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Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Son Suk-ku reflects on his winning streak
TV, streaming clout discusses his latest project 'Nine Puzzles,' his sharpening acumen Son Suk-ku's hit series streak is showing no signs of stopping. His latest project, "Nine Puzzles," debuted on Disney+ on May 21 and quickly soared to become the second most-watched Korean title on the platform during its premiere week, trailing only behind Disney+ Korea's record-breaking series "Moving." Meanwhile, JTBC's fantasy human drama "Heavenly Ever After," which premiered on April 19, has emerged as one of the most buzzworthy dramas of the first half of 2025. This is thanks in part to its unexpected yet touching romantic storyline between Son and 83-year-old veteran actress Kim Hye-ja. Reflecting on his career, which includes back-to-back hits from "A Killer Paradox,' (2024) 'D.P. 2,' (2023) 'Big Bet' (2022) and 'My Liberation Notes,' (2022), and his criteria for choosing projects, Son said during a press roundtable in Seoul on Thursday that he thought his instincts were sharpening with experience. 'My standard when selecting projects is that it has to be fun,' he said. 'That word might sound light, but I think creating something genuinely fun is one of the hardest things to do. But I feel like I'm slowly developing an eye for spotting that kind of thing.' He added, 'If I can summarize the premise of a script in a sentence or two to a friend or family member, like, 'Hey, this story is about this' — then I see that as a sign it has a strong foundation. But if it's hard to do that, then I see it (as having a lower chance of success)." "Nine Puzzles" stars Kim Da-mi as Yi-na, a woman haunted by the unsolved murder of her uncle, for which she was the sole witness and a prime suspect. A decade later, Detective Han-saem (Son) remains convinced of her guilt. The case takes a turn when Yi-na receives a mysterious puzzle piece, echoing one discovered at the original crime scene. The series fuses heightened, stylized visuals with a noir-inflected mystery narrative, embracing a cartoon-like aesthetic that pulls viewers into an otherworldly world. According to Son, the creative team and the cast intentionally crafted that unique atmosphere throughout the production. 'The visual aspects — especially the costumes — were largely influenced by the established world that the director had already created. We followed the mise-en-scene that was carefully crafted to fit that world,' said Son. 'If we had placed this story in a purely realistic tone, I don't think it would have had the same charm, and it might have felt less convincing,' he added. He continued, 'The design choices stemmed from the metaphor of puzzles. Since the crimes unfold through puzzle pieces, the production, from costumes to set design, was built to reflect that imagery.' As for the show's ambiguous final moment, which teases the appearance of another puzzle, Son said he did not see it as an ending meant to open up another season. 'There were no discussions about a second season,' he said. 'I didn't view the ending as a lead-in, but more as a symbol of continuity — life goes on in that world, and new crimes emerge. That puzzle could be interpreted as a copycat case, but for me, it simply represented another incident.' On the possibility of returning for season 2, Son was measured: 'I think the chances are very slim. Not just due to scheduling conflicts, but because of various other circumstances. I don't think it's likely.'
Pink Villa
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
23rd Director's Cut Awards full winners list: Lee Do Hyun wins big for Exhuma, A Killer Paradox takes top drama honor
The 23rd Director's Cut Awards ceremony took place on May 20 at 7 PM KST (3:30 PM IST) and the winners list was shared online by the DGK (Directors Guild of Korea) on May 21. The DKG members (Korean directors) are the ones who select the winners through a majority vote system. During the event, the association honoured best films, series, actors and rising stars with prestigious accolades. Among them, a notable mention was Exhuma, who swept multiple titles. Exhuma bagged four awards from among 13 categories, becoming the most-awarded one among movies and series at the 2025 award show. The occult film was bestowed with titles of Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress (won by Kim Go Eun) and Best New Actor (won by Lee Do Hyun). Exhuma achieved an impressive feat by winning in most of its nominated categories, except for two. Lee Byung Hun and Lee Hee Joon clinched best actor titled in film and drama categories for The Match and A Killer Paradox respectively. A Killer Paradox received two more awards– Kim Yo Han for Best New Actor and Lee Chang Hee for Best Director. It was the second-most awarded, following Exhuma. Check out who all won in the rest of the categories below. 23rd Director's Cut Awards full list of winners:
Korea Herald
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Disney+'s 'Nine Puzzles' is full of plot twists, stylistic flairs
The mystery series marks yet another detective role for Son Suk-ku Disney+ is set to roll out its latest Korean original, "Nine Puzzles," a stylized mystery thriller that follows a tenacious detective and a profiler shrouded in suspicion. Due to significant spoiler concerns, Disney+ and the creative team are keeping story details under tight wraps. What has been disclosed so far centers on Yi-na (Kim Da-mi), a profiler who finds herself under suspicion by detective Han-saem (Son Suk-ku) in connection with a decade-old unsolved case. The series marks yet another detective role for Son, following his turns in Disney+'s "Casino" and Netflix's "A Killer Paradox." Speaking at a press conference held Wednesday in Seoul's Jongno-gu, the actor described Han-saem as 'a very tenacious detective,' adding, 'He believes this is the one case he couldn't solve, and he's been obsessively chasing it for ten years.' Son emphasized a grounded approach to the role, steering away from attempts to differentiate this portrayal from previous detective characters. 'If you try too hard to make it different from your previous work, you can end up making a wrong move, so I just approached it in a way that suited the situation. Before being a professional, I'm a person first, so I approach each project that way,' he said. Han-saem also sports a distinctive aesthetic, most notably his frequent use of beanies, coats and visible tattoos. Son acknowledged the unconventional wardrobe choice, noting, 'I wear beanies often in real life, but it's an unusual accessory for a detective. The director even double-checked if it would violate dress code regulations. It's a unique choice that actually helped my performance, so I kept wearing it throughout.' Behind the camera is director Yoon Jong-bin, best known for films such as "Beastie Boys," "Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time" and "Kundo: Age of the Rampant." With "Nine Puzzles," Yoon ventures into serialized streaming content with a project that blends mystery with stylistic flair. ''Nine Puzzle' is fundamentally a mystery drama. It is a story about two uniquely distinctive characters uncovering the truth behind a serial killer and the forces lurking in the background. It's a shame I can't reveal much due to the nature of the work,' Yoon said. 'I had a strong desire to take on a new project, and since the story itself was so compelling, I had high hopes that it would be an exciting project.' Yoon also spoke about the series' heightened visual language. 'After reading the script, I wondered whether something like this could happen in real life, or whether such characters could actually exist. From a realism perspective, those doubts are valid. So I felt the tone needed to be elevated to a world that straddles the line between reality and unreality — a more cartoon-like world. It was important to convey early on through the art direction, costumes and sets that this world is somewhat removed from reality.' The 11-episode series will premiere with episodes 1 through 6 on May 21, followed by two new episodes dropping every Wednesday thereafter. Director Yoon acknowledged that the accelerated release strategy may spark speculation among viewers. 'The release format spans over three weeks, and with six episodes coming out in the first week, people will inevitably start speculating about the culprit, and that's not something the production team can control,' he said. 'Although predictions will likely continue during the three-week period, viewers should be careful not to spoil things for others.'
Forbes
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
The K-Drama ‘Karma' Delivers But Not In A Way You Might Suspect
Kim Sung-kyun and Lee Hee-jun play thugs in 'Karma.' There are murders and bodies galore in the k-drama crime thriller Karma and there are also plenty of ironic plot twists and turns. One body inventively get recycled for a second crime. In the opening episode Park Jae-young, played by Lee Hee-jun (Blood Free, A Killer Paradox), arrives at an emergency room as the victim of a fire that looks a lot like arson. Jae-young wound up becoming a burn victim because he's the kind of low-life thug who would kill his own father for the insurance money. Only he makes a big mistake when he hires a member of a notorious gang, played by Kim Sung-kyun (The Fiery Priest, Moving), to do his dirty work. There really is no honor among thugs. Jae-young pays dearly for his mistake, but perhaps not as dearly as he might deserve. Shin Min-a plays a doctor in 'Karma.' So, is it karma that the doctor who saves his life is Lee Ju-yeon, played by Shin Min-a (No Gain No Love, Our Blues), a woman he brutally abused decades before. Jae-young has survived threats by vicious loan sharks and gangsters, but he may be powerless to escape justice at her hands. Shin Min-a delivers a raw performance as the tortured doctor who is haunted by her nightmare past. The story ties together the karma of these characters with that of the mysterious witness played by Park Hae-soo (Squid Game II, Money Heist II). He witnesses an incident that involves Han Sung-hun, played by Lee Kwang-soo (Divorce Insurance, The Killer's Shopping List). Sung-hun is a traditional doctor, who is driving home with his lover, played by Gong Seung-yeon ( The First Responders, Bulgasal: Immortal Soul) when he accidentally hits and kills someone. Or so it seems. He can't report the incident because he's been drinking. Lee Kwang-soo and Gong Sung-yeon play lovers in 'Karma.' Sung-hun and the witness make a deal, but it doesn't end well for one of them. Although there are plenty of detours in the plot of this often darkly comic thriller and several great performances, the conversations between Park's eerily deadpan witness and Lee's sleazy doctor character are a highlight. There are so many villainous characters in this drama, but will karma deliver a fair share of retribution? The six episode drama is based on the web comic Akyeon by Choi Hee-Sun, which was published on Kakao. It was adapted and directed by Lee Il-hyeong, who previously directed the films Remember and A Violent Prosecutor. Karma airs on Netflix.
