Shin Ha Kyun 신하균

[rubie]

Do join us at the thread for Shin Ha Kyun's latest movie .. the one with the vampires, by Dir. Park Chan Wook..

» [movie 2008] Thirst / Bakjwi 박쥐

http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=205989

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March 21, 2008

Shin Ha-Kyun Joins Park Chan-Wook’s THIRST

Posted by Todd Brown

OldBoy director Park Chan-Wook’s next film just keeps looking better and better. When word came that Park was making a vampire film, that fact alone was enough to guarantee my butt would be in a seat at my first available opportunity to see the film. When word came that Song Kang Ho was slated to be in the lead role I was even more excited. And now Shin Ha-Kyun - the stellar star of Save The Green Planet and Sympathy For Mr. Vengeance has joined the cast. Song and Shin are arguably the two finest actors working in Korean film today so getting the two of them together in the same project is a big, big deal.

Source: twitchfilm.net

[Guest huangsy]

he has been cast in movie, A Song of Mobsters, http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=251373

[Guest MercedesDesire]

He's amazing, I love all his movies :blush:

[Guest mj07]

ooh, thanks for the news about his new movie! 2008 has been a dry spell for him, or so it seems. Glad to see he's getting more roles lately!

[Guest conduongmuathu]

Shin Ha Gyun's latest drama - MBC Harvest Villa

http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=299823

[Guest inez]

^...wow..! thanks !! a drama for Mr Shin!! yayy!!

so many A listed actors doin' dramas...awesome!!!

[Guest kdramafanusa]

Looks like Shin Ha-Kyun's new film "Cafe Noir" is invited to compete at this year's Venice Film Festival.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111800639...yid=13&cs=1

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/culturespo...4003200315.HTML

The 66th Venice International Film Festival (September 2nd ~ September 12th, 2009)

http://www.labiennale.org/en/cinema/festival/

Movie Info: Daum | Cine21

Cafe Noir

Director: Jung Sung-Il

Cast: Shin Ha-Kyun, Moon Jung-Hee, Jung Yoo-Mi, Kim Hye-Na

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I compiled his profile with data from KMDB, KOFIC, Daum, Cine21.

Name : Shin Ha-kyun

Name (Korean) : 신하균

Date of Birth : 30-MAY-1974

Field : Actor

Debut Year : 1998

Related Links : Fan Cafe | Daum | Cine21 | Soompi thread

Filmography

Cafe Noir ()

The Youth Mob Tales ()

Harvest Villa [TV] (2009) Daum | Cine21

Thirst (Bakjwi) (2009)

The Devil's Game (The Game) (2008) Daum

My Son (A-deul) (2007)

No Mercy for the Rude (Ye-ui Up-nun Gut-deul) (2006) Cine21

Murder, Take One / The Big Scene (Baksuchil ttae tteonara) (2005.08.11) Cine21

Welcome to Dongmakgol (Welcome to Dongmakgol) (2005.08.04) Cine21

Sympathy for Lady Vengeance (Chinjeolhan geumjassi) (2005.07.29)

My Brother (Uri Hyeong) (2004-10-08) Cine21

Hair (2004) Daum

Man Who Went to Mars (Hwaseong-euro gan Sanai) (2003.05.05) Cine21

Save the Green Planet (Jigu-reul Jikyeora) (2003.04.04) Daum

Good Guys 좋은 사람 [TV] (2003) imbc

Surprise Party (Seopeuraijeu) (2002-07-05) Cine21

No Comment Family ( Mutjima Paemili ) (2002.05.31) Cine21

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002-03-29) Daum

Guns and Talk (2001) Daum

Coming Out (2000) Daum

Joint Security Area (Gongdonggyeongbiguyeok) (2000)

The Foul King (2000) Daum

The Spy (Gancheop Li(Lee) Cheoljin) (1999) Daum

The Happenings(Gimaghin sanaedeul) (1998) Daum

....

[melusine]

10Asia part 1+part 2+part 3

10Asia

[10Asia FOCUS] The 16 stars of 2009 - Part 2

Through research, I was able to predict ahead of my encounter with Shin Ha-gyun that he would be a difficult actor to interview because he is very quiet. But the actual reason it was difficult to write about my interview with him is because he is the type who makes a journalist feel the limitation in print as a form of media. For example, when talking about bloggers who post up quotes from books they have read, Shin would start saying, "I think many people do that these day. But I..." and leave the sentence unfinished while smiling with his kind eyes. It is more than enough to show how ashamed Shin is of revealing who he is. It was the first time I wanted to lend myself to the power of video.

[Guest kdramafanusa]

S.Korean actor Shin Ha-kyun

Oct. 8, BUSAN, South Korea -- South Korean actor Shin Ha-kyun(L), Kim Hye-na© and Jung Yu-mi poese for photographers during a photocall at the 14th annual Pusan International Film Festival at Suyoungman Yacht Stadium in Busan on Oct. 8. (Yonhap)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Korean Cinema Today - Panorama (Official Selection List)

Cafe Noir

Korea 2009 197min D-Cinema COLOR

>JUNG Sung-il

STILL CUTS

PROGRAM NOTE

Young-soo’s pining for a married woman reminds us of [The Sorrows of Young Werther]. Lost in his despair, he is wandering around Cheong Gye Cheon in Seoul, where he meets Sun-hwa, who is also despairing for love. Elsewhere, Mee-yeon suffers agony from loving Young-soo. Through them and other lovers, the story provides its own interpretation of the popular view about love and suffering. Director Jung Sung-il at times spans the torment of the individuals for over ten minutes, in his own method of depicting their pain. Many parts of the film incorporate much about Korean cinema. [Cafe Noir] is the meeting place for different types of films, a reconstruction of love, and at the same time a stroll through downtown Seoul. (LEE Sang-yong)

DIRECTOR

JUNG Sung-il

A gifted film critic, Jung Sung-il graduated from Sungkyunkwan Univ. with a communication major and has worked as chief editor of Kino, and as a programmer of the Jeonju International Film Festival, and is currently co-director of the Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival.

CREDITS

DIRECTOR: JUNG Sung-il

PRODUCER: KIM Jong-won 김종원

CAST: SHIN Ha-kyun 신하균, MOON Jeong-hee 문정희, KIM Hye-na 김혜나, JUNG Yu-mi 정유미

SCREENWRITER: JUNG Sung-il 정성일

CINEMATOGRAPHY: KIM Jun-woung 김준영

ART DIRECTOR: JO Sang-gyeong 조상경

EDITOR: MOON In-dae 문인대

SOUND: LEE Seung-chul 이승철

MUSIC: LEE Ji-yeon 이지연

PRODUCTION COMPANY: Polaris Production ( kinoline@naver.com )

SALES AGENT: M-Line Distribution

C-203 Richensia, 72-1 Hannam 1-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 140-779 Korea

82 2 7962 426

82 2 7962 429

sales@mline-distribution.com

Shin Ha-Gyun, Jung Yoo-Mi, Moon Jung-Hee, Kim Hye-Na, Yozoh

Shin Ha-Gyun

Jung Yoo-Mi

Shin Ha-Gyun, Jung Yoo-Mi

[piff.org + Naver]

[Guest inezjang]

thanks for more news and pics on him! i always enjoy his works!

he's such an amazing actor and hope he gets some real recognition!!

it's awesome he's doing a drama now!! :)

[melusine]

Marie Claire

Harper's Bazaar

Movieweek

InStyle

Allure

Vogue

Cine21 part 1 part 2 part 3

[Guest kdramafanusa]

Korea Times 12-16-2010 16:03

A long lonely endeavor on love, life

Moon Jeung-hee, left, stands with Shin Ha-gyun in a scene from the directorial debut of Chung Seoung-il, ``Cafe Noir.'' The epic film combines the stories of Goethe's ``The Sorrows of Young Werther'' and Dostoevsky's ``White Nights.'' /Courtesy of Sponge

By Han Sang-hee

For film critic and first time director Chung Seoung-il, movies meant more than just what he was watching and the writing, and this deep interest eventually led him to make his own offering: “Cafe Noir.”

Chung has transformed two of his favorite novels— Goethe’s “The Sorrows of Young Werther” and Dostoevsky’s “White Nights” — into a 198-minute film, capturing the mysterious meaning of life, death, realization and most of all, love.

“It’s a movie that brought the two books (“The Sorrows of Young Werther” and “White Nights”) to reality,” the director said during a press conference following a preview Wednesday. Discouraged by the tragic death of the protagonist from “Werther,” he held on to that memory for a long time, and finally changed the conclusion and kept his version of Werther alive. For the time being, at least.

Young-su, played by Shin Ha-gyun (“Thirst”), and the married Mi-yeon, played by Moon Jeung-hee, are having an affair, but Mi-yeon decides to end the relationship after her husband returns from a long business trip. Young-su is heartbroken and wanders the streets of Seoul like a ghost not knowing how to cope with his loss. After an uncomfortable encounter with the husband at a birthday party for the couple’s daughter, Young-su decides the only way to escape the pain is to kill himself, but delays his plans after meeting the mysterious Seon-hwa, played by the excellent actress Jung Yu-mi.

To start with, this movie is not a tear-jerker nor is it a pretty romantic comedy. The tone is calm, gloomy and gray, yet the actors shine amid the foggy undertone. The director squeezes in the two novels through a subtle yet impressive way. After a running time of an hour and 40 minutes, he places the title and credits in a bookstore scene where Young-su flips through the two books “Werther” and “White Nights” — serving as a false ending to combine the two stories into one. The tale of the sad and miserable Young-su (“Werther”) smoothly gives way into a more colorful and vibrant tone, yet still features the same lonely endeavor toward soul searching and mending broken hearts (“White Nights”).

“Cafe Noir” may be a bit puzzling at first. The characters seem to be living and acting from within a trance, reading their lines from scripts. Though the heavy storyline feels glacial, several scenes leave a striking, poignant impression. The image of Seon-hwa dancing in a late night cafe leaves you wondering: Are you in a dream, and if so, whose dream is it? The mundane banalities of city life creep into the viewer’s mind as something familiar, but after seeing them pass by quickly through the eyes of the characters, you start to wonder if they really exist in the protagonist’s world. Young-su’s dizzy wandering is disturbing but easy to sympathize with, making the viewer wonder if death really is the solution to ending misery.

“I wanted to realize the letters of the books through the bodies and souls of the actors,” the director explained, and indeed the emotions from the two classics burst forth vibrantly from the impeccable actors. Whether or not the viewers share the message of the director, it is a unique experience to wander the streets of Seoul, swimming through the heavy emotions of love and loneliness at the same time and place.

In theaters Dec. 20. Distributed by Sponge.

sanghee@koreatimes.co.kr

[melusine]

Allure

Movieweek part 1 part 2 part 3 part 4

Cine21

Arena Homme+

[Chosun Ilbo] Today's Photo: June 15, 2011

[JoongAng Daily] Battlefield film begins at war’s end

[Korea Times] The Front Line spotlights the Forgotten War

[Korea Times] 'Front' brings harrowing views of war

[rubie]

December 5, 2011

Shin Ha-kyun Shows Heart-Captivating Performance in 'Brain'

Writer: KBS Media Jin Yeong-ju Photo: CJ E&M Copyright ⓒ KBS & KBS Media

Shin Ha-kyun is captivating the hearts of fans with his role in the latest KBS2 drama “Brain.” He plays Lee Kang-hoon, a neurosurgeon who is possessed with the ambition to succeed in his profession.

Coming from a poor, unhappy family, Kang-hoon has had only one thing on his mind -- to become a successful doctor -- for his entire life. He feels resentment towards the world that has been unkind to him and has no interest in anything else other than making his name as a doctor. With no money and connections to support him, he believes in his ability and shows hostility towards anyone who doubts it. He acts like a villain who does not feel any sympathy and compassion for people.

To his misery, Kang-hoon fails to be chosen as a faculty member over Seo Jun-seok (Cho Dong-hyuk), who is from an influential family background. He is also betrayed by his boss Koh Jae-hak (Lee Sung-min), who he had believed was supportive of him but in fact helped Jun-seok join the faculty. Worse, he is threatened by a loan shark to repay his mother’s debts for her, whom he holds a grudge against because she left him as a boy, only to return home after his father died.

Fans identify with Shin’s character and sympathize him as he tries to survive amidst fierce competition while hiding his true feelings. They say his situation reflects the reality where one’s talent or ability is not enough to be successful.

And it is Shin’s portrayal that makes the character all the more attractive. Shin is being praised for his subtle, realistic performance.

Meanwhile, other characters around Kang-hoon are also drawing growing attention. Yoon Ji-hye (Choi Jung-won), a resident, is expected to be the love of Kang-hoon as he kissed her in a surprise move in a recent episode, while Kim Sang-cheol (Chung Jin-young) will become a mentor to him. Jang Yoo-jin (Kim Soo-hyun), a business woman from a rich family who has fallen for him, is also willing to support him.

“Brain” airs on every Monday and Tuesday at 9:55 p.m. on KBS2.

[rubie]

December 6, 2011

The Reason Why 'Brain' is a Quality Drama

CJ E&M enewsWorld Lee, InKyung

The KBS2 drama Brain is being praised for its quality, especially as its producers are working under a common goal that the script should never be rushed. The seventh episode of Brain, aired on December 5, recorded the highest viewership ratings since the drama started airing, 10.9%, according to AGB Nielsen Media Research.

Before Brain started airing, the producers were initially concerned about the popularity of SBS’ A Thousand Days’ Promise, which stood strong with no. 1 ratings in the time slot. But although Brain started off with single digit ratings, Shin Ha Kyun’s skillful acting helped bring the ratings for the drama up to two digits just two weeks since it started airing. The ratings for A Thousand Days’ Promise are also continuously dropping after it briefly stabilized just below 20%, thus giving Brain a chance to catch up.

A rep from the outsourcing production company CJ E&M stated that the secret behind the success of the drama was “the surprising cooperation between the producers and the writer.” The rep added, “Producer Yoo Hyun Ki and writer Yoon Kyung Ah were a great team for their previous piece, Master of Study, and this time again their understanding and agreements on the piece fit perfectly, resulting in a smooth directing and scriptwriting process as soon as the drama started up. Even before the seventh episode was due to air on December 5, the script for episode 11 was released, and the cast members are already shooting episode 10. Because the script is coming out in advance and the directing is so exact, the actors have time to immerse themselves in the acting, making the drama even better.”

The December 5 broadcast of Brain aired a foreshadowing scene which seemed to imply that the father of Lee Kang Hoon (Shin Ha Kyun) had been involved in a medical malpractice incident. The possibility that Kim Sang Chul (Jung Jin Young) may also be related to the incident also aroused much curiosity. A Thousand Days’ Promise recorded 15.6% viewership ratings, while MBC’s Light and Shadow came in at 9.0%.

Photo credit: KBS

[rubie]

December 6, 2011

Stars Attend Yoo Ji Tae and Kim Hyo Jin's Wedding

by: jnkm soompi mainsite

Mega stars Yoo Ji Tae and Kim Hyo Jin's wedding took place on December 2 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul. After five years of dating, the two have finally tied the knot.

Because both the bride and the groom are so well-known in the entertainment industry, their wedding showed off a dazzling guest list of top celebrities. Stars such as SNSD's Sooyoung, Super Junior's Choi Siwon, Moon Geun Young, Tablo and Kang Hye Jung, Jung Woo Sung, Han Hyo Joo, Go Soo, Ha Ji Won, Song Yoon Ah, Bae Seul Ki, Cha Yae Ryun, Yoo Hae Jin, Bae Soo Bin, Lee Chun Hee and a lot more attended to celebrate and support the couple.

Check out some of the photos below! (please refer the original link)

SNSD's Sooyoung chose to wear tight, gray skinny jeans to emphasize her long, shapely legs. She enhanced her feminine image with a simple black, short peacoat with a belt tied around her waist.

Choi Siwon is looking dapper in that gorgeous 3-piece suit!

Moon Geun Young sports a stylish boyfriend blazer with cropped sleeves, a black miniskirt and killer ankle boots.

Perhaps it's true when they say that lovers grow to resemble one another! Tablo and his wife, Kang Hye Jung give off identical smiles and waves. Both are also sporting semi-formal blazers and circle-rimmed specs.

Jung Woo Sung gives an intense gaze as he mixes up tones of gray and black to give off a simple but fashionable look.

Han Hyo Joo gives off an icy charm in an all black ensemble with a gray scarf warmly wrapped around her neck.

Go Soo looks like he is giving a forced smile but he still looks handsome in his simple black suit. He added the final touch of a white pocket square to complete his look.

The beautiful Ha Ji Won also chooses the color black, giving off a sexy and chic image.

Han Hye Jin chose a cream-colored a-line coat for a cute and feminine look.

Park Jung Ah dresses up in an all-black outfit and sports a chic shortcut that shows off her feminine charms.

The bride specially requested for Bada to sing the congratulatory song for the wedding. Bada chose a short, black minidress with a lace fringe at the hem and layers it with a black and white striped coat.

Look who it is! It's Bae Seul Ki, also dressed up in a simple, black and white outfit.

Lee Chun Hee mixes up different tones of gray for a clean-cut and simple look.

Cha Tae Hyun wishes the couple a long and happy marriage as he sports a fitted suit with matching tie and pocket square.

Kim So Yeon fiercely looks over at the cameras in her all black ensemble. Check out her leopard print heels.

Hwang Jung Min opts for the classic black suit.

Unlike most of the guests, Lee Yoon Ji decides to go with color - she sports a bold, red high-waist skirt with a black and gold top and matching heels.

The leading man for "Brains," Shin Ha Kyun makes the right choice by pairing his navy suit with classic brown shoes.

Song Yoon Ah breaks the rules and wears a white wrap dress that hugs her curves - she looks great for her age!

Au contraire to Jo Dong Hyuk's facial expression, he brightens up his black suit with a exotic, colorful tie and pocket square.

It's a rare public appearance by Kim Jung Hwa, who chose to dress up in bright, flashy colors to brighten up the crowd!

Can you say aww? Jinusean's Sean shows up with his two sons - all of them look quite dashing!

Uhm Ji Won goes for the "Cheongdam-dong daughter-in-law" (meaning a rich housewife) look in her white blouse, soft pink pencil skirt and white fur coat. She finishes the look with big pearls and a semi-retro bob hairstyle.

Park Jong Hoon comes to congratulate his juniors on their marriage.

Lee Ah Hyun pairs a conservative navy dress with a flashy orange bag.

One of the brides closest friends, Yang Mi Ra stays low-key in this black and white outfit.

You wouldn't say much just by looking at So Yoo Jin's upper half of the body but once you peer down - bam! Look at those metallic leopard print skinny pants!

Cha Yae Ryun stays classy and feminine in tan-colored pants, a double-breasted gray long coat and black booties.

Ahn Sung Ki has still got it! He appropriately dresses for a December wedding by accessorizing his suit with a warm scarf.

Ryu Hyun Kyung goes for a nude-toned outfit with black walker boots.

Han Jung Soo admits that while he is happy for the couple, he is jealous of his buddy Yoo Ji Tae since he is still single. He sports a navy suit with a fashionable purple tie.

Director Song Il Gon poses with actor Bae Soo Bin.

The beautiful newlyweds!

The bride and groom share their first kiss as husband and wife.

[rubie]

December 22, 2011

JSA cast photo from 11 years ago

Source: Nate 1 l 2 l 3 l 4

^ Lee Byung Hun, Dir. Park Chan Wook, Lee Young Ae, Shin Ha Kyun, Song Kang Ho

Joint Security Area (JSA 2000) soompi movie thread

[rubie]

December 21, 2011

Cold-Hearted Man Hints at His Feelings for Fellow Doctor in 'Brain'

Writer: Jin Yeong-ju Photo: CJ E&M Copyright ⓒ KBS & KBS Media

The KBS2 Monday-Tuesday drama “Brain” is likely to draw further attention, as a cold-hearted protagonist has started to show his feelings for a woman in a subtle yet considerate way.

On the December 19 episode, Lee Kang-hoon (Shin Ha-kyun) returns to Chunha Hospital and works with Yoon Ji-hye (Choi Jung-won), who has fallen for him, in the same lab. When Ji-hye has her finger cut at the lab, Kang-hoon treats her with care although he frowns and talks brusquely as if he disapproved of her.

Kang-hoon needs comfort and care from Ji-hye more than ever now that he is going through a rough time in his life -- he has failed to be promoted to professorship and his mother has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.

Producer CJ E&M said that Ji-hye will provide great comfort to Kang-hoon and that the two will be able to grow further through their love for each other.

“Brain” is enjoying increasing popularity as it has passed the halfway point with 12 out of 20 episodes aired so far.

[rubie]

December 26, 2011

Shin Ha Kyun Shows off Diverse Facial Expressions

CJ E&M enewsWorld Lee, InKyung

As Shin Ha Kyun has reaffirmed his reputation as an outstanding actor for his perfect portrayal of neurosurgeon Lee Kang Hoon in KBS2’s drama Brain, the photos capturing his diverse facial expressions have gone viral online.

Netizens reacted enthusiastically to his impressive acting by uploading an array of parody pictures and comical composite pictures.

Notably, Shin Ha Kyun’s pictures uploaded on DC Inside, an Internet forum site, have gained attraction. A collection of pictures called, ‘a parade of a thousand faces’ features his diverse facial expressions displaying frustration, anger, resentment, charisma, and other expressions conjuring up Lee Kang Hoon’s signature lines like “Why?” “What?” and “Go away!”

Netizens who looked at this collection of photos reacted by saying, “I can’t find the same expression. He shows off versatility in his voice tone and actions in the drama. I feel like I can hear his voice while looking at these pictures”, “Shin Ha Kyun really has charms like an onion. We can keep peeling off him again and again and still find his charm. He is a born actor.”

A rep from the drama’s production company said, “While Shin Ha Kyun, who pays special attention to details of his acting, is great, viewers’ sharp observation to recognize his ability is astonishing as well.” The rep continued, “We still have a lot left to show in the drama, please keep supporting the drama and stay tuned.”

Meanwhile, the drama has aroused much curiosity and attention as the conflicts between Kim Sang Chul(Jung Jin Young) and Lee Kang Hoon have increased. It airs every Monday and Tuesday, at 9:55pm.

Photo credit: DC Inside Gallery

[rubie]

December 28, 2011

Who Will It be for the KBS Drama Awards?

CJ E&M enewsWorld Lee, InKyung l Nate

KBS is having a hard time trying to decide who will win the Grand Prize at the 2011 Drama Awards, because there were so many great KBS dramas this year.

Although the ceremony is due to take place on December 31, hosted by Jun Hyun Moo, Ju Won and Han Hye Jin, the winner is still a mystery even to the officials.

Park Si Hoo of The Princess’ Man and Lee Tae Gon of Gwanggaeto the Great Conqueror were strong contenders for the award, but as Brain is starting to spring ahead in a last spurt, rumors that Shin Ha Kyun will be able to win the award are spreading like wildfire.

The KBS Drama Awards award actors who have contributed greatly to KBS dramas. Unlike MBC, KBS made it clear that this year it would award individual actors and not just programs.

Last year, it was somewhat obvious that Jang Hyuk of Slave Hunters would win the Grand Prize, but the situation isn’t proving to be so clear for 2011, leaving everyone wondering who the winner of the Grand Prize will be.

Park Si Hoo took on his first ever lead role in The Princess’ Man, which was also his first piece with KBS. It was the only miniseries to surpass 20 percent in viewership ratings this year, and it also succeeded issue-wise, as his character Seung Yoo became one of the year’s most attractive characters.

Thanks to Park′s popularity overseas, The Princess’ Man was exported to more than 10 countries overseas, and sold out all its advertisement slots to raise a 14.5 billion won profit.

Lee Tae Gon of Gwanggaeto the Great Conqueror doesn’t fall behind either. He took on the lead role of an 80 episode long standard traditional drama, a position usually shunned by young actors, and succeeded in bringing viewership ratings up to approximately 18 percent per episode.

Compared to King Geunchogo, the predecessor of the same time slot, the drama is racking up more stable ratings, stepping up as the lead of other KBS weekend traditional dramas. The cast of the drama also agreed on a 20 episode extension for a total of 100 episodes, making it impossible for officials to turn their eyes away from Lee Tae Gon, who’s at the head of the drama.

An official stated, “There were a lot of precedents in which the lead of a weekend traditional drama won the Grand Prize. And because Gwanggaeto the Great Conqueror helped uphold the falling reputation of KBS’ weekend traditional dramas, they’ll have to repay Lee Tae Gon somehow.”

Shin Ha Kyun is proving to be a fierce dark horse. Brain started off with one digit viewership ratings because of the popular competitor A Thousand Days’ Promise aired on SBS, but Brain has shown a steady rise in ratings, and is currently settled at two times the ratings of its first episode. It’s now recording almost 16 percent, and as, with 20 episodes, it still has three more weeks left until its end, ratings may jump even higher to break through the 20 percent line.

While Park Si Hoo was relatively weak in acting compared to Kim Young Chul in the same piece, Shin Ha Kyun has a dominating presence in his drama. He gathered for himself a big supportive group after he stole the hearts of his female viewers, and earned the nickname ‘God Ha Kyun’.

Moreover, Shin was more deeply involved with film than dramas, but made his first main channel drama debut with KBS in Brain, making it unavoidable for officials to thank him for this contribution.

A drama official stated, “Because SBS previously awarded not Song Yun Ah or Kim Ha Neul for On Air, which had high ratings, but rather Moon Geun Young in Painter of the Wind, which was acknowledged for its high quality, there is a possibility that Shin Ha Kyun may win.”

Who KBS will, in the end, decide to award, whether it be one or even two, is stirring up much debate and expectations.

Photo credit: Kim Byung Kwan, KBS