문상민이 요즘 대세인 이유
"As I entered my late 20s, I felt I had matured quite a bit. I thought I was completely different from my time in 'Under the Queen's Umbrella.' However, when I see my face on screen, I still look youthful. This can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. I think I could fit roles with a boyish charm, which opens up new possibilities for me."Recently, a roundtable interview with Moon Sang-min, the male lead of KBS2's drama 'Beloved Thief,' was held at a cafe in Gangnam, Seoul. Known for his impressive 191cm height, puppy-like face, and stable acting skills, Moon Sang-min is gaining recognition as a leading actor in the generational shift among male actors. Following his roles in 'Beloved Thief' and the Netflix film 'Pavane,' he has been cast as the lead in the Netflix drama 'Beauty in the Beast' and has been offered a special appearance in the new drama 'The Miracles of the Namiya General Store,' raising expectations for his future endeavors.
In 'Beloved Thief,' Moon Sang-min showcased a stylish and lively performance, but during the interview, he exuded a cute and fresh atmosphere. In the recently released 'Pavane,' he displayed a melancholic charm, earning him the title of a 'rising star' due to his diverse range of performances in a short period.
Premiering on January 3, 'Beloved Thief' is a romantic historical drama about a woman who becomes the greatest thief and a prince of Joseon who chases her, with their souls swapping and ultimately saving each other and the people. Moon Sang-min plays the role of Prince Dowol, opposite Nam Ji-hyun's character, Hong Eun-jo, earning praise for their chemistry. The drama, which had been struggling with ratings in the 1% range, saw a significant increase, reaching a peak rating of 7.7% nationwide according to Nielsen Korea.
Born in 2000, Moon Sang-min began his acting career in 2019 with the web drama 'Four Reasons I Hate Christmas.' He gained public attention in 2022 with his role as Prince Seongnam, Kim Hye-soo's son, in 'Under the Queen's Umbrella,' leaving a strong impression.
For Moon Sang-min, 'Under the Queen's Umbrella' remains a special project. Despite leaving a strong impression, it wasn't easy to establish a new signature work despite his continuous activities. However, he is now being praised for renewing his career with a new iconic character in the historical genre after four years.
He shared, "In the latter part of 'Under the Queen's Umbrella,' there was a slight romance with Cheong-ha (played by Oh Ye-ju), but it wasn't the main storyline, which was a bit disappointing. I realized that historical romances could be quite thrilling. I wanted to try a proper historical romance if given the chance." He added, "I finally got to meet 'Beloved Thief.' Filming it was incredibly enjoyable," he smiled.
Moon Sang-min also discussed the allure of historical romances. He said, "While modern dramas have their charm, wearing beautiful hanbok and exchanging lines with Nam Ji-hyun in meticulously crafted sets and stunning locations was meaningful. It made me want to do another historical romance."
His tall stature and physique stood out in the historical setting. Moon Sang-min laughed, "Hanbok hides more of your physique than you might think," and added, "While hanbok itself is very stylish, getting the fit right wasn't easy." He explained, "The costume team from 'Under the Queen's Umbrella' participated again, and director Yang Hee-hwa was in charge of the costumes."
He continued, "Unlike 'Under the Queen's Umbrella,' this project used a lot of colors. After transforming into Eun-jo, the colors became brighter, and when Yeol first appeared, primary colors were used to express a playful and carefree atmosphere." He revealed, "I wore almost 20 different hanboks in one project."
Moon Sang-min candidly shared his concerns about ratings. He said, "It would be a lie to say there was no pressure about the ratings. I was worried about whether viewers would accept a historical romance, find it exciting, and enjoy it." He continued, "I wondered, 'Will this really work?' I was genuinely surprised and grateful when the first episode's ratings were good. I found myself wanting to check the ratings every time the show aired."
When asked if he feels the increased popularity from 'Beloved Thief,' he answered with a smile. Moon Sang-min said, "Before this project aired, hardly anyone recognized me on the street. But right after the first episode, people started recognizing me. It was fascinating."
He added, "Since this is my first lead role on a major network, the response feels different. Especially mothers recognize me very well, even when I'm wearing a hat," he laughed. "Previously, people would just glance at me because of my height, but now they call me 'Prince Dowol!' It's really amazing," he added.
Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr