A scene from new KBS weekend drama written by Kim Soo-hyeon, “Mom's Dead Upset”

By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter

All three major television networks will start new weekend dramas for the entire family in February.

KBS will air ``Mom's Dead Upset,'' which deals with four-generations living together and the various incidents resulting from generation gaps. MBC will air ``A Beauty Unmatched, Park Jeong-geum,'' about a divorced single mom, while SBS will air ``I Am Happy,'' about a happily married couple.

The first episode of ``Mom's Dead Upset'' will air at 7:55 p.m., Feb. 2. Written by Kim Soo-hyeon, the hit maker who wrote for dramas such as ``My Man's Woman'' (SBS, 2007), ``Love and Ambition'' (SBS, 2006) and ``Trap of Youth'' (SBS, 1999), the drama's expectations are high.

The drama features powerful actors and actresses. Lee Soon-jae, who currently plays King Yeongjo on MBC's ``Lee San,'' Baek Il-seob, Kim Hae-ja and Kang Bu-ja are the grandfather, father, grandmother and mother of the family respectively while Shin Eun-kyung, Kim Jung-hyun and Lee Yoo-ri will play the younger characters.

``Everyone is someone's father or mother, daughter or son, or brother or sister. This drama will show the relationships among people,'' said Kang, who plays a single mother in her 60s.

MBC will start airing ``A Beauty Unmatched, Park Jeong-geum'' on the same day, at the same time. However, Park, the protagonist of the soap played by actress Bae Jong-ok, is far from being beautiful. She is a tough detective who fights and arrests criminals. At the same time, she is a divorced housewife who is raising a son.

Bae starred in ``My Man's Woman,'' which was a hit drama written by Kim Soo-hyeon. Now, she has to compete with another Kim drama but she doesn't seem to be worried. ``(Rivaling with Kim's drama) is not an obstacle for me. Many soap operas are produced now and I choose what I can do best,'' Bae said at a press conference Monday.

``Park is a divorcee, and her job is a dangerous one. Ostensibly, she is not happy. However, Park is a very bright and healthy character, just like a neighborly auntie. That's why I decided to play the character,'' said Bae.

Sohn Chang-min will play a handsome and unmarried 38-year-old doctor who is a friend of Park from elementary school. Han Go-eun will play Park's stepsister.

Last but not least, SBS launches ``I Am Happy'' at 8:45 p.m., Feb. 9. As it starts about an hour later than the two other dramas, it is not in competition with them. The station hopes this will bring about the high ratings of its predecessor, ``Gold Bride,'' which will end this weekend.

Known as the writer of commoners, Kim Jeong-su is famous for her realistic depiction of daily life. This drama depicts the story of two families interweaving through the marriage of a minor entrepreneur's daughter with a food wholesaler's son.

Actress Kim Hyo-jin returns to the TV screen after three years of starring in the movies ``Barefoot Gi-bong'' (2006) and ``Mr. Wacky'' (2006).

All these weekend dramas have something in common. They all mainly focus on different styles of ``family.''

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr