KBS’s current Monday-Tuesday show, Princess Has Returned [공주가 돌아왔다], has been pretty unremarkable (in ratings and in response) and ends on a similarly quiet note this week. On the other hand, I’m looking at the show to take over its slot next week with some interest — Invincible Lee Pyeong-gang [천하무적 이평강] seems to have come together rather under the radar, but now it’s got me perked up in interest.

The drama blends together sageuk elements with the contemporary in its reimagining of the classic folktale of Princess Pyeong-gang and the Fool On-dal. The fusion drama stars Nam Sang-mi (Time of Dog and Wolf) and Ji Hyun-woo (My Sweet Seoul).

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Nam Sang-mi, Park Ki-woong

Park Ki-woong (Story of a Man) is the latest to join the cast of KBS’s drama Invincible Lee Pyeong-gang [천하무적 이평강], which has already cast Nam Sang-mi (Gourmet), Ji Hyun-woo (My Sweet Seoul), Cha Ye-ryun (A Star’s Lover), and Seo Do-young (Friend, Our Legend).

Pretty decent cast, actually. Not so sold on the story…

The drama is the modern-day reimagining of the tale of the Fool On-dal and Princess Pyeong-gang, which somehow takes on the topic of golf (er?); Nam Sang-mi and Ji Hyun-woo fill the lead roles. Nam’s character is Pyeong-gang, the resourceful daughter of a golf course planner, while Ji plays On-dal, the son of a rich family. They strike up a romance despite their class differences and a lot of bickering. (I’m not sure how this is related to the original tale of On-dal and Pyeong-gang, unless it’s a reversal.)

Meanwhile, Park Ki-woong may finally be moving away from his prior image as a guy who was famous for not a whole lot (he admits to not understanding how to work on his acting until his recent noteworthy turn as an adorable autistic financial genius in Story of a Man). Previously known more for his cute and quirky appearance than anything, I’m going to guess he owes SOAM at least a little for this latest character, who is also autistic and speaks with a stutter due to a traumatic memory of losing his parents at a young age in a landslide. He finds comfort in music and rap. (Park is currently busy studying his character and practicing his rap/dance moves.) The character later falls in love with divorcee Yeon Mi-ju (bleh), but the family opposes the match because of their age difference.

Are you wondering how the story fits together? So am I. I’m not so sure about the writer-director combo, since Park Kye-ok wrote the frustrating Cain & Abel and Lee Jung-seob directed Hong Gil Dong, which was written and acted better than it was directed.

Unbeatable Lee Pyeong-gang began filming on October 1 and will premiere on KBS Mondays and Tuesdays following Princess Has Returned on November 9. Good luck going up against Queen Seon-deok!

Via Joy News, Newsen

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(Ow. A bit more frightening than a similar poster for Yoga School, isn’t it?)

The horror film Faithless Hell [불신지옥, also called Faith] opened on August 12 to general praise for its premise (religion) and strong directing. Yet it’s not till now, two weeks after its premiere, that the film starring Nam Sang-mi (Gourmet) and Shim Eun-kyung (Legend) has put out a hitherto-unreleased poster.

This promo image takes a decidedly different approach from the one that was previously used (see below), going more for the horror angle as it features Shim Eun-kyung as the possessed younger sister to Nam Sang-mi.

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Nam Sang-mi’s newest is a mystery horror film, which is literally translated to Faithless Hell [불신지옥, Bulshin Jiok] (which may not be the eventual English title it takes on). It has now fixed upon a release date in the prime summer horror season: August 13.

The film had initially been named Scream [비명], but I think the newer title is more apt for the cult-related storyline; the movie is described as a religious supernatural horror. (eep! That just happens to be the brand of horror I most fear.) Nam Sang-mi plays a woman whose religious younger sister goes missing, and the subsequent search leads her to deeper secrets and more people’s deaths.

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Nam Sang-mi is taking on her first horror flick in the upcoming Scream [비명], in which she’ll co-star opposite Ryu Seung-ryong (Painter of the Wind).

The plot actually sounds potentially interesting (and more of a thriller, although they’re calling it horror); the film deals with pseudo-cults and shamanism, and places Nam Sang-mi in the role of a woman who searches for her disappeared younger sister. Ryu plays a veteran cop who suspects a disappeared girl has met with a suspicious death and searches to uncover the truth.

Nam said of the role, “The moment I read the script, I wanted this part badly. After such a long time away from films, it excited me, and I can show a completely different side than I’ve shown in dramas.” It does sound like a big departure from the usually bright, cute, and lively characters Nam has played in the past (Sweet Spy, Bad Family, Gourmet); I’ve found her to be an uneven actress although I really like her personality, which always comes across as positive and charming.

More than just the plot, though, it’ll be interesting seeing this debut film from director Lee Yong-ju, who worked on 2003’s Memories of Murder and wrote the screenplay himself.

The film begins filming this month, and is planning for a summer release.

Via Max Movie

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