Chungmuro/Film News
Yoon Kye-sang in Phungsan Dog
by | May 29, 2011 | 98 Comments

Fans of Yoon Kye-sang, particularly those in love with his adorably nerdy doctor in current rom-com Best Love, may be interested in seeing a wholly different side to him in his upcoming movie Phungsan Dog. It comes from director Kim Ki-duk, who just won the top prize in Cannes International Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard section for his movie Arirang.

He plays a mysterious man who travels from Seoul to Pyongyang, North Korea, delivering messages and packages from displaced North Korean refugees living in the South, or smuggling people from the North. The title of the movie comes from the name of a North Korean cigarette brand, which he smokes exclusively; it’s how Yoon’s character is referred, since he’s unidentifiable by name or birth or any other details.

The movie’s plot unfolds when he receives the order to extract the girlfriend (Kim Gyu-ri) of a high-ranking exiled North Korean official out of Pyongyang, all within a 3-hour time frame, leading to unforeseen complications. There’s a line in the trailer where the official notes sarcastically upon their return, “You sure have grown attached within three hours.”

Interestingly, Yoon Kye-sang doesn’t speak a single word in the film — which isn’t so surprising, I suppose, given that Kim Ki-duk’s riveting 3-Iron was nearly wordless as well, with lead actors Jae Hee and Lee Seung-yeon going nearly silent for its entire running time. Though we don’t see much of a dark side in Best Love, Yoon definitely has the ability to be fierce and intense when the occasion calls for it; I can see him commanding the screen without so much as a line of dialogue. (And that kiss! Eep, it’s pretty damn hot.)

Phungsan Dog will open on June 23.

Via Mk.co.kr

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98 Comments from the Beanut Gallery
  1. mmmm

    HAWT HAWT HAWT!!!
    I love him. <3 (x

    • 1.1 ckdarkraven23

      Ooolalaaaah!!! who knew Pil Joo has a sexy, dark side?hehehe;)) I positively melt!!!;D

  2. Anna

    damn, never seen this side of him.
    i need to watch this!

  3. diorama

    T.T Yoon Kye Sang, you KILL me. First as sweet adorable Pil Joo and now this hawt man of action?

    After the inevitable second lead heartbreak in Best Love, I’m going to watch this.

  4. YBisTOP

    He is super cute!!! Love his role in Best Love.

  5. Emeldy

    Yoon Kye-sang best work in my book has to be “Crazy in Love”. He is amazing playing an intense role. I am so watching this movie.

    • 5.1 houstontwin

      I really loved him in Who Are You. He was by turns comic and poignant and really excelled at both.

    • 5.2 avocado

      agree with you Emeldy…Crazy in love is best work, I watched it over and over again..very nice and touchable plot (definitely my cup of tea)
      it is also his first work that I’ve watched..first I thought that why the lead man is not as handsome as the other K-drama actor..but after watched him acting….totally rooted for him until now..
      For Pil Joo lovers…you must see this drama…so adorable guy..

    • 5.3 avocado

      agree with you Emeldy…Crazy in love is his best work, I watched it over and over again..very nice and touchable plot (definitely my cup of tea)
      it is also his first work that I’ve watched..first I thought that why the lead man is not as handsome as the other K-drama actor..but after watched him acting….totally rooted for him until now..
      For Pil Joo lovers…you must see this drama…so adorable guy..

    • 5.4 Qwenli

      oh yes me too. I love him when he is intense. Pil soo is too teddy bear like to me. YKS is best when he portrays intense emotions. Love him!

    • 5.5 tess

      I agree. Crazy in Love is a definite must watch for YKS fans.

  6. Any

    Why is this director making such crap movies with no commercial success ??

    • 6.1 vic

      his movies have no commerical success because they are too inteligent for the masses.

    • 6.2 Geneva

      How exactly does commercially successful = NOT crap? The wealth of evidence on hand would beg to differ.

  7. Geneva

    This looks excellent.

  8. Nokcha

    I’m so happy he’s been given a chance to show his dramatic side, and with KKD as director. WOW!

  9. sushi

    lmaaaaaaao, in my eyes he just went from oppa to ajusshi

    • 9.1 Alvina

      LMFAO. Ajusshi and Yoon Kye-sang should duke it out!
      :D

    • 9.2 blahblahblah

      Even so, YKS is one HOT ahjussi. Hehe <3

  10. 10 estel

    YKS is definitely not recognizable here as sweet, dorky Pil-joo, that’s for darn sure.

    Omo, how I love me some intense, brooding hot man! I wish I was in Korea this summer to see this on the big screen.

  11. 11 vic

    Kim ki duk is not the director, but only the producer.
    That means its not a kim ki duk film

    • 11.1 Any

      Thank God! i’m sick of his movies.

  12. 12 Messi

    If he’s not gonna speak in whole movie, how will he interact with? Is he gonna take instructions like robot? that would be weird.

    • 12.1 Emeldy

      Check out his previous work 3-Iron which Javabeans have mentioned. It’s one of the best Movie i have ever watched.

    • 12.2 hmi4

      Communication isn’t always done through spoken words. Sign language, written notes, braille etc. have been used. Tony Leung used morse code to communicate in Infernal Affairs for example.

  13. 13 Banu

    WAAAA.. awesome *__* ^__^

  14. 14 madzgo

    This got to be the most “commercial” KKD movie I ever saw. His movies are kinda weird with lots of very shocking, unforgettable scenes but certainly they’re not crap!!

    • 14.1 tess

      KKD said himself that this is going to be the most “commercial” movie he’s made. I hate most of his movies but I think I’ll like this one.

  15. 15 EmoBunny

    wow. didnt recognise him at first ^_^ lol

  16. 16 giddygirl108

    One word: intense. It looks great!

  17. 17 MEI

    They’re NEKKIDDDDD in an ice pond!!! Survival 101, when entering cold water, be nekkiddd…with yoon kye-sang :D

    • 17.1 mary

      Teehee. :) )

    • 17.2 laya

      noted *heehee*

    • 17.3 Jomo

      That is something I am willing to try.

  18. 18 orangy911

    I was like “Kim Gyuri? Never heard of her” and then I realized I do know the actress…I just forgot she began to use her real name. It’s going to take some getting used to.

    YKS hot hot hawttt. I think Best Love will be just the thing he needs to score leading roles in dramas again. <3

    • 18.1 garcia_marina

      Kim Gyu Ri aka Kim Min Sun bared herself in Portrait of a Beauty (2008)

  19. 19 Laeah

    Love him!!! :0 I’m glad he is doing more movies. I really think he is the best Idol-Actor out of them all.

  20. 20 ruthie

    no thank you…i want YKS to stay in my memory right now as the cute and dorky Pil Joo coated with honey and sprinkles…yummy and sweet!

  21. 21 Steamy Bun

    YEAH!! KIM KI DUK! It’s not surprising at all that there won’t be much dialogue, since MOST of Kim’s films tend to use it very sparsely – and it creates an amazing atmosphere, both peaceful and unsettling. Ugh, I just love the way he makes movies. And yay for YKS as well! I love him ever since Who Are You? (I’m gonna have to get on Best Love one of these days).

    • 21.1 Steamy Bun

      (watching trailer) hm, doesn’t look very Kim Ki-duk-y. Perhaps I spoke too soon…

      • 21.1.1 vic

        it’s not his movie,he’s just the producer

  22. 22 malta

    Love him so much!

  23. 23 chasen8888

    I want to see this movie, even though he does not say a word. Its already hot. Hope it gets subbed soon.

  24. 24 Daniela

    It looks great. I want to watch it.

  25. 25 Cam

    YOON KYE SANG!!! ^___________^

    I really love him since I first saw him in that drama “She Is Nineteen” but it was very fun and awesome, ofc! =D

    Wow, I’ve never seen him act so, like, serious and tough without being comedy, yups! O__o I will be looking forward to this. ^_^

    • 25.1 momosa

      Me too! She’s 19 is my first kdrama, YKS is my favorite kdrama actor. Love, love him!

  26. 26 Arhazivory

    Ehhh? Pil Joo…is that really you? o_O This looks really hawt.

  27. 27 DMKO

    Wow! Hot and intense. Where is my sweetie, lovey doctor? Yum!

  28. 28 Melissa

    gahhhh what a transformation. he went from dorky cute to hotttt

  29. 29 notoriousnoona

    OH YEA! YOON KYE SANG! And he doesn’t speak. And he’s sweaty. And he’s dirty! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!

    I’ve loved his work since the very 1st time I saw him. He’s also the lead male in my fav drama(Crazy for You) and therefore 1/2 of why I love it! I’m so looking forward to this….

    • 29.1 Jomo

      You forgot naked!

  30. 30 ...

    oooo… looks so cool! didn’t recognize him until i actually read the article. can’t wait to see the movie though! looks gooood! :D

  31. 31 Mari

    Nummy, I like the facial hair.

  32. 32 sleeplessinwgtn

    Who Are You won me over that I had to look for more YKS dramas. My Sis-In-Law is 19 was fun to watch and Crazy For You made me cry heaps. Loving him in Best Love; he is so suited for his role.

    I hope he gets another drama where he’s in the lead.

    When I saw him in WAU, I thought, he looks so handsome in his suits.

    He could play goofy and serious roles. He has such a comic looking face when he needs to be comic but he could equally show hurt and angst. So versatile…

  33. 33 come2noona

    I would love to see that!

  34. 34 girlatsea

    Ooooh.

    I started watching Who Are You? because of him. I can’t get enough of him during the week. hahaha

  35. 35 cZAK

    ohhh…
    where is my PILJOO…?
    kekeke but still love Kyesang!!!!

  36. 36 dhorie

    so this means… we now have 2 action stars in Best Love!

  37. 37 Christy

    He’s as amazing and versatile actor just like our beloved Cha Seung Won. So faceted. He’s a gem!!

  38. 38 ais

    I didn’t recognize him right away.. very far from Dr. Pil Joo’s image.. I am so intrigued to see a different side of him.

  39. 39 justkat

    Yoon Kye Sang!!! ’nuff said.

    The only actor to get me out of lurker mode and post a comment.

  40. 40 more

    3 iron was great

  41. 41 Keylye

    I am so excited for this. Yoon Kye Sang is amazing and I love Kim Ki Duk’s work.

  42. 42 crazykillua

    If I Love the Director…I definelty love the Actor…hahahahaha…Love this type of movies!!!

  43. 43 Beng

    oh gosh! i wanna watch!!!

  44. 44 Love Cha Seung Hyo

    BTW, Yoon Kye Sang participated in this project WITHOUT receiving any payment AT ALL although he had to endure the freezing cold in the deep winter last year. I always respect YKS since he is really determined to shred his idol image and committed to becoming a real actor regardless of popularity or public image of him.

    Kim Ki-duk’s works are not necessarily all great and certainly a much alienated figure in Korea, but undeniably he is the auteur of Korean cinema loved and recognized by International artistic circle. Although this film is not directed by Kim Ki-duk himself, he wrote the script and produced the film (his script writing is excellent). I heard that this film is his first step to reconcile himself to the public taste. Nonetheless, the images and aura from this clip still have Kim’s signature style, which I always admire.

    In any case, I am so happy for YKS since being able to collaborate with Director Kim’s project is itself already a kind of honor and recognition. I am re-watching Who are You these days and I am still hopelessly in love with the character Cha Seung Hyo YKS plays.

    If you only know YKS through Pil-joo, you have to see Who are you. The range of acting he demonstrates in this drama is simply amazing. I couldn’t even believe that he was a former idol star–and from G.O.D!!

    • 44.1 Gladys

      Like you, I am rewatching WHO ARE YOU because of YKS! I was completely won over by him because as you say his “range of acting he demonstrates in this drama” and his UNIQUE good looks!
      BTW, I think he also acted in another movie for free last year. The title of that movie is “Close to You” if I am not wrong.

    • 44.2 vic

      [quote]Although this film is not directed by Kim Ki-duk himself, he wrote the script and produced the film (his script writing is excellent)[quote]

      i don’t think he wrote the script either

      • 44.2.1 leah

        Kim did spend 3 years composing the story of Poongsan. But I am not sure whether Jeon Jae-hong (the director) re-adapts the story into the film script or KKD did it himself.

  45. 45 worrrd

    Can’t say I’m a fan of Kim’s…but will definitely give this movie a shot for rumpled YKS

  46. 46 MJP

    I thought 3 Iron was interesting. It makes it easy for translation to English!!!

    I would like to see this movie, also.

  47. 47 recent k-addict

    thanks for the heads up, i cant wait for the release of this in english.
    btw, is this the same girl in that movie portrait of beauty?? she’s a great actress…
    just finished episode 8 of best love…I am soo loving YKS, dorky or otherwise… :)

  48. 48 chantal

    Even without any speaking lines in this movie YKS can do it just with his speaking eyes and brows!

    His Pil Joo in BL is already testament to that.

    I think that is how versatile he is as an actor.

    I may not be crazy for action films but good to know he can do this as well as any other role he is given.

    My only regret is that he cannot show his gorgeous smile as often in this film, hahaha! (Replace that with brooding looks and heavy sighs…hmmmm…hehehe).

    With all the love now being given to him b’cos of Pil Joo/BL, I didn’t realize Cha Seung Won can have a very close rival in the hearts of the ahjummas here.

  49. 49 leila8mae

    OH MY GOSH!!!

    yous just added another reason for me to love him more!!

    sizzling hot!! I just swoon.. his eyes.. fierce!

  50. 50 YoSoyHaru!!!!!!!!!!

    this movie seems like it would have sad ending, i still watch it though :D

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