Kim Rae-won heading to army, not drama
Aw, I knew this was coming, but I hadn’t realized that Kim Rae-won (so wonderfully expressive, so sincere) had been seriously considering a drama role in the upcoming soccer series Heading to the Ground [맨땅에 헤딩, working title], which he will now be declining.
Kim has announced his enlistment date, which is just one month away: He will begin his four-week-long training in South Chungcheong province on August 13. Because of a pre-existing health condition — he has degenerative lumbago (a back ailment) — Kim will be assigned to service in the public sector instead of active military duty.
The Heading drama is planning for an October premiere on Wednesdays and Thursdays on MBC; producers had met with Kim and were strongly hoping to bring him onboard the drama. The story involves a player who dreams of playing in England’s Premier League (shades of Manchester United player Park Ji-sung, I’m sure). I’d heard Kim was looking to squeeze in another project before his service (his last was the movie Insadong Scandal, and before that the drama Gourmet), but I guess time ran out. Without Kim, the Heading production is now scrambling to find another lead actor.
Sniffle. Goodbye, my Kim Rae-won!
Via Now News
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Tags: army duty, Kim Rae-won
i actualy liked him when i first saw him in my love pattzi. then, which star are you from. but my friend told me he was in a porn movie and had a clear s** scenes, i couldnt believe it. until my friend showed me..
i dont know what to think about him now.. anyway, its just my personal thought about him. sorry, out of topic.
aww…will miss him from the drama scene then….
Oh I am so going to miss Kim Rae Won!
Freaky but I was had literally just finished reading the final recaps of Gourmet right now (due to a poorly subbed DVD of it)! Then I noticed you had a new post….and it was about Kim Rae Won enlisting!
Kim Rae Won really does seem to embody whatever character he plays. He is one of the few actors that makes be not think of them as the ‘actor’ but the ‘character’. (and yes I’ll even forgive him for his Cringlish in ‘Love Story In Harvard’ – just cause he is so good).
There is something so pleasant about Kim Rae Won. He is like that nice cup of hot chocolate on a cold winters day.
Good thing I picked up ‘Insadong Scandal’ the other day! That and my copies of his previous series should make it slightly more bearable for his absence.
And a huge shame he was not able to fit in another series before his enlistment *sob*
Kim Rae Won please look after yourself during your enlistment! I’ll be counting the days from August 13th till you come back! (btw Anyone know the length of his military duty?) Take care!
(now if only he reads English blogs…..)
Oh boy, another off to the forces…..will miss him heaps.
As Kim Rae Won is going into ‘public service sector’ will that mean he will serve 3 years ???
Dreading the buzz cut……. Very, very best of luck KRW.
i like him. he’s such a professional actor.
@M,
he won best new actor in the blue dragon film awards for that movie. If u consider that film as a porn movie, what about A Frozen Flower?
woah! what “porn” movie he is in?!
Oh, that’s sad! I was really looking forward to a sports themed drama… with Kim Rae Won, of course
I will miss him!
this info makes me miss gong yoo..
Awww! He’ll for sure be missed! he’s one of my fav korean actors. It would have been interesting watching a sport drama about football starring Kim Rae Won, I would for sure watch it!
I’ll be waiting anxious for his return from the army!
Cheers!
My Kim Rae-won? MY..?
Don’t remember you’ve ever laid claim on him. (Always thought KJH is your one and only, LOL)
Sounds like he was given a level four based on the results of his physical, meaning he’s assigned a desk type job, is allowed to sleep at home, and possibly weekends off. It’s pretty cushy compared to other levels. Level 1 for perfectly fit and healthy-level five for unfit for military duty and no army. Unless, he is given a lower level and assigned to the celebrity section doing plays, giving concerts, publicly promoting the army (kinda like Jae Hee.) Which could mean he stays at the base.
He should have the same amount of time as the others, 22 months. I have several former students who are now old enough to join, so I’ve been interested in how the military works.
He has really matured as an actor and I always look forward to whatever project he’s doing.
@M if you are referring to Plum Blossom, I would say a rating of 18+ might be appropriate but that is hardly “porn”. In my opinion I just think it shows his versatility as an actor.
crap. I JUST got into him because of Attic Cat. This sucks!
@9 waimee78 –
“this info makes me miss gong yoo..”
LOL!
whoa, almost all the actors are dropping off like flies (i.e. army duty). who’s next?
i first saw him in my love pazzi, then love story in harvard, attic cat, which star are you from (i promise myself to see his latest gourmet & insadong but can’t find time yet) and just fell in love with Kim, he’s so natural and funny! You’ll be missed tremendously along with the other guys who’ve been gone to the military recently! I also wish that you’ll recover from that illness soon and glad that you’re going to be assigned in the public sector and not active military duty! Take care & God bless!
Thnx javabeans for the update on K actors going to military! your website is always amazing and my hat is off to you!
Another fine actor to enlist? *sniffs sniffs*
He has always been a solid actor, I’m sure he’ll come back even better! ^^
I’m so sad he’s already leaving us T_T~
I’ll miss Kim Rae-won and until then i’ll watch his latest movie (Insadong Scandal) and re-watch his old drama…
plum blossom… need to look for that… thanks for the tip!! can’t wait to see “more” of KRW.
i didn’t know he had back problems… is that why he slouches?
i’ve loved him since i saw him act super dorky in My Little Bride. i absolutely adore him in ..ING.
*note to self, buy plum blossom and more KRW movies and dramas to hold over until he returns after his 22 months army stint*
awwww! i’ll miss kim rae won
@ M
Sweetie, Plum Blossom is not porn. You just need to be a certain age to watch it. Watch it again when you are a little older ….you will see it in a different light.
KRW is indeed wonderful. Not only good looking and talented but so natural and real. So inspiring.
Knew it was coming but still sad to hear it. Gonna miss him! I feel a rerun of Attic Cat coming on to lessen the loss.
He’s my favourite actor and has a great talent. I know he will be back better than ever and is worth waiting for!
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oh man I was looking forward to this since the director’s Park Seong-soo PD of Ruler of Your Own World and KRW was going to be in it too. He’s the same PD who replaced KRW with Jeong Joon in Delicious Proposal. I thought KRW was gracious in accepting this role when offered by the same PD… Well much luck to him.
This is the new that I have been DREADING to read for the past few months. I knew he will be enlisting soon after Insadong Scandal.
Oh no no no, all my beloved actors are off to the military already.
Gong Yoo (he’ll get released later this year, aja!)
Jae Hee
Jo In sung
now.. Kim Rae Won!!!!! (this 2 years will be draaaggginggg…)
On the bright side, Yoon Kye Sang and Kang Ji Hwan are done with military duty, so I can feel peace.
Plum blossoms is nothing compared to Women are the future man. I would call this one a porn.
would have been incredible to see him in shorts, he is handsome. I’m going to miss much
It is very sad news to hear..
How i really wish that he can make it b4 the enlistment.
But now, seems we will miss him for 2 years.
He is very passionate and amazing actor. It’s hard to find people to hate him because he’s just AWESOME. He is the type of person who can make people love him at the first sight.. Oh goshhh….
Anyways MY Kim Rae Won.. I will support you Forever without any doubt…hehhe
*sniff*
Javabeans, I remember you saying you wanted to explore more of KRW’s dramas after watching Gourmet. Did you ever get around to it? (And what did you end up watching?) You seem quite the fan now. ^_^
KRW’s enlistment was the one I’ve been dreading the most over the years. Like you said, his acting is so expressive and sincere. He’s not one of those acting chameleons – I always feel like I’m watching KRW – and yet he imbues his characters with so much natural grace that it never feels like acting.
I’ll miss him.
i first saw him in soongpoong clinic with song hye kyo! haha they made a really cute couple, i keep hoping that they’re gonna be a couple again in a drama… on offhand thought, i think kim rae won could have done a great job in full house as well. he and rain share a similar kind of energy when it comes to acting.
maybe lee min ho can pick up the project?! i’ve often thought that lee min ho is a lot like kim rae won (again, in terms of energy). plus lee min ho has his soccer background, and i’d adore to see him in a drama again.
Awwww . . . . I loved him in Attic Cat and the movie …Ing, oh my goodness, was …Ing ever sad!!!
TT.TT I really liked him in Gourmet and My Little Bride as well. It’s sad to see him go . . . . 
D: he’d have been such a hot soccer player!
hi! like silly (in 31) i remember you thinking aloud (and writing about it)on how you’d like to do a critique of krw’s roles in his dramas. that would be an excellent despedida for him and something like a touchstone for the fans while he’s away?
i would like to read about your views on sunflower, mr. socrates and the other films he was in. miracle (2007) is listed in his filmography but i haven’t found it anywhere so i’m not sure if he was ever in it. i’ve seen most of his works and like the other comment-ers before me, have admired how he lost himself (as the actor krw) and became the character. he changes even the way he walks and his hand gestures (i.e., what star are you from where he plays a cocky/avantgarde director vis-a-vis gourmet).
looking forward to your article.
cheers!
@20
I love ‘…Ing’ too! It’s a beautiful movie. The story might not be unique, but the way the story is told, the beautiful soundtrack and the touching performances by Kim Rae Won and the girl of ‘I’m sorry I love you’, make ‘…ing’ a very special and unique movie. I watched ‘…Ing’ a long time ago, but from time to time, I always remember and think about that movie because it stayed in my mind for so long.
I guess it couldn’t be helped… I know this is coming. The role model Kim Rae-won off to the army. He’s my number 1 favorite Korean actor; so handsome, so down to earth and an excellent and versatile actor. Rae-won I will miss you soooo much. I have most of your dramas and movies, I will be watching them while you’re away. You will never be forgotten. I (along with your millions of fans) will be waiting for your safe return. So long my prince…until next time. Saranghaeyo Rae-won, Saranghanda forever!
[...] source: now news Translations: dramabeans [...]
hahaha… i wonder what porn movie is M ( the 1st post/comment) referring to that KRW participate in! he’s not even a porn star to start with. he was well received all the while so what makes him participate in porn movie? to destroy his image?
i too like kim rae won a lot so am hoping tat he will read english bolgs as he will hav a lot of free time during his enlistment.
Yes, I too shall miss him. I just finished watching Gourmet and is now itching to find that new movie of his “Insadong Scandal”. He’s just so refreshing to look at albeit his scruffiness and zits on attic cat, bad hair in “My Love Pazzi” and awkward English in “Love Story in Harvard/Which Star Are You From?”. He is just so manly and definitely shows depth on screen. *Sigh*
Sarah> M is referring to “Plum Blossom”. It’s a coming of age drama. She might think its porn because, well, there were a lot of pumping and nude scenes. I don’t think anyone will mind seeing that, though. Haha.
i didn’t know he was in a porn movie—but i kind of think that its good that he got to do it–for acting experience i guess—he is now well diversify—being able to do comedy, romance, erotic films etc,
i enjoyed him in my little bride, and i think he has great facial expressions in that film
hope he comes back soon with a new project after him military service
hello there… we’ll miss you… the filipino fans will miss you..
I think Kim Rae Won is not only good looking but a very good actor as well. I will surely miss his absence in the movies while serving his time in the service. Take care and hope to see you when you return,God Bless you.
Am just a new fan of Kim Rae Won when i saw him in Love Story in Harvard, as what others are saying, I love KRW acting, he could really move your feeling to what character he does. It sad though that he will be leaving the movie industry for two years to serve his country. Anyway, best luck Kim Rae Won be in good health. Bless You!!!!!