Reporter Kim Se-ah from TenAsia delves deeply into entertainment industry issues.
Actor Jung Joon-won has risen to stardom with the drama 'Someday Wise Resident Life' (hereafter 'Wise Resident'), and now faces mixed reactions from viewers regarding his potential casting in the upcoming project 'Married Woman Killer'.
Jung recently gained attention for his role in the tvN drama 'Wise Resident', where he formed a romantic storyline with actress Go Yoon-jung. His portrayal of the character Koo Do-won, who is stoic yet caring, resonated with audiences, earning him significant popularity on social media and online communities.
The positive reception of Jung and Go's on-screen romance helped 'Wise Resident' conclude with a nationwide viewership rating of 8.1% according to Nielsen Korea, capturing both buzz and ratings. Jung also topped the actor popularity charts alongside Go for three consecutive weeks.
Having debuted in 2015, Jung Joon-won is now a 10-year veteran actor. He has appeared in supporting roles in JTBC's 'Model Family' and the film 'Believer 2', but 'Wise Resident' marked his first lead role. In June, he surpassed Son Seok-gu to claim the top spot in the actor brand reputation rankings, making it a standout year for him.
News of Jung potentially starring alongside Gong Hyo-jin in the new drama 'Married Woman Killer' has further piqued public interest. The drama is based on a popular Kakao Webtoon of the same name, focusing on the story of Yoo Bo-na, a legendary sniper returning to a killer organization after maternity leave.
Gong Hyo-jin is reportedly offered the role of Yoo Bo-na, while Jung is considered for the role of her husband, Kwon Tae-sung, a journalist in pursuit of truth. Both parties are reportedly reviewing the offers positively, with casting nearly confirmed.
The casting news has sparked debate among fans of the original webtoon, with many expressing concerns over Jung's suitability for the role. Some argue that Jung's previous pairing with Go Yoon-jung in 'Wise Resident' lacked chemistry due to their eight-year age difference. Jung himself acknowledged the challenge, stating, "I thought effort was needed regarding appearance. I tried to make the acting as convincing as possible, even visiting a dermatologist. I realized viewers might find the romance with Go Yoon-jung unconvincing."
However, there are also supporters of Jung's casting, who argue that his more relatable appearance adds credibility, with comments like "more convincing than overly ideal visuals" and "more realistic because of its ordinariness". His naturalistic acting and emotional depth in 'Wise Resident' have been praised, with some criticizing the focus on appearance as excessive.
As opinions remain divided, the scheduling and final casting decisions for 'Married Woman Killer' are still uncertain. All eyes are on whether Jung can once again deliver a convincing performance with his stable acting skills.
Kim Se-ah, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr