Kim Hye-yoon Shines in 'Salmoji' While Byeon Woo-seok Faces Mixed Reviews

Following their collaboration in 'Run Away with Seon-jae,' actors Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok are charting different paths in their careers. Kim Hye-yoon is receiving both box office success and critical acclaim for her performances, while Byeon Woo-seok, despite generating buzz and achieving decent ratings, is facing criticism for his acting.

Kim Hye-yoon's latest film, 'Salmoji,' directed by Lee Sang-min, is making waves in theaters. It has maintained the top spot at the weekend box office for two consecutive weeks, surpassing 1.46 million viewers as of April 20. The film quickly became a hit in the horror genre, reaching 1 million viewers in just 10 days. With a break-even point of 800,000 viewers and a production cost of approximately 3 billion won, 'Salmoji' is being hailed as a 'cost-effective hit.'

The film's success has extended beyond theaters. The real-life location of 'Salmoji' has become a popular 'horror experience course,' attracting a surge of visitors even during late-night hours, prompting local authorities to restrict access due to its growing impact.

Kim Hye-yoon's performance is particularly noteworthy. Despite being a film led by young actors, 'Salmoji' has been praised for its stable performances and genre mastery. Kim Hye-yoon has been lauded for her emotional depth and immersion, reaffirming her acting prowess since 'Run Away with Seon-jae.'

However, Kim Hye-yoon's journey hasn't been entirely smooth. Her recent drama, SBS's 'I'm Human from Today,' garnered only 2-3% viewership ratings, leaving some disappointment. Nevertheless, the success of 'Salmoji' has reignited her momentum, setting the stage for her upcoming project, 'Good Partner 2.'

In contrast, Byeon Woo-seok, who starred alongside Kim Hye-yoon in 'Run Away with Seon-jae,' is receiving mixed reviews. His return in '21st Century Grand Duchess' was met with concerns about his acting even before its broadcast, and criticisms regarding his expressions, vocal delivery, and emotional portrayal have persisted.

Despite this, the show's performance hasn't been poor. '21st Century Grand Duchess' achieved around 9.5% viewership ratings in its early episodes, demonstrating competitive strength in its time slot. Both IU and Byeon Woo-seok have maintained high rankings in popularity charts, and the show has had a promising start on global OTT platforms.

Given the success of 'Run Away with Seon-jae,' expectations for Kim Hye-yoon and Byeon Woo-seok's future endeavors are high, leading to more polarized reactions. Kim Hye-yoon is building a stable reputation for her acting, independent of a project's success, while Byeon Woo-seok, despite his star power and buzz, continues to face scrutiny over his acting skills. As his current project is still in its early stages, it's too soon to make definitive judgments. All eyes are on how Byeon Woo-seok will fare in the coming episodes.

Kim Se-ah, TenAsia Reporter haesmik@tenasia.co.kr