Rising Stars: Mun Ka-young and Lee Sun-bin Shine in Upcoming Projects

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Lee So-jung from TenAsia brings you the latest buzz in the entertainment industry, sparking your dopamine with intriguing stories.

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Amidst industry downturns and actors voicing concerns over lack of projects, two rising stars in their early 30s, Mun Ka-young and Lee Sun-bin, are capturing attention with back-to-back roles.

On the 17th, the drama 'The Guy is a Black Dragon', starring Mun Ka-young and Choi Hyun-wook, premieres. The series follows Baek Soo-jung (played by Mun Ka-young), a 'director killer' team leader haunted by her first love, and Ban Joo-yeon (played by Choi Hyun-wook), a 'third-generation chaebol' hiding his inner geek. Their story unfolds as they reunite at work after a fateful online game encounter in their youth. The drama is based on a popular Naver webtoon.

Previously, Mun Ka-young starred in the 2022 drama 'Understanding of Love' alongside Yoo Yeon-seok, portraying a poignant romance. While the show received praise, the age gap between the leads was noted as a distraction. In her new project, she pairs with Choi Hyun-wook, who is six years her junior, promising fresh chemistry.

This year, Mun Ka-young will appear in three projects: the drama 'Seocho-dong' and the film 'Someday, We'. These are her first releases since leaving KeyEast and joining forces with Shin Hyo-jung, former manager of Kim Soo-hyun. Having built global recognition through 'True Beauty', Mun Ka-young boasts 13 million Instagram followers.

Despite debuting as an author with her essay collection 'Pata' last year, Mun Ka-young had no screen projects. The works she filmed during that period are now set to release. Industry insiders reveal her desire to portray professional roles, which she fulfills by playing a lawyer in Lee Jong-suk's comeback drama 'Seocho-dong'. This role marks a significant milestone in her career.

Lee Sun-bin, born in 1994 and two years older than Mun Ka-young, is also making waves in the industry. She is set to appear in at least three projects this year, including the dramas 'Potato Research Institute' and 'To the Moon', and the film 'Noise'. Other projects like 'Sumbi Sound', 'The Secret of the Exam', and 'Mission to Possible' are also in the pipeline, though release dates are yet to be announced.

In 'Potato Research Institute', premiering on the 1st of next month, Lee Sun-bin stars alongside Kang Tae-oh, marking his return after military service. The chemistry between the two, who are the same age, is highly anticipated.

Lee Sun-bin has steadily built her filmography, notably gaining popularity for her role in 'Work Later, Drink Now'. However, industry observers note that she is often recognized more as 'Lee Kwang-soo's girlfriend' than for her acting roles.

With multiple projects lined up this year, Lee Sun-bin aims to solidify her position as an actress. As she showcases her talent and presence, all eyes are on whether she can redefine her image beyond being known as Lee Kwang-soo's girlfriend and establish a signature role.

Lee So-jung, TenAsia Reporter forusojung@tenasia.co.kr