Latest news with #MemoriesoftheAlhambra
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Dear Hongrang star Lee Jae Wook reveals his ‘jealous personality,' says Park Ji Hoon's Weak Hero made him envious: ‘It could become poison'
Actor Lee Jae Wook, riding high on a streak of historical fantasies and sword-swinging roles in K-dramas like The Alchemy of Souls and the new Netflix hit Dear Hongrang, opened up about his work ethic and how he picks projects. The actor who debuted in 2018 with Memories of the Alhambra sat down with Dispatch Korea to talk about his latest drama alongside Jo Bo Ah, drawing parallels between the show's title, Tangeum, and his own life. The series's title, based on Jang Da Hye's original novel, translates to an ancient Qing Dynasty punishment, swallowing gold until death. Lee shared what that 'gold' symbolises for him. The 27-year-old has tasted success in very little time and earned the title of Netflix's son from fans, thanks to his multiple hits on the OTT platform. His new K-drama Dear Hongrang, written by Kim Jin Ah and directed by Kim Hong Sun, is a tragic tale of people crushed by status, power, desire, and revenge. Here, gold stands for the ideal everyone chases. When asked what gold means to him, Lee said, 'I think it's a lack or deficiency. I really enjoy meeting people and working. When I'm alone, I just get jealous of hit dramas. Like the series title says, it could become poison.' Also read: Dear Hongrang ending explained: 7 burning questions answered in Lee Jae Wook and Jo Bo Ah story finale Lee explained that when he's alone, he often binges on new shows and pictures himself in their shoes, wondering how he would have performed. 'I always think about how I'd act in those roles. Then I get jealous, thinking, 'Why didn't that script come to me?' That's probably why I keep working without rest,' he laughed. For Lee, he completed Tangeum fueled by that same power of jealousy, determined to show his acting skills so well that no one would think of anyone but Lee Jae-wook as 'Hongrang', and maybe even spark a little envy. Also read: Dear Hongrang star Jo Bo Ah reveals nickname she gave to Lee Jae Wook, shares why she keeps distance from male co-stars In Dear Hongrang, Lee Jae Wook plays the long-lost son of Joseon's wealthiest merchant family. He returns after a decade with no memories. Opposite him is Jo Bo Ah as Jae Yi, his half-sister, who suspects this newly returned family member and is convinced he's not her brother. In a talk with Dispatch, Lee revealed he initially turned down Hongrang's script because he had already done two historical hits, Alchemy of Souls and Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow. But what changed his mind was a handwritten note from writer Kim Jin-ah. Lee said the letter was five or six pages long, where the writer carefully described Hongrang's onscreen personality and his character arc. 'She explained Hongrang's character and gave detailed feedback on my acting. I read that letter overseas and cried my heart out,' he said. 'I was grateful there was a writer who saw me so closely. That's when I reopened the script. I joined with the desire to express Hongrang's pain after unimaginable torture.' Lee's character Jang Uk from Alchemy of Souls is one of his most widely praised roles globally. So when news of him signing a new historical drama broke, fans naturally expected him to return in the same avatar. But the actor surprised them with a darker role. Comparing the two characters, he explained, 'Jang Uk was a growing character. Hongrang's story starts after he has already grown. I pushed through without confusion about the character's nature.' On the other hand, for Hongrang, he said, 'I tried to bring out Hongrang's sharpness. I had to convince viewers with minimal lines. I aimed to show restraint. And I added the detail that Jae Yi was always at the end of his gaze.' Lee Jae Wook took his first role at the age of 21. He's 27 now, with six leading roles already under his belt. The actor revealed he watched Weak Hero Class 1, led by Park Ji-hoon, and felt a twinge of jealousy, spending time thinking about what he would have done if he played that character. 'I think the reason I work without rest is also because of jealousy. Since I'm just watching other works and feeling jealous, I think I'm motivated to work quickly.' Lee is currently planning to enlist in the military and wants to belt out as many shows as he can.
Tatler Asia
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Why K-dramas always look like dream holidays
Love in translation Above 'Doctor Stranger' (2014) took us around Budapest, Hungary. (Photo: IMDB) But it's not just for show. When characters leave Korea, something shifts. Emotional stakes rise. Time slows. Suddenly, every cobblestone street becomes a confessional. Abroad, our protagonists find themselves, sometimes literally. Whether it's Hyun Bin soul-searching in Switzerland or Kim Tae-ri riding a bike through 1990s Paris in Twenty-Five Twenty-One , international scenes often serve as narrative inflection points apart from pegs for dream holidays. K-dramas often use overseas settings as a narrative escape hatch, allowing characters to break free from the rigid structures of Korean society. In a foreign country, they can reinvent themselves, unburdened by family expectations, workplace hierarchies or nosy neighbours. It's a clean emotional slate, one that's as liberating for the characters as it is enchanting for viewers. Korea's cultural soft power Above 'Queen of Tears' (2024) made people's dream holidays revolve around Germany. (Photo: Netflix) There's also the not-so-secret diplomatic agenda. The Korean Wave—Hallyu—is no longer confined to music charts and Netflix queues. International shoots act as cinematic emissaries, exporting Korean stories through global landscapes. In some cases, it's a win-win: countries like the Philippines, Spain and Thailand benefit from the tourism bump, while K-dramas expand their cachet as sophisticated global entertainment. Filming abroad acts as a quiet flex. It's an assertion that Korean pop culture belongs on the global stage. It's not just K-dramas anymore; it's K-culture going cosmopolitan. See more: Korean drama travel inspiration: 14 popular filming sites to visit Fantasy, but relatable Above 'Memories of the Alhambra' (2018) was technically in some kind of simulated reality, but when it wasn't, it was set in Spain. (Photo: IMDB) There's also the matter of emotional resonance. In a K-drama, Paris isn't just Paris—it's a symbol of first love, loneliness or a kind of aspirational sadness best expressed under grey skies and oversized scarves. These places become emotional proxies, transforming architecture into feeling. Memories of the Alhambra , set largely in Spain, used its setting not just as a backdrop but as a metaphysical extension of its video-game-inspired plot. In The King: Eternal Monarch , the characters literally cross dimensions, which is fitting, considering the show filmed everywhere from Busan to Brandenburg. And for fans watching in São Paulo or Stockholm, these foreign settings make Korean content feel closer to home. The jet-set future Above 'Encounter' (2018) included Havana, Cuba, as one of its filming locations (Photo: IMDB) Of course, not every drama needs a plane ticket. But as K-content continues to dominate global screens, the trend is unlikely to slow. Overseas filming has become an emotional tool, a branding strategy and, occasionally, a plot device that justifies a random flashback in Vienna. So the next time a character is brooding on a bridge in Budapest or sharing a gelato in Florence, remember: it's not just about where they are. It's about who they're becoming, one passport stamp at a time. And if they influence your dream holidays, then that's a bonus. In the world of K-dramas, love doesn't just transcend class, time and logic—it transcends borders.
Pink Villa
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
The Devil's Plan star Lee Si Won welcomes her first baby after 4 years of marriage
The Devil's plan star Lee Si Won has become a mother for the first time, welcoming a baby girl four years after her marriage. Her agency, KX Entertainment, confirmed the happy news, sharing that both mother and child are healthy and doing well. On May 20, KX Entertainment revealed, 'Lee Si Won gave birth to a daughter at the end of last month.' As per Hankook Ilbo, Lee Si Won expressed her joy over the public's warm response. 'I didn't even know the article had come out, but suddenly people started calling to congratulate me,' she said with a laugh. The couple named their daughter Si Woo, a meaningful choice that combines one syllable from each of their names. Lee Si Won mentioned, 'At first, she looked like me, but she's starting to resemble my husband more and more each day. It's amazing how her face keeps changing.' Lee Si Won reflected on the experience of giving birth with gratitude. 'I just hoped for a healthy delivery, and I'm so grateful everything went smoothly,' she shared. 'She's growing up healthy, and that makes me so happy.' The actress also mentioned how quickly her daughter is developing. 'I've heard that babies these days are developing a little faster. Our daughter is already really responsive and growing well,' she said, noting her baby's strong eye contact and alertness. Although she recently gave birth, Lee Si Won is already thinking about her return to the screen. 'It's been about a month since I gave birth, and I'm starting to feel like myself again,' she said. 'I'm planning to resume activities soon, including commercials and films.' A graduate of Seoul National University, Lee Si Won debuted in 2012 with the drama The Great King's Dream and has since appeared in numerous acclaimed series, including Misaeng, Memories of the Alhambra, Maestra and Netflix's The Devil's Plan. In 2021, she married a fellow Seoul National University alumnus, a doctor. Congratulations, new mama!
Gulf News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf News
5 K-Dramas that took dream leads and ruined them with ice-cold chemistry: K2 to Forecasting Love and Weather
K-Dramas are usually on point with the leads and the chemistry. Not often, does it miss the mark even if the storytelling does. But then there are some that build up the hype: You see actors, who have had stunning chemistry with every other actor before, and you are sure it can't go wrong. But sigh, when it does, you're left with rather dull, lifeless and soulless chemistry between two otherwise very charismatic leads. 1) Forecasting Love And Weather *Grumbles* This one still singes. How do you go wrong with Song Kang and Park Min-young, who have had practically sizzling chemistry with everyone other lead character in their shows? Set in a weather forecasting agency, the story sees their characters fall in love early on, only to spiral into a storm of work stress and emotional baggage. Even the reunion and love confession lacked warmth. What should've been heart-fluttering felt like… a drizzle. 2) Love Next Door It was almost there. We felt the tension rising slightly between Jung Hae-in and Jung Som-in, till…we didn't. Jung Hae-in's character quickly devolved into a man-child who threw tantrums over So-min's career decisions—including a major one where she considered going abroad. The romance drowned in ego and immaturity. 3) Memories of the Alhambra If you thought Forecasting was a dull disappointment, you should see what happens to the pairing between Hyun Bin and Park Shin-ye in this fantastical drama. We're talking about two actors who practically reshaped the K-entertainment industry, instead we got a very awkward romance between the two of them, or barely anything at all. Not to mention that the story itself went off the rails by the last episode. 4) The K2 Ji Chang-wook, another lead actor who could have chemistry with a stone, if he wants. And there's the stunning Yoona, in this action-packed thriller, where Ji Chang-wook is just busy flexing muscles, beating up people as he suffers from bullet wounds. Yoona plays a traumatised woman, trapped by her devious stepmother, who ironically seemed to have had more chemistry with Chang-wook. That's right, we said it. You know what you had to do, K2 writers. 5) Doctor Stranger So much chaos, so little chemistry. Between political conspiracies, North Korean escape plots, and absurd medical drama, Lee Jong-suk and Jin Se-yeon's love story never found its pulse. The emotional beats felt forced, the reunion lacked spark, and honestly? Jong-suk had much more chemistry with the second lead. But in true K-Drama fashion, the second lead never stood a chance.
