Kim Nam-gil to return to small screen with fantasy series 'Island'

Actor Kim Nam-gil will star in OCN's new fantasy series “Island.” Courtesy of Gillstroy ENT

By Lee Gyu-lee

Actor Kim Nam-gil will return to the small screen by playing the lead role in the upcoming fantasy series “Island.”

The actor's agency Gillstory ENT announced Thursday that Kim has signed up for the role in the OCN series, scheduled to go on air in the latter half of this year.

This will be the actor's first TV series since “The Fiery Priest,” a 2019 hit that won him several awards, including the highest honor at the SBS Drama Awards.

Based on the popular webtoon of the same name by Yoon In-wan and Yang Kyung-ill, “Island” follows fictional creatures on Jeju Island, located off the southern coast of Korea. The beasts, which have attempted to take over the human world for years, come after a wealthy heiress on the island to carry out their plan.

Kim will play the lead character Ban who is half-human and half-beast. Actors Seo Ye-ji and Cha Eun-woo are in talks to play the other lead characters.

The series will be directed by filmmaker Bae Jong, whose real name is Park Kwang-hyun, known for award-winning films “Welcome to Dongmakgol” (2005) and “Fabricated City” (2017).

Kim debuted with a minor role in the KBS teen series “School” in 1999. He has starred in various films and TV shows, including the hit TV series “Queen Seondeok” (2009), which achieved a 43.6 percent viewership rating.

He also began appearing on reality shows starting with tvN's “Trans-Siberian Pathfinders” (2019).

He is currently filming the suspense crime film “Night Journey” (direct translation) and is set to star in two action films ― the action disaster “Emergency Declaration” and action film “Guardian” (tentative title) ― set to hit theaters this year.