Ooh. Kim Kang-woo is about to join the cast of sageuk drama Dong Yi, which stars Ji Jin-hee as Joseon’s King Sook-jong and Han Hyo-joo as water maid (Dong-yi) turned concubine (later named Sook-bin).

A production source confirmed that he has been offered the role, and the decision is 90% of the way to finalization. They expect his casting to be made official within a week’s time. Kim Kang-woo’s side gave a more cautious answer that Kim wants to do the role and is looking on it favorably, but given how both sides have responded, I think it’s looking likely.

The role would have Kim in the role of Cha Chun-soo, who is by day a coroner with the police but a core member of an underground group by night. He’s a childhood friend of Dong-yi’s older brother Dong-joo, and when the latter is killed, he promises to take care of Dong-yi and devotes his life to protecting her.

As you know, I was blown away by Kim’s performance as an ice-cold, calculating, brilliant psycho financial genius in this year’s Story of a Man. I would LOVE to see him doing a sageuk — I think his first? — in what looks like another intense role. I confess I was only half-interested in Dong Yi, but now it’s got my attention.

Dong Yi is scheduled to air in March 2010.

Via OSEN

RELATED POSTS

• Ji Jin-hee and Han Hyo-joo pair up in Dong Yi
• Kim Kang-woo to hold first Japanese fanmeeting
• Kim Kang-woo isn’t so clean-cut anymore
• Kim Kang-woo: Birth of a devil
• Story of a Man: Episodes 1 & 2

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Post tags: Han Hyo-joo, Ji Jin-hee, Kim Kang-woo

On October 8, the 14th Pusan International Film Festival, or PIFF, opened in Busan. (Yes, the city takes a different official spelling than the film festival. Blame inconsistent Romanization.)

As the largest film festival in Korea, it drew a large list of attendees, as you can see from the long list of red-carpet walkers. It was definitely a star-studded opening night, and even included one familiar Hollywood face (Josh Hartnett).

This year’s PIFF features its largest lineup to date, screening 355 films from 70 countries, and closes on the 16th.

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Read the rest of Opening red carpet at the 14th Pusan International Film Festival (241 words)

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Post tags: Byun Jung-soo, Choi Jung-won, Eom Ji-won, film festivals, Go Eun-ah, Go Jun-hee, Ha Ji-won, Han Chae-young, Han Eun-jung, Han Hye-jin, Han Ji-hye, Han Ye-seul, Im Joo-hwan, Im Soo-jung, Jang Dong-gun, Jang Hyuk, Jeon Do-yeon, Jeon Hye-bin, Jo Jae-hyun, Jung Ryeo-won, Kang Ji-hwan, Kim Haneul, Kim Kang-woo, Kim Nam-gil, Kim So-yeon, Kim Yunjin, Lee Byung-heon, Lee Seon-kyun, Min Hyo-rin, Park Hee-soon, Seo Woo, So Ji-sub, Su Ae, Sung Yuri, Sunwoo Sun, Uhm Jung-hwa, Wang Seok-hyun, Yeh Ji-won, Yoo Hana, Yoo Sun, Yoon Kye-sang

I frigging love Kim Kang-woo (Chae Do-woo rules the universe), so I love hearing that his profile is rising; he is currently busy preparing for his very first fanmeeting in Japan, which will take place on October 18. Kim has played parts in some very successful films (Silimido and Le Grand Chef were both heavy-hitters at the box office), and his star continues to rise with his latest drama, (the very awesome) Story of a Man (aka The Slingshot).

It’s mostly thanks to Story of a Man, which enjoyed a Japanese television broadcast, that there is such interest in this fanmeeting. Also, apparently on the agenda for the event is a display of Kim Kang-woo’s hitherto unknown singing skills. (Performing songs at fanmeetings is a common event, but nobody’s ever heard Kim singing before.) In fact, he is even now receiving vocal training lessons in preparation for the performance. Fans who attend the event will be given a gift of a mini album, which also contains photographs he has taken.

Kim Kang-woo said, “In the past, I haven’t had much time to communicate with fans because I’ve been busy working, but I’m extremely pleased to have the chance to spend this time at the fanmeeting. I feel nervous to stand onstage and meet my Japanese fans officially, but also look forward to seeing how it will turn out.”

Via Hankyung

RELATED POSTS

• Kim Kang-woo isn’t so clean-cut anymore
• Story of a Man: Episode 20 (Final)
• Kim Kang-woo: Birth of a devil
• Story of a Man: Episodes 1 & 2

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Post tags: fanmeetings, Kim Kang-woo

Given that the star-studded omnibus movie Ogamdo [오감도] is touted as a story of “love beyond eros” told five different ways (there are five directors helming five different vignettes), it’s no surprise that its promotional material continues to be provocative. (For instance, the first poster got people talking with the nude woman it featured.)

In fact, the film has received an adults-only rating due to its “frank sexual depictions” and “provocative content.” Some of the narrative threads include a newlywed couple’s upset love, a first encounter for a young couple, a “peculiar relationship” between a famous movie actress and a new actress, a woman who lives with her dead husband’s girlfriend, and so forth.

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Read the rest of Ogamdo unveils more racy posters (42 words)

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Post tags: Cha Soo-yeon, Hwang Jung-min, Jang Hyuk, Kim Hyo-jin, Kim Kang-woo, Kim Min-sun, Kim Su-ro, Uhm Jung-hwa

This article/interview with Kim Kang-woo talking about the end of Story of a Man isn’t nearly as good as this in-depth one from a while back (“Birth of a Devil”), but now that the drama’s over, I’m looking to ease the withdrawal with some more interviews with its actors. A couple more to follow soon!

“They say Kim Kang-woo really is a bad guy”

“Chae Do-woo… is truly dreadful. To achieve his goal, he can even kill. What’s worse, when he’s pushed into a difficult situation, he tells his wife, ‘Go to your ex-boyfriend and ask for help,’ without any problems. He’s a person who can’t be understood through the thoughts of normal people.”

Kim Kang-woo left the character Chae Do-woo with the drama’s last broadcast on June 9. Although the ratings were low, Story of A Man / The Slingshot had achievements that were no less than of those dramas with hit 30% ratings. One of those has to be the discovery of Kim Kang-woo’s villain.

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Read the rest of Kim Kang-woo isn’t so clean-cut anymore (618 words)

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Post tags: interviews, Kim Kang-woo, Story of a Man

Ohhhhh, what a freaking great way to go out!

I was afraid the ending wouldn’t live up to the series, especially with all the snippets of spoilers floating around… but I loved it. I can see why some might have wanted something different, but I thought it was quite fitting.

SONG OF THE DAY

8eight – “자유” (Freedom). I had a beautiful sad song picked out for the finale, but then I saw the episode and it didn’t seem to fit. [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Story of a Man: Episode 20 (Final) (6,066 words)

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Post tags: episode recaps, Han Yeo-woon, Kim Kang-woo, Park Ki-woong, Park Shi-yeon, Park Yong-ha, Philip Lee, Story of a Man

It was hard picking a good screencap today because all of them are such huge spoilers to the plot. (Seriously? OMG WUT THE HELL, EPISODE 19?? Are you trying to give me a heart attack? I’d been spoiled as to one huge thing (well, several), but not one in particular, so this episode still managed to pull out a big surprise. Some really strong acting, too.)

Even though I used this image kinda by default, I rather like it now, even though it pits one of the ladies I like with one for whom I barely have any patience. One guess who’s who. Still, two strong and admirable ladies in a drama versus one unsympathetic and annoying one is a pretty decent ratio.

SONG OF THE DAY

Wheesung – “나락” (Hell) [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Story of a Man: Episode 19 (4,131 words)

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Post tags: episode recaps, Kim Kang-woo, Park Ki-woong, Park Shi-yeon, Park Yong-ha, Philip Lee, Story of a Man