Artists under the management labels of Kakao Entertainment are making headlines with their busy schedules this summer.
From trusted veteran actors to the recently emerged rising stars, they are showcasing their diverse charms and personalities across various projects, making a strong presence felt. Their activities are gathering anticipation, especially with Kakao Entertainment's ongoing audition for new actors, which is also drawing increased interest.
The Netflix series 'Squid Game' Season 3, which became a global sensation by topping the charts in 93 countries upon its release, features Lee Byung-hun, Park Sung-hoon, and Lee Jin-uk. They have joined the final season of the series, captivating audiences worldwide with their compelling performances.
In 'Squid Game' Season 3, which depicts the final fate of the participants in the brutal game, Lee Byung-hun returns as the Front Man, continuing the psychological battle with Gi-hun (played by Lee Jung-jae) through his restrained emotional acting. Lee Jin-uk, who dramatically survives as Kyung-seok, raises the immersion level of the series by fighting against the Pink Guards alongside No-eul (played by Park Gyu-young). Park Sung-hoon, in particular, has captured viewers' attention with his versatile charm, from tension-filled action scenes to delicate emotional expressions, earning critical acclaim.
Park Bo-young and JINYOUNG also made waves with their recent performance in the tvN drama 'Our Unwritten Seoul', drawing viewers in with their solid acting skills and detailed emotional lines. 'Our Unwritten Seoul', a romantic growth drama about twin sisters who find true love and life through a lie of swapping lives, ended with a personal best rating of 10.3%, leaving behind numerous memorable scenes and quotes, establishing itself as a representative healing story for the youth. Park Bo-young, in particular, received praise for perfectly portraying the twin roles.
Choo Young-woo, who has risen to stardom through consecutive hits like JTBC's 'The Tale of Lady Ok' and Netflix series 'The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call', continues his popularity as the lead in the K-romance tvN Monday-Tuesday drama 'Head over Heels', which aired its first episode on the 23rd. 'Head over Heels' is a fearless first love salvation romance between a boy fated to die and a young generation shaman girl trying to prevent it. Choo Young-woo delicately portrays the prickly yet charming character of Gyeonwoo, generating incredible chemistry with co-star Jo Yi-hyun and securing the top spot in its time slot, receiving a warm response.
This summer's highly anticipated works also feature a strong presence of Kakao Entertainment actors. Lee Dong-wook is set to make a powerful transformation in the JTBC Friday series 'The Nice Guy', premiering on the 18th. The series, a sentimental noir about the passionate love between Park Seok-chul, the eldest grandson of a three-generation gangster family who harbors unexpected pure love, and his first love Kang Mi-young (played by Lee Sung-kyoung), a dreamer of becoming a singer, promises to deliver deep emotional resonance amidst warm laughter, as the two characters fight through harsh realities to chase their dreams.
In the upcoming weekend drama 'Esquire', premiering on August 2, Lee Jin-uk transforms into a partner lawyer at a major law firm. The office growth drama, featuring the 'cynical ultimate boss' Lee Jin-uk and the clumsy yet determined rookie Jung Chae-yeon, follows their journey to becoming complete lawyers. Lee Jin-uk is expected to captivate viewers with his cold, calculating strategist persona, who also harbors a warmth deeper than anyone else.
Starting from the 5th, the new tvN Saturday-Sunday drama 'Seocho-dong' will feature Ryu Hye-young as Bae Moon-jung, a character brimming with humanity, affection, and interest in people. The drama, which portrays the joys and sorrows of a group of associate lawyers (lawyers employed by a law firm on a salary basis) commuting daily to Seocho-dong's legal town, promises to deliver a vibrant law firm survival story filled with unique fun.
Chae Soo-bin and Shin Seung-ho will meet audiences in theaters on the 23rd with the fantasy action movie 'Omniscient Reader: The Prophet'. Chae Soo-bin plays Yu Sang-ah, a colleague of the reader (played by Ahn Hyo-seop) who faces the reality turned novel, showcasing her skills to assist those around her, while Shin Seung-ho transforms into the warm-hearted hero soldier Lee Hyun-sung, delivering cathartic action scenes. Their nuanced emotional acting and powerful action scenes are expected to create unique character synergy within the movie.
As Kakao Entertainment actors continue to shine, interest in Kakao Entertainment's integrated audition for new actors, 'Kakao Entertainment Actors Audition', is also on the rise.
The audition, a collaborative effort by management labels such as BH Entertainment, VAST Entertainment, Management SOOP, Awesome ENT, J,WIDE-Company, and King Kong by Starship, is themed 'The Start of Acting, Your First TAKE'. It aims to provide various opportunities for the growth of new actors, from the audition process onwards. Applications are open until July 11 through the official Kakao Entertainment audition website, with more details available on the site and the official audition social media channels.
(SBS Entertainment News | Kim Ji-hye)