Won Bin becomes the first Korean model to grace the cover of GQ (Korea). The photo shoot was held in July in New York.

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It probably isn’t the comeback you were all hoping for, but Won Bin is back on screens hawking coffee for Maxim T.O.P. Parent company Dongseo Foods explains picking him for his post-military masculine image, which suits the brand’s concept of appealing to late-twenties, early-thirties coffee enthusiasts who can appreciate the “unique aroma” and “special qualities” of espresso. Which… I’m sure are all in evidence in Maxim’s syrupy-sweet, bottled concoctions and freeze-dried granules.

Won Bin’s actual screen comeback will be in the film Mother, which has yet to begin filming.

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There’s a building buzz around the upcoming film Mother, and it’s not just because of its lead actor, Won Bin. Naturally, Won Bin taking the lead role is news in itself, given that he’s spent the last four years away from the big screen (or small screen, for that matter), and fans have long awaited his comeback film, particularly since he’s stayed out of the limelight following his army discharge and knee surgery in 2006.

But this also happens to be the next project for director Bong Joon-ho, one of Korea’s more noted up-and-coming directors. He made his name with 2003’s Memories of Murder, and his last Korean production was 2006’s The Host; he since filmed the recent Korea-France-Japan joint production Tokyo — whose other two segments were filmed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) and Leos Carax (Paris, Je T’aime).

Cast in the titular mother role opposite Won Bin is veteran actor Kim Hye Ja — she’s had a 46-year screen career, though you may remember her recently as the granny queen from Goong, and returns to film after ten years of mostly television work. So this is really a comeback project for all three, in a sense.

In the film, Won Bin’s twenty-eight-year-old character lives with his mother (no father), and is falsely accused of committing murder. Portraying a character more pure and virtuous than his years, he finds himself caught up in a mess he can’t solve on his own; his mother throws herself wholly into proving her son’s innocence, all on her own.

Although the film is neither large-scale nor blockbuster material, the three principals involved ought to make this something to look out for. The film shoots in fall and projects an early 2009 release.

Via Newsva.co.kr, Joy News

SONG OF THE DAY

Tei - “어머니” (Mother) [ Download ]

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• Not to get your hopes up, but…

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…Won Bin (Taegukgi, Autumn Fairy Tale), may be, possibly, hopefully, making his long-awaited comeback!

Finally! (Maybe.)

He’s been out of the spotlight for nearly four years (two of which were due to his military service) and hasn’t seemed in a particular hurry to return to the spotlight after his last movie, 2004’s My Brother, or his 2006 army discharge. All he’s done in the interim is act as a special representative for Unicef.

At long last, though, his management has let it be known that he’s preparing to make an acting comeback. As a favorite among many a lady viewer, there have been some rumors here and there about taking a role in a television drama by autumn, but his management explained: “He’s not considering dramas at all. But he’s currently looking at several possible film projects. He plans to return in a movie rather than a drama series.”

Although nothing has been set in stone yet, the possibility is high that we might be able to see Won Bin in a comeback film as early as the latter half of this year. It’s not enough to hold your breath over, but I think we can set our dials to “cautiously optimistic.”

Via Newsen

SONG OF THE DAY

Kang Ta - “너를 닮아 (Still With You).” The Korean title doesn’t actually translate to “still with you,” but that’s somehow what the producers used on the album, so there ya go. [ Download ]

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