14 Comments
May 1Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

He’s so magnetic in everything. People are STILL clamoring for a Hotel Del Luna sequel. (Come ON, Hong Sisters!)

Expand full comment
author

He was very aware of how he wanted to make his post military debut. And he caused quite the stir with Hotel del Luna! (I need to post my review of that K-drama soon. I loved that series!)

Expand full comment
May 1Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

It was *chef’s kiss* perfect—both as a strategic return for him and as an ending for that series. I love that series beyond reason—it’s second only to Vincenzo for me.

Expand full comment
May 1Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

Thank you. This is now my watch list. I'll have to start with "The Moon Embracing the Sun" I loved him in "It's Okay to Not Be Okay". So many new ones to catch up on.

"Queen of Tears" was fabulous. It helps when the the actress acting with him is also a great actor.

Expand full comment
author

IU was originally offered the female lead role and turned it down due to her own projects (recording her album, touring etc.). She and Kim Soo-hyun previously worked together on DREAM HIGH and THE PRODUCERS. And she made a cameo in his film REAL (ok, this film was not good...). They're great friends and I would've loved to have seen the two of them act opposite each other again.

But that said, Kim Ji-won was superb in QUEEN OF TEARS and really made the role her own.

Expand full comment

I love IU too. "Hotel de Luna" again. And "My Mister". She's an amazing talent - both in singing and acting.

Expand full comment
May 2Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

I first saw him in My Love from Another Star, followed by It's Okay to Not Be Okay. Loved both his roles there, and while I haven't seen Queen of Tears yet, I know he did a good job because a lot of people have been talking about it!

Expand full comment
author

If you like those two K-dramas, I think you'll really enjoy QUEEN OF TEARS and his work in the series. Kim Ji-won is amazing in it as well!

Expand full comment
May 4Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

I just watched My Love From Another Star for the 4th time while I waited for new episodes of Queen of Tears. Kim Soo-hyun is a legend. His role in Queen of Tears was so incredible. I loved every single episode! 🥲

Expand full comment
author

QoT is a very special K-drama. There were so many layers to it. And that ending... To me, it was beautiful and perfect.

Expand full comment
May 13Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

I’m looking forward to your review of QoT! It is indeed the strongest K-drama of 2024 to date, couldn’t agree more.

Expand full comment
author

Thank you! I hope to have it up soon!

Expand full comment
May 15·edited May 15Liked by K-Culture with Jae-Ha Kim

I was so curious about the cameo of the green track suit guy everyone was talking about in my first K-drama I had to look up Kim Soo-Hyun. I still need to watch Secretly Greatly. But I loved My Love From Another Star (and Jun Ji-Hyun). I also loved IOTNBO—the first time I watched it, but bailed on it (ep. 10) the second time while watching with my daughter because neither of us could take the toxic abusive behavior of Ko Moon-Young. Taylor says she loses respect for the guy when they like someone like that. But as far as character portrayal KSH nailed it!

As you pointed out—one thing you can't miss when watching KSH is the emotion he is able to portray. I think he may be the best crier when it comes to acting. It's hard not to sob along when you're watching. I'm not sure if I realized before Queen of Tears how funny he can be. That whole cute thing (that I believe was ad-libbed) was hilarious!

Expand full comment
author

The cute thing was so ... cute! He can play it all.

As far as his character's relationship with Ko Moon-young, he was a caretaker since he was a child, first for his brother and then later professionally. I don't think her behavior was a red flag for him like it might be for you or me, because he was so used to dealing with abusive/hurt/sad people. But that drama was full of main characters who were hurting and unable to deal with their pain.

Expand full comment