] | |
2024 | Wise Resident Life | 언젠가는 슬기로울 전공의생활 | Yes | No | [122] |
Year | Award ceremony | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008 | KBS Entertainment Awards | Best Variety Show Writer | 2 Days & 1 Night | Won | [123] |
2010 | 23th Korean Broadcasting Writers Awards | Best Variety Show Writer | Happy Sunday – Qualifications of Men | Won | [124] |
2013 | 49th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Screenplay – Television | Reply 1997 | Nominated | [125] |
2016 | 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Screenplay – Television | Reply 1988 | Nominated | [126][127] |
2020 | 56th Baeksang Arts Awards | Best Screenplay – Television | Hospital Playlist | Nominated | [128] |
2020 | Asia Contents Awards | Best Writer | Nominated | [129] |
Country | Award Ceremony | Year | Honor | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
South Korea[note 6] | 4th Korean Content Awards | 2013 | Presidential's Commendation (Grandpas Over Flowers) | [130] |
12th Korean Content Awards | 2020 | Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Commendation for Contribution to the development of the broadcasting and video industry (Hospital Playlist) | [131] |
Publisher | Year | Listicle | Placement | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Herald Economy | 2013 | Pop Culture Power Leader Big 30 | 25th | [132] |
2015 | 24th[note 7] | [133] |