Kang Mal-geum Shines as a Scene-Stealer in 'Waiting for Gyeongdo'

"I bought a house in Oksu-dong. We should move in together~"

In the drama 'Waiting for Gyeongdo,' Kang Mal-geum plays a bold older woman who showers her love interest with luxury shoes, cars, and even a house, inviting him to move in with her. Her character, Jin Han-gyeong, has been expressing her affection for Park Seo-joon's character for over a decade, making her a charming and realistic scene-stealer in the series.

Kang Mal-geum stars as Jin Han-gyeong, the head of the entertainment department at Dongwoon Daily, in 'Waiting for Gyeongdo.' Han-gyeong is a boss who has watched over Lee Gyeongdo (played by Park Seo-joon) since his early days at the company. She dreams of being a cold city woman but can't help but reveal her warm and human side.

"I'll buy you a car, date me. I'll lend you the deposit, date me," and "I got the Louis collaboration sneakers. Date me and I'll give them to you," are some of Han-gyeong's flirty lines aimed at Gyeongdo. She even bought a house in Oksu-dong entirely in cash. Considering that famous apartments in Oksu-dong are trading between 2.2 to 2.8 billion won for the 84-type, Jin Han-gyeong likely paid around 2.5 billion won for her apartment. Oksu Park Hills, Oksu Riverzen, Oksu Heights, and Oksu Samsung have been sold for 2.78 billion won, 2.78 billion won, 2.515 billion won, and 2.24 billion won, respectively.

While Han-gyeong's wealth-flaunting courtship might seem annoying, her sincerity towards Gyeongdo makes her endearing rather than off-putting. Kang Mal-geum adds warmth and vitality to the drama as a caring senior and an older woman with a crush on Gyeongdo.

Though Kang Mal-geum and Park Seo-joon's characters are only a year apart in the drama, they are actually nine years apart in real life. Despite the age difference, Kang Mal-geum and Park Seo-joon create a natural senior-junior chemistry with their playful banter.

Kang Mal-geum swept the Best New Actress awards at major ceremonies in 2020 for her role in 'Lucky Chan-sil.' Her character, Chan-sil, who struggles after suddenly losing her job, mirrors Kang Mal-geum's own perseverance. She worked at a trading company for 6-7 years in her 20s before debuting as an actress in her 30s to pursue her dream.

Earlier this year, she left a lasting impression on viewers as Geum-ja, the innkeeper, in Netflix's 'Crash Course in Romance.' She initially appeared generous to the runaway protagonists but later revealed a cold side, teaching them the harsh realities of the world. In the film 'Lobby,' released in April, she portrayed a minister, exposing the dark side of a corrupt politician with a touch of black comedy, adding humor with her colorful language.

Kang Mal-geum's journey to establish herself as an actress was not easy, but her persistence has finally paid off. She is a beautiful actress who is now shining brightly.

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