Hong sisters

Hong Jung-eun(born 1974)  andHong Mi-ran(born 1977), collectively known as theHong sisters(Korean:홍자매;Hanja:洪姊妹;RR:Hong Jamae), are South Korean televisionscreenwritersunder Studio Shot, a label of Imaginus. Together, they have written popular romantic-comedies, notablyMy Girl(2005),You're Beautiful(2009),My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho(2010),The Greatest Love(2011),Master's Sun(2013),A Korean Odyssey(2017–2018),Hotel del Luna(2019),Alchemy of Souls(2022) and its second partAlchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow(2022–2023).
Before becoming drama writers, Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran worked as entertainment writers on variety shows. Hong Jung-eun started as an assistant writer at MBC in 1998 and worked there for 8 years. She wrote for MBC'sSunday Sunday Night,People Looking for Laughter[ko], and re-enactment programsMysterious TV Surprise[ko]. Hong Mi-ran worked as an entertainment program writer for 5 years, contributing to SBS'Columbus' Great Discovery[ko]and KBS2's sitcomRun, My Mom[ko].
Hong sisters made theirTV dramawriting debut in 2005 withSassy Girl Chun-hyang, a modern retelling of the famous Korean folktaleChunhyangjeonin which Chun-hyang is no passive heroine, but a headstrong sassy girl.It became a huge hit not only in Korea, but throughout Asia. Their follow-upMy Girl(2005), about a cheeky con artist who pretends to be the long-lost granddaughter of a rich man, was equally successful.The two dramas effectively made its young actors —Han Chae-youngandJae Hee,andLee Da-hae,Lee Joon-gi,andLee Dong-wook—into household names andKorean Wavestars.
The Hongs' winning streak continued withCouple or Trouble(also known asFantasy Couple, 2006), aremakeof the 1987 Hollywood filmOverboard. It starredHan Ye-seulas a snooty heiress withamnesiawho falls for a handyman played byOh Ji-ho.
ForHong Gil-dong(2008), the Hongs based their protagonist on the fictional folk heroHong Gil-dong, aJoseon-eraRobin Hoodwho stole from the rich and gave to the poor. But the fusion period comedy-drama starringKang Ji-hwanandSung Yu-ricombined royal plotting and romance with over-the-top stunts, gaudy costumes, toilet humor and anachronistic modern music.The series was popular online, but received average ratings. It also won Best Miniseries at the 2008Roma Fiction Fest.
You're Beautiful(2009) starredJang Keun-sukandPark Shin-hye, in which a naive nuncross-dressesas a male idol singer in aboy band. Unlike the Hongs' early work, the drama did not get high ratings, but it did create acult following(or "mania" fan base) online and among international viewers. Many fans watching the drama online.The series was broadcast in various Asian countries including Japan, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, UAE, and the Philippines.It achieved high ratings on Fuji TV in Japan, surpassing its competitors in the timeslot.The series became so popular in Japan it is believed to have overtaken the popularity ofWinter Sonata, another popular Korean drama in Japan.
The soundtrack album of the miniseries quickly gained popularity, selling 20,000 copies within the first week of its release.It became a top seller on various music sites, such asMelOn, Dosirak, andMnet.By the end of 2011, the album had sold a total of 57,000 copies in South Korea. The album was written and produced by Han Sung-ho, who also worked on Hong's previous dramaBrilliant Legacy.The drama included concert footage of A.N.JELL, so the cast members actually performed a mini-concert,where it was reported that as many 25,000 fans showed up.
Such was its pan-Asian popularity thatremakeswere produced in Japan (Ikemen desu ne, 2011) and Taiwan (Fabulous Boys, 2013).
The Hongs played with Korean mythology for their next hit drama in 2010. InMy Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox, thegumiho(or nine-tailed fox) isn't the terrifyingfemme fataleof legend who feeds on human livers. Instead, she's a cute and clueless girl (played byShin Min-ah) who loves to eatbeef, while an aspiring stuntman (Lee Seung-gi) accompanies her in her quest to become human.
Their next drama, 2011'sThe Greatest Lovewas again set amidst the gossipy and image-conscious world of entertainment, starringCha Seung-wonas the most beloved star in the nation who falls for a has-been pop singer (Gong Hyo-jin).The drama topped its timeslot during its run, and not only did it sweep the 2011MBC Drama Awards(including the Writer of the Year award for the Hong sisters),Gong also won Best Actress at the2012Baeksang Arts Awards.
Big(2012), in which an 18-year-old and a 30-year-oldswap bodies, starredGong YooandLee Min-jung.The drama is arguably the Hongs' least successful work thus far, lacking both in ratings and buzz.
The Hongs reunited withGong Hyo-jininMaster's Sun(2013), ahorrorromantic comedy withSo Ji-subabout a woman who sees ghosts.
In 2015, they castYoo Yeon-seokandKang So-rainWarm and Cozy, set in a restaurant onJeju Island. The title is the English translation of theJeju dialectphrase "Mendorong Ttottot."
In 2017, Hong sisters penned a modern adaptation of the Chinese classic novelJourney to the West,titledA Korean Odyssey. The series brought togetherCha Seung-won,Lee Seung-gi, andLee Hong-gi, who had previously collaborated with the Hong sisters on their previous TV series. It also reunites Hong sisters and directorPark Hong-kyunwho worked together onWarm and Cozy(2015) andThe Greatest Love(2011). Director Kim Jung-hyun and Kim Byung-soo later joined the production team.
A Korean Odyssey premiered on tvN on December 23, 2017, airing every Saturday and Sunday. Nielsen Korea data revealed that it was the top-rated show in its time slot, surpassing both cable and public broadcasting channels for its debut episode.Moreover, the series set a new record for the highest ratings among tvN dramas in the 20-49 year-old demographic according to Nielsen Korea.
In May, 2018, internet novel writer Ttangyeol accused the Hong sisters of plagiarizing her novel "Aeyugi". The Hong sisters denied the claims, stating that the drama was already in planning stage before "Aeyugi" was published in 2015. Both works are based on the Chinese classic novelJourney to the West. On February 15, 2019, the Seoul Western District Court's 11th civil affairs department ruled in favor of the Hong sisters, dismissing the charges.
After a challenging couple years, the duo is back with another hit show,Hotel del Luna,featuringLee Ji-eunandYeo Jin-gooin the lead roles as the owner and manager, respectively, of the ghost-exclusive hotel. Produced by GTist, and directed byOh Chung-hwan, it broadcast ontvNfrom July 13 to September 1, 2019.It became the most-watched tvN drama of 2019 and remains one of thehighest-rated Korean dramas in cable televisionhistory.It was also the most popular fantasy series on Viki in 2019.
After a 3-year hiatus, the Hong sisters returned with a fantasy series calledAlchemy of Souls. The drama starsLee Jae-wook,Jung So-min,Go Youn-jung, andHwang Min-hyun.Directed by Park Joon-hwa, story follows young mages navigating the realms of heaven and earth.It originally aired ontvN.It is also available for streaming onTVINGandNetflixin selected regions.The series is split into two parts: Part 1 aired from June 18 to August 28, 2022, for 20 episodes,while Part 2 (Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow)aired from December 10, 2022, to January 8, 2023, for 10 episodes.
Avoid the usual female character stereotypes in Korean dramas. Instead, explore more dynamic and passionate young women like Seong Chun-hyang (Han Chae-young), Joo Yu-rin (Lee Da-hae) and Jo Anna (Han Ye-seul).
Bringing characters from classics and romance novels into the real world and reinventing them.the growth of ordinary people, not heroes.
The Hong sisters are credited with reinventing the careers of several of their leading ladies.Han Chae-youngwas a sexy "Barbiedoll" known for her figure more than her acting when her role inSassy Girl Chun-hyangturned her sultry image on its head and transformed her into a plucky, optimistic, hard-working model student.Lee Da-haehad a somewhat melancholy image fromHeaven's Fate, and surprised viewers with her versatility by going cute inMy Girl.Han Ye-seulandSung Yu-riwere dogged early in their careers by criticisms for their poor acting, until Han's privileged, rude character won viewers over with her notable catchphrases inCouple or Trouble,and the Hongs were so impressed with Sung inHong Gil-dongthat they posted up strong praise and defense of her acting on the drama's website.Shin Min-ahhad become better known in recent years for being a stylish advertisement model rather than an actress, butMy Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Foxgave her her most memorable character yet.
Similarly, with his role of Dokko Jin,Cha Seung-wonreturned to his comedic roots after years of serious roles, resulting in massive media attention.
The Hong sisters have become known for mixing broad, somewhat juvenile comedy with elements of romance, then transitioning to heartbreak in the drama's second half. They've created a trademark style with their fast, fun narratives, hilarious situations, love ofpunsandmetareferences, and memorable and quirky characters, and their name has become a recognizable brand in the Korean drama industry.