Director Kim Byung-woo Reveals Why He Cast Ahn Hyo-seop and Lee Min-ho in 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint'

Director Kim Byung-woo of 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' (hereafter 'ORV') has shared his reasons for casting Ahn Hyo-seop and Lee Min-ho.

Recently, at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, we met with Director Kim Byung-woo to discuss the film 'ORV'.

'ORV' is a fantasy action film that depicts the events that unfold when the world of a novel, which had been serialized for over 10 years, becomes reality on the day the novel concludes. The original web novel of the same name is a mega-hit, having accumulated over 300 million views.

In this film, Ahn Hyo-seop plays Kim Dok-ja, an ordinary office worker who is the sole reader of the novel that has been serialized for over a decade. Lee Min-ho takes on the role of Yoo Joong-hyuk, the protagonist of the long-running novel.

Director Kim commented on Ahn Hyo-seop, saying, "It's hard to say his visuals are ordinary," with a laugh. He continued, "I thought it would be great to have an actor who possesses both universality and uniqueness. I watched his previous works and performances, and when I met him in person, I felt he could express that universality well. Another thing is that he is a diligent person. He has been consistently working on projects, and I was greatly attracted to those aspects."

Regarding Ahn Hyo-seop, who has been gaining attention with 'K-pop Demon Hunters', Kim smiled and said, "I'm pleased." He added, "He is a hardworking actor. He never used a stunt double and did everything himself. He never said 'I can't do this' on set. Whether it was action or acting, he came well-prepared."

Casting Ahn Hyo-seop, who had no prior film experience, as the lead in a large-scale production was a risk. Director Kim explained, "This film needed a fresh approach from the start. We decided to cast actors who fit what we wanted to create, rather than sticking to the usual 'recruitment pool'. We believed this would make the film feel fresher to the audience."

The intention behind casting Lee Min-ho was different from that of Ahn Hyo-seop. Director Kim stated, "While Ahn Hyo-seop's casting was about freshness, the casting for Yoo Joong-hyuk had a different direction. It was about certainty. No matter how much we thought about it, there was no other name but Lee Min-ho. He is someone who can naturally deliver comic-like lines, create a genre with his presence alone, and bring a genre to life with just a bust shot, without CGI or special effects. For the role of Yoo Joong-hyuk, we needed an actor who could provide a solid central axis, and that was our casting strategy."

'ORV' is set to be released on the 23rd.

Reporter Kim Ji-won, TenAsia bella@tenasia.co.kr