Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Kwon Sang-woo swaps action for romance in new comedy 'Heartman'
Kwon Sang-woo, left, and Moon Chae-won in a scene from “Heartman” / Courtesy of Lotte Entertainment
By Baek Byung-yeul
Actor Kwon Sang-woo, who previously defined his own brand of action-comedy through the “Hitman” franchise, reunited with director Choi Won-sub for their third collaboration, stepping away from the intense action of his previous hits to show off his romantic comedy chops.
“Heartman” follows Seung-min (Kwon), who reunites with his first love Bo-na (Moon Chae-won) and desperately tries to keep her in his life while hiding a secret. The movie delicately balances its focus between humor and sincere emotion.
Choi explained that while the “Hitman" series was intentionally hilarious and action-packed, he approached “Heartman” with a commitment to emotions.
The movie is based on the 2015 Argentinan comedy film “No Kids,” with the director noting that he put significant effort into adapting the original version to emphasize the theme of first love.
"For 'Hitman' I focused on making people laugh through intense energy, but for 'Heartman' I tried not to overdo it and instead prioritized a natural flow and emotions," Choi said during the press conference, Thursday.
From left, Park Ji-hwan, Moon Chae-won, Kwon Sang-woo and Pyo Ji-hoon pose during a press conference for the movie “Heartman” at a theater in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
In the film, Kwon creates a fresh layer for his established comedic persona by blending his signature sly wit with the vulnerability of a man in love.
The film also benefits from a strong supporting cast that includes Moon, Park Ji-hwan and Pyo Ji-hoon.
Moon, who plays Seung-min's love interest Bo-na, shared that she felt a deep attachment to the film for finally allowing her to fulfill her desire to play a classic first-love role. She added that she tried to bring her own positive daily energy to the character to make her more vibrant on the big screen.
Park, who brings comedic weight to the movie, praised the comfortable atmosphere on set and his co-star's personality.
"I wondered what Kwon would be like, but he made me feel comfortable as if I had known him for a long time," Park said, adding that Kwon has a youthful energy that makes working together feel easy and fun.
'Heartman' will be released on Jan. 14.