LOVE that first picture of him!

Well, it looks like the ride is over for now. It was fun while it lasted and in large part due to Kang Ji Hwan. I hope he takes a much deserved break and gets a little R and R because I sure want to continue to watch him in his future projects.

He's so hot, he's sizzling now.

Thanks Javabeans for your hard work too, at keeping us in the loop with HGD and constantly putting us in stitches with your hilarious commentaries.

good one

oh my god drooling over the second picture... god i love him...hes so dedicated to his work....
Kang Ji Hwan HWAITING!!!!!!!!!!

I was more neutral on this KJH performance than his other work (and this show could have used the lusty, but winsome bravado he demonstrated in Capital Scandal.)

That said, it was a brilliant choice by both the creative team and KJH to have him play Hong Gil Dong as the straight man to the other players. In his scenes with both Jang Suk and Sung Yu Ri, he did a lot of pacing and leading so the show's comic and dramatic bits came over with the audience. Although I thought the real gem of the show was Sung Yu Ri's performance -- it's the first time she's allowed herself to let go in any of her roles -- that performance probably isn't possible without KJH and the Hong Sisters support. His theatrical background once again came through.

The best thing about him is that he's an actor, not just a face. Sure - he's handsome (I totally love him), but that's not what's important here. He puts a lot in a character and with his talent, he has a lot to offer to the drama. That's why he shines in every scene; he's focused, professional, just perfect for HGD.

why does this post sound like an excuse to talk about Kang Ji Hwan to me ? Not that I'm complaining. :D

In complete agreement with belleza.

Kang Ji Hwan was fantastic and in character the whole series; bringing even more depth to an already, by Hong sister tradition, strong male protagonist role. Once again, he did not disappoint. The breakthrough performance indeed belonged to Sung Yu Ri. Though it couldn't have happened without her peers' generosity. Her best moments were those emotional scenes. She surprised me with her range. It's nice to see an actress finally realizing her potential.

Thank you javabeans!
It's so refreshing reading this article while waiting for this series to end ^^
I fall for KJH in HGD, he is a full package for me. Anything related to him is a YES for me ^^
I hope we can see him soon. GO KJH!
Ah one more thing, the chemistry that he have with SYR just perfect, so I hope they can work together again in the future.

Kang Ji Hwan is indeed one of the best Korean actors, if not the best. Love him to bits! Looking forward to Javabeans' recap of Hong Gil Dong's final ep! =)

i "i love you" him sooooooooooooooooooo muchhhhh :D

i agree with asikg. maybe i dont watch enough QUALITY dramas...? but after noticing kang ji hwan, it felt like it was the first time i was seeing why actors are called ACTORS. he's so amazing and talented at what he does. that's what attracts to me the most about him, not just his handsomeness. ;)

thanks so much for ur translations & summaries for HGD, javabeans!

great actor..i hope to watch more upcoming series or movies of him =)

KJH is a great actor, loved him in capital scandal and hong gil dong. too bad hgd's ending disappointed many fans, but i think it was kind of unique, i've never seen a drama end that way. i hope he will take a break and get a new drama.

I shamefully admit I wish I could glomp him, omg he is so cute.

waiting for the recap of last episode of hong gil dong !!!! Please put it soon....thanksss...

He is by far my favorite actor...anything that he is on is worth watching in my book!

plus it doesn't hurt that he's insanely HOT! ;)

But the ending sucked.....
does that mean that the "means" justified the funky 'end'.....

seriously - I'd like my 24 plus hours back --

Honestly, I think KJH saved the Hong Gil Dong project. Because of the casting changes that occurred at the last minute, the production needed a true senior actor to provide creative and colloborative leadership among the principal leads, who might have gone into the project expecting it to be highly troubled.

Because of KJH's theatre background, he was able to do provide input and support with physical choreography, ad-libbing of scenes, mentor Jang Suk who was a last minute casting change, and just help translate what the directors wants to the other actors. And, from what I read, KJH made the high stress work environment a lot of fun.

That's how I'm reading the Hong Sisters comments. Had KJH not taken this project, they might have gotten another terrific lead, but it's very rare to find an actor who can look at a fusion drama and go "yeah, this is familiar territory for me."

well the ending seems ok, atleast HGD and enok stayed together at the end..till death!
Only their voices i heard...(maybe their ghost)
Enok: Gildong...i lub you
Gildong: ara..(i know)
Enok: ottoke ara? (how did you know?)
Gildong: saranghe, saranghe,saranghe...(i love you, i love you, i love you)

THE END...i saw gildong at the top of the building in seoul....

little bit dissappointed but its unique then... But still i love KJH...no matter what!!

kang ji hwan is very photogenic. don't you agree? he's not my favorite actor but he definitely photographs really well. how was 90 days in love? i bought it but i heard it was boring.

i was there in soompi forums...fans of HGD are in bad mood beacause of the finale...
i hope there is a surprise in HGD special..

90 Days...it's a melodrama..a tearjerker and very dark one..with a theme that a bit challenging to the morale aspects and for audience to think either you can accept to let the lead actors to be together considering their circumstances.I have not watch it but manage to catch a glimpse at the whole episodes..I think KJH did his best here in 90 Days..His characters is really different from those from his other dramas. It's full of emotional conflicts..No wonder I read once in his interview that he said the role in 90 Days is the most challenging for him despite the low ratings. But I found out in the thread of this drama at Soompi, this drama has its own fans..A very few but yet special fans of this drama..
Other thing I like about this drama is the beautiful scenery captured here and the great OST especially that "Smoke Get In Your Eyes"..

It seems just like a small excerpt so you can share your KJH love......XD

Anyway, I agree with most people. KJH is spectacular, but we've come to expect that from him, haven't we? He's got a good character to play on, he's hot, and we knew he had talents from before. Sung Yu Ri needs perhaps more praise, because I don't think she's a born actor like KJH (or maybe she hasn't shown it yet) but she really did great in HGD. She is good enough to stand as his love interest. Her acting is so much better than before.

That being said, it seems from the Hong sisters' comments that not only is he naturally talented, he actually is passionate about what he does. *cough* not like the ones that scream they love acting but in fact does nothing *cough*. He doesn't advertise it, and let the Hong sisters tell.....^_^ God, I love him.

Just what I posted in Soompi before..The ending of HGD is quite unexpected but yet at the end I think that the best thing we have ever had from HGD is the great jobs done by the casts...I love GD-YN-CH and the Hwal Bin Dang members and some of the minor roles..I like it that it is Kang Ji Hwan-Sung Yuri and Jang Geun Suk who played the characters..I do not think that the combination of other actors can played the roles better than them as they are the best fit for this drama.

I like KJH, a LOT. he's like a real man, not like those voted Asia's most hansome guy
>_< Skinny latte with no whipped cream. KJH is Mature, Macho and Much better. I like him a lot, his voice,aaaaaaa ^_^ then his funny eyes ( can't pin point what, or where or why but somehing's funny wth the eyes ) and off course his smile.... the way he move his head towards right side when he's in the sad mood talking mode. so cute. Exhibition of the firework was his first drama that I watched, I like him since then, but I can't pull my self to watch the 90 day's because of the sad ending. Anyway, I wish that He will soon act again in a happy end drama.. I can'twait.. ^^.. thank's Javabean for the hgl recap.. and thumbs up for the whole HGD actors...

canyayasis, I'm with you. I want my hours back too after seeing the end. I can't believe I lost sleep over that finale.

id like to thank the original cast for this series for backing out coz this part really is for Kang Ji Hwan... i couldnt imagine Joo Ji Hoon (is that him? in the Princes Hours) picking up a sword or fight.. my gawd, he looks like he couldnt even pick up his own sword (remember that episode in Princess Hours where Yun Eun Hye hid in a cabinet and peeped while Joo Ji Hoon was changing his clothes or taking off his clothes to shower and they showed his overly thin thighs, hehe...)..

thank you Javabeans for the wonderful and witty recap of HGD... i loved KJH in Fireworks and loved him even more here.. i just bought a dvd of the Capital Scandal.. im going to start watching it the soonest i could... i wish i could also buy dvds of Be Strong Geum Soon coz i also love Han Hye Jin...

KJH's chemistry with actresses is probably not his strength. He's compelling, but in a way you feel like he's sometimes in his own world even when he is with other people. Besides Kim Ha Neul and Han Hye Jin, he hasn't really worked with many actresses who can create her own space within a scene. In that sense, he's the anti-Gong Yoo or So Ji Sub; both actors focus on reacting and giving their opposite actress a big, big emotional target to act against. KJH (like Lee Byung Hung) would rather you do your homework when you get to the set, even if his work style is playful.

I bring that up because Han Hye Jin, who for whatever reason was never given a shot at a lead role until well into her career, brought it to Be Strong Geum Soon. Comical, dramatic, everything. She's can be as forceful an actress as Ha Ji Won (you see a little bit of this in Jumong, but she turns it down a notch as it would offset Song Il Gook's presence). So, now, you have these two forces coming together in Be Strong, and it's awesome. It's an equal pairing.

I couldn't agree more with yeoreum. Thank God Joo Ji Hoon isn't Hong Gil Dong. I can't imagine a overly thin hero who lacks that versatility (in terms of emotional expression and comic detail) that Kang Ji Hwan offered. Kang Ji Hwan's just the perfect guy for HGD!

annie wrote: "Skinny latte with no whipped cream."

Haha! LOL!
Yeah, KJH sure ain't lacking on the whipped cream!
Thank you, Joo Ji Hoon, for dropping out of this drama!!

KJH rocks!

p.s. 90 Days isn't for everyone, but KJH's acting in it was SUPERB.

i, too, am grateful for such a great actor!

I think KJH also is very grateful to Hong sisters, because they created the character that he enjoyed while acting. It reminded me of Gong Yoo and Coffee Prince, he said acting is like a game . I don't know what KJH would say but I feel, he has the same feeling to Gong Yoo's with Coffee Prince.
Sorry for my scrappy comparison.

oh well.
i shamefully admit that i want to grawp him right now.
he's just so hot.
haha.
by far my favorite korean actor. much talent and passion, not just the face, the looks are perfect, the acting is great.what more can you ask for? oh right, he's single isn't he? gooood! i have to meet him.

Love Hong Gil Dong..And now it's ended , i'm very sad..I wanna see more of ENok and GilDong...They were born for this drama..and this drama were meant for them..

Congratulations to KJH for being nominated in the Best Leading Actor and Popularity categories, for the 2008 Baeksang. (This is the REAL Awards show folks,) He's so far leading in the popularity vote; we'll see if that momentum keeps up to April 24th.

KJH definitely has a unique spark.. he's passionate, subtle, clever, intense.. i always enjoy his acting regardless of what character he's playing.. & he's so impossibly adorable.. he deserves a baeksang award in my book..

I wanted to make a comment to # 20 and #22. I also have a copy of "90 days" and KJH's performance in it was superb from beginning to the end. The storyline was unique to say the least. It was very worthwhile to watch it just to see his great acting abilities.

I want to comment on #33...
I agree that KJH must be thankful for Hong Sisters due to his role on HGD..But far before HGD , it was his role as Wannie in Capital Scandal that made him so outstanding in Fusion drama.
As we think that Hong Gil Dong is the role that only perfect played by KJH than it is the same with Seon Woo Wan (a.k.a Wannie ) in Capital Scandal...No other actors than KJH who would fit so perfectly with Wannie role ,The Colorful Namja from the Capital (that's the name I coined for Wannie due to his wardrobes there :D)

And I am pretty sure that he was offered role in HGD which was also a fusion drama because of his role in Capital Scandal..
I firstly watched him in Exhibition in Fireworks but I was not really impressed about him or his acting ability until I watched Capital Scandal. I hooked up with him and started found his previous work such as Be Strong Geum Soon..a very great drama that shot him to fame..

I just watched Be Strong Geum Soon - my first time seeing a 'family' drama. A great drama (in the traditional sense) and the pairing of KJH and Han Hye Jin is great indeed!!

I like Kang Ji Hwan when 1st watched him in Exhibition but i dont like this drama,
and the second time i see him again in Capital Scandal, outstanding for him and this drama. and last time i watched him in Hong Gil Dong i just want to say : "Congratulations to you for winner Popularity Actor in Baeksang Award". God always bless you and give you happiness and long life

Thanks for keeping us updated about KJH~ I absolutely loved him in capital scandal, and in Hong Gil Dong. I'm glad to know there are other people who share the same love for his acting ability and the characters that he plays as I do. I wonder what kind of role he will take on next? Something totally different would be nice, just so I can see another side of him.

All I can say is that I really adore him as an actor. I've watched his series (BSGS, EoF, 90DTFL, CS, HGD) I think he is a very talented actor. I love his actings eventhough sometimes I don't like the storyline. KJH's got the look and the talent, I hope he'll get the luck to shine in Hollywood...(keep my fingers crossed..)

Unfortunately for me, I was only able to see this drama recently. I've been craving for this drama ever since I've heard of its cast last year.

It's sure worth the agonizing wait. Kang Ji Hwan was perfect for the role. I started liking him after I saw him in Kyungsung Scandal and Be Strong Geum Soon. He absorbs his characters well, not to mention that he's sooooooo cute.

I'm grateful that it was Kang Ji Hwan, not Joo Ji Hoon nor Jo Hyun Jae, who got the role of Hong Gil Dong. He's tailor-made for the role. It's like seeing the real Hong Gil Dong in person. Super, super great actor!

I'm looking forward to seeing him in Triple and his other upcoming dramas... I want more Kang Ji Hwan.

Hmm... how could I say this...

I LOVE YOU Kang Ji Hwan!

*sigh* He's so cute and I loved him as Gil Dong!

x

wow! what a passionate and perfectionist and diligent actor!!! you're so admirable --- esp with your passion and dedication on your craft.