Kingdom of Wind aims young with some idol faces

14 September 7, 2008September 10, 2008

by javabeans

I’ll admit I haven’t paid much mind to KBS’s upcoming sageuk (and manhwa adaptation) Kingdom of Wind because, well, I never cottoned on to Jumong and felt no particular thrill to see Song Il-kook back in his old-fashioned threads playing Jumong’s grandson.

But I will say I’m a little surprised at the casting of two up-and-coming new pretty boys who have hitherto been known mostly for their good looks, in their first sageuk roles: Coffee Prince’s Kim Jae-wook, pictured above, and Kim Hye-sung, who’s just started expanding his repertoire (Jenny, Juno; Unstoppable High Kick) to more daring roles, like the queer short Boy Meets Boy. (Well, everyone knows that when you want to prove your acting mettle, you either go theater or sageuk.)

Furthermore, three of Kingdom of Wind‘s main cast are also making their first sageuk attempts: lead actress Choi Jung-won (Infamous Chil Princesses), supporting actress Oh Yoon-ah (Old Miss Diary, Someday), and actor Park Gun-hyung (Dancing Princess). Generally I find that an actor’s first time in a sageuk is often marked by stiff, awkward acting (because the cadence of a historical drama is so different from a modern one), but the mark of a versatile actor is one who adapts to the new milieu quickly.

Must be their strategy to try to rope in the younger viewers, I suppose? The drama’s competition will be MBC’s Beethoven Virus, with whom it shares a premiere date — this Wednesday, the 10th — and SBS’s Painter of the Wind, which premieres two weeks later on the 24th.

Via My Daily

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1 belleza

September 7, 2008 at 9:45 PM

"Must be their strategy to try to rope in the younger viewers, I suppose? T"

I don't think the main cast is especially young or idolish (no more really than the Sea God or Jumong), per se. Oh Yoon Ah is totally counter intuitive in a sageuk sure, but she has a knack for being consistently and surprisingly good whatever role she's given.

I think Song Il Gook and Choi Jung Won is a match made in heaven IMO. And it would be be really awesome to see Son of Son of Jumong finish off Dae Soo.

Son of Son of Jumong: "Hi Dae Soo. I reincarnated myself to kill you this time."
Dae Soo *kicks in beady eyes*: "Juuuuumong? Juuuuuumong?!? Ayyyeeeee" *stabs poor random guard who probably hoped to get on the Puyo Kingdom pension plan. Ah well . . .*

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2 Javabeans

September 7, 2008 at 9:51 PM

belleza, i was referring to the younger stars, i.e. Kim Jae-wook and Kim Hye-sung, who aren't exactly our typical sageuk types. Of course, it's not rare for former pop singers or idols to make sageuk appearances, but this one struck me because the two already remind me of each other.

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3 belleza

September 7, 2008 at 10:17 PM

Ahh, yeah, that's true, but even so it's really not a big deal anymore for a couple of would-be idols to show up in similar sageuk parts now. I'm going into Kingdom of the Winds expecting something like Emperor of the Sea (which itself cast a lot of relatively young/idol-ish parts . . . I mean, Chae Jung Ahn -- who turned out to be a pretty good actress even before CP -- in a sageuk?!?), lots of action and romance and SIG doing SIG things. I don't know. Does Kingdom of Winds count as fusion? Will we see magical CGI effects and uhh the Son of Son of Jumong talk to MufasaI mean.Jumong from the sky?

BTW for anybody interested,d the Kingdom of Winds manhwa is available in the States (I think I even saw it at Borders.) Also, the grandson is supposed to finish off Dae Soo, so at least we officially get closure too. :)

And gamers can play the online version of KIW too . . .

http://www.nexustk.com/index.html

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4 charitee

September 7, 2008 at 10:22 PM

i actually wasn't so interested in this drama, but i now am. i won't lie...it's because of kim jaewook and kim hyesung.

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5 mzpakipot

September 7, 2008 at 10:34 PM

This one is actually interesting, I'm not very big with sagueks but i'm more interested in POTW. I am more interested in comebacks of good actors and actresses. And I really don't wanna see re-makes..I guess it's a phase i'm going through..(:

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6 K-lover

September 7, 2008 at 10:39 PM

Ha...ha I'm interested in the drama for shallow reasons too because of kim jaewook and kim hyesung are in it; and they're eye candy ^_^

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7 dave tae

September 8, 2008 at 5:05 AM

wow the first pic on the left looks like junki in iljimae....weird

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8 Serena

September 8, 2008 at 5:08 AM

I must admit that although I usually don't watch this kind of drama (not my thing, really), I'm strangely attracted to this. And yes, me too, for shallow reasons. Or, well, one reason: Kim Jae-wook.

I'll be waiting for your rating, if you watch it, that is. If not, then I'll add it to my ever growing list of dramas I'd like to see.

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9 ar_arguably romantic

September 8, 2008 at 10:12 AM

ANOTHER sageuk for the year 2008. they should have And Kim Jae-wook looks really good in sageuk clothing- better than modern clothes. I hope he can act. this, painter of the wind , and beethoven virus all don't sound particularly exciting but i think beethoven virus will come out of this with high ratings.

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10 Ellaszandra

September 12, 2008 at 9:44 PM

Ahhhh Kim Jae Wook finally gets an important.. i mean more important role ? I was wondering when they will stop giving him secondary roles. I'm looking forward to this drama now.. yes only for him.. *i'm lame* =='..
Beethoven virus seems also really interesting... i already like th two actors.. The girl was in The Legend right ? ^^

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11 fara

December 12, 2008 at 2:21 AM

I like this drama! I thought about your blog when I was browsing online. Since I know you do a very good job with capturing dramas recaps. Thanks for doing a great job with it and I just want you to know I am one of your readers who appreciate all your hard work. Keep it up take care!

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12 ghazaleh

June 1, 2009 at 12:18 AM

hi
i am an iranian girl. i sow ju mong in tv. it is very impressive. i want to know more about sung il gook. he is very famouse in iran (because of ju mong) and every body like him and speake about him. i also sow the kingdom of wind. it was very very perfect and professional. i don't know who is it's director. but it was unblievable. it was perfect.

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13 ruth anggreni

November 28, 2009 at 4:31 AM

wndrful

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14 ruth anggreni

November 28, 2009 at 4:38 AM

this is a amazing film,
i hope one day we can meet
sometimes this film make me confused, but i don't why i must cry if i wacthed it
i think maybe cause muh yui , his father and the girl
i know muh yui is a wise person like his father
you know guys,
so many people love this film
thank you for read my comment