Powerhouse Chungmuro cast for period film 1987

53 February 1, 2017February 1, 2017

by tineybeanie

Kim Yoon-seok, Kang Dong-won, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo

Upcoming movie 1987 is making headlines with its star-studded cast. So far, it’s been revealed that heavyweight Chungmuro veterans Kim Yoon-seok (Will You Be There) and Ha Jung-woo (Tunnel) are in final negotiations to star. The never-aging Kang Dong-won (Master) has also received an offer to make a special appearance. Last but not least, award-winning rookie film actress Kim Tae-ri (The Handmaiden) is in talks to join the film as the lead female character.

The movie is based on the historic June Democratic Uprising that happened in 1987, when massive nationwide rallies were held to protest against the injustice of President Chun Doo-hwan’s authoritarian regime. Nicknamed the Butcher of Gwangju, the former president was known for enforcing his policies through strict martial law and increasing military presence in peaceful cities and towns to exert his control. In 1980, his police force brutally suppressed student demonstrations at the Gwangju Uprising by beating, shooting, and killing their targets.

Anyone who seemed to be related to the protests were blacklisted by the government, and investigations commenced to determine the leaders of the civilian dissent. Amongst those who were detained, Seoul University student Park Jong-chul became a symbol of Chun Doo-hwan’s ruthlessness when the news of his torture and death during his unlawful imprisonment came to light.

Even after this incident, the president brazenly and unilaterally announced his successor, Roh Tae-woo, without holding free and fair elections. So the people rose up against him in the June Democratic Uprising. The movie 1987, directed by Jung Joon-hwan (Save the Green Planet, Hwayi) will take a closer look at this historic struggle between the Korean people who sought a true, transparent democracy and the president’s peacekeeping authorities who tried to maintain absolute control.

If you last long enough in the Chungmuro industry, you’re bound to run into the same actors, and it seems like 1987 will be a reunion project for everyone all around. Both Kim Yoon-seok and Kang Dong-won have worked with Director Jang before, in Hwayi and Love for Sale respectively. But they’ve also worked with each other multiple times (Jeon Woo-chi, Black Priests). Ha Jung-woo and Kim Yoon-seok are also old colleagues from blockbuster films The Chaser and Yellow Sea. And finally, Kim Tae-ri’s lauded debut was in The Handmaiden as a co-conspirator with Ha Jung-woo’s character for the rich heiress’s money.

I have a deep love for Ha Jung-woo because of his natural acting and versatility, and I’ve seen all of his other potential castmates in enough films to know that if this ends up coming together, it could become the movie of the year. Director Jang plans to start production for 1987 in the latter half of 2017.

Via DongA Sports

Required fields are marked *

1 gureum

February 1, 2017 at 2:26 PM

were political drama movies always so popular? they're popping up all over chungmuro these days. that and true-crime movies.

Required fields are marked *

UmbrellaMan

February 1, 2017 at 3:11 PM

I have a feeling their popularity is increasing due to the current political climate in SK.

Required fields are marked *

Nessie

February 1, 2017 at 4:33 PM

Agreed I too think so. I'm not too clear on details but there was a blacklist of celebs and many prominent people within the industry was on the list. I do wonder if making films like these are a social commentary, or a way to indirectly jab at the government.

Required fields are marked *

SojuSommelier

February 1, 2017 at 8:44 PM

An indie political movie that was released around the time there was a huge protest in SK (November 2016) earned more than some mainstream movies at that period. Chungmoro like to capitalize on trends like how bromance has been a trend since late last year, so expect more of testosterone-loaded movies.

Required fields are marked *

dopefish

February 1, 2017 at 10:42 PM

Political movies about this particular era of Korean history had been somewhat popular in the mid-90's to mid 2000's to varying degrees of success. That was most likely due to Korea becoming a newly formed democracy and Chungmuro filmmakers finding their footing. So this movie isn't too much of a surprise. However, I think it also depends on who is in power in Korea.

However, this reminds me of the large number of Japanese-occupation era films that were out in the last year or two. A completely different dilemma from dramas, where they try to avoid both eras as much as possible.

Required fields are marked *

2 lillyan

February 1, 2017 at 2:29 PM

I love them all. That being said, as loyal K-movies follower, somehow it feels like Chungmuro actors pool even smaller than k-drama pool. You have like 10-12 big names that appear in every possible big project.

Required fields are marked *

Nessie

February 1, 2017 at 4:34 PM

Yea I see that too, is it hard to transition from a drama actor to chungmuro?

Required fields are marked *

starswillshine

February 1, 2017 at 7:38 PM

Usually popular drama actors are likely to be casted in movies but not everyone of them can produce a blockbuster hit. E.g. Lee Seo Jin during his peak. Usually popular drama actors after going into chungmuro will not return to the small screen anymore (once in a blue moon).

Required fields are marked *

lillyan

February 1, 2017 at 8:55 PM

It's not an impossible task. There is quite a number of actors that do both movies and dramas, yet be sure you will see along with them in that movie some major only Chungmuro actors. And if actor hit his 30s and still a big name I think it's more likely to him to become exclusively a movie star.

Required fields are marked *

SojuSommelier

February 1, 2017 at 9:06 PM

Will the producers take the risk by casting them over movie actors with blockbuster movies in their name? Because I'd say BANKABILITY is very important for movie producers, and there are only FEW Korean actors/actresses that are bankable (I'm talking about average 5million audience per movie kind-of bankability). That's why you see the same names (i.e. Ha Jung-woo) being casted over and over again. Unless the actors or the producers are willing to take the risk with an out-of-the-box plot, low-budgeted movie starring a B-list actor (and you'll hope that it will be a box-office hit), you can expect the same high-profile, "dependable" actors in Chungmoro.

At the end of the day, based on my own research, Koreans won't watch the movie if the plot sucks even if Ha Jung-woo stars in it.

Required fields are marked *

lillyan

February 1, 2017 at 9:17 PM

You don't need to explain me why it's happening. I'm just pointing out that it's happening.
p.s. Taking a risk the only way to open new boxable actors.

Required fields are marked *

SojuSommelier

February 1, 2017 at 9:26 PM

I responded to Nessie's question.

Nessie

February 2, 2017 at 12:04 PM

Ahhh that explains alot more then, thanks everyone!

Required fields are marked *

hoang

April 29, 2018 at 4:22 PM

Well, just think about it. Is it hard to transition from US TV series actor to Academy Award winning film actor? Yes, it really is. I don't think Chungmuro pool of actors is that small. Considering the fact that in the US, there are way a lot more TV series/action movies actors than Academy Award winning actors. Chungmuro does produce a lot of good movies. It is not easy to act in those movies, and for Korean moviegoers, big name actors and directors really matter

Required fields are marked *

Kiara

February 1, 2017 at 10:02 PM

Film directors are pretty picky. They rely more on well established talents even if they have to cast them over and over.
It takes years for these veteran actors to make it to the top in Chungmuro but once they make it, they pretty much stay till they retire.

Filmmakers are usually the writer/director/producer of their own films so they have power to do what they want and who to cast etc.

Critical acclaimed filmmakers like Park Chan Wook, Bong Joon Ho, Lee Chang Dong etc etc are not going to cast new actors unless they believe they have the talent and fit the the character they have in mind.
The Handmaiden was Kim Tae-ri's first full length film but she wasn't a complete newbie. She did a few short films before Park cast her in his film after going through over a thousand plus actresses.
Maybe it's a combination of talents and luck for new actors in Chungmuro.

This is just my own observation after following K-movies for a while now.

Required fields are marked *

3 Kiara

February 1, 2017 at 3:00 PM

Another Ha Jung Woo fangirl here. Love the cast but I want to watch Song Kang Ho's Taxi first.

Required fields are marked *

Sohyang

February 2, 2017 at 6:01 AM

me, meeee. I'm ha jungwoo's fangirl till the end of my time LOL.
because in korean movie I can't help but only think about ha jungwoo, lee jungjae and chojinwoong, sometimes kang dongwon and park hae il too.

Required fields are marked *

samantha1

February 3, 2017 at 4:45 AM

OMGeeee!!! Me too! I'm a big fan of Ha Jung Woo! and Kang Dong Won too! so I'm pretty much in heaven right now.

Required fields are marked *

4 Miky

February 1, 2017 at 3:31 PM

What a strong cast,kinda sad Kang Dong Won only has a special apperance and not in the main..Also Ha Jung Won worked with him as well in Kundo...

Required fields are marked *

deyaa

February 1, 2017 at 6:01 PM

Kang dongwon has 3 movies, all as lead male in his hands. he cant add another one....he's too busy this year

Required fields are marked *

summer

February 2, 2017 at 10:17 PM

oh really?
i only knew about the golden slumber with han hyo joo. what are the others two films?

Required fields are marked *

5 merry

February 1, 2017 at 3:33 PM

Is this the same time period as the setting for Healer? or the setting for Endless Love? It seems that 1987 was not so long ago and I was very much an adult then, so i really would like to be clarified on modern period settings. Thank you very much.

Required fields are marked *

nchoe

February 1, 2017 at 4:24 PM

:'D

Required fields are marked *

6 신류지

February 1, 2017 at 4:48 PM

Question: What's chungmuro?

Required fields are marked *

seizh

February 1, 2017 at 5:53 PM

Chungmuro in itself actually refers to Korea/Korean.
But the term Chungmuro in this context refer to the Korean Movie in particular.

Required fields are marked *

asdfasdf

February 1, 2017 at 9:02 PM

It doesn't refer to Korea, it refers to a specific street in central Seoul, where there used to be a lot of theaters.

Required fields are marked *

deyaa

February 1, 2017 at 6:02 PM

its like hollywood of korea.
the actor mostly are specialist only do movies like Ha jungwoo, KDW...and Kim taeri also never do drama before.

Required fields are marked *

nyemba

February 1, 2017 at 9:03 PM

is this the equivalent of oscars in korea

Required fields are marked *

SojuSommelier

February 1, 2017 at 9:10 PM

Oscars is an award-giving body. It doesn't refer to just Hollywood. I'd say Hollywood is the closest synonym to Chungmoro.

Required fields are marked *

Kiara

February 2, 2017 at 9:04 AM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chungmuro

When Chungmuro is mentioned in an article here, it mainly refers to Korea's film industry and Korean films.

Required fields are marked *

7 SojuSommelier

February 1, 2017 at 8:42 PM

Jung Joon-young really looks like Kang Dong-won in that photo. >,<

Required fields are marked *

8 Thatgirl

February 1, 2017 at 8:43 PM

Was the cause of this rally/protest the same as the one Bora was protesting in Reply 1988?

Required fields are marked *

SojuSommelier

February 1, 2017 at 8:47 PM

probably.

Required fields are marked *

9 lostmysanity

February 1, 2017 at 8:45 PM

Kim Tae-ri was brilliant in The Handmaiden, and that movie was great too do check it out if you haven't! (Though it's rather mature)

Required fields are marked *

nyemba

February 1, 2017 at 9:01 PM

how much was the exposure? i don't quite believe when k-netz say its oh my god shocking hahaha

Required fields are marked *

afii

February 1, 2017 at 9:08 PM

If you ask a number, from 1 to 10 i give the exposure 9. It's even "mature" from point of view of Hollywood. But the movie, the story, and the cinematography are worth watching.

Required fields are marked *

SojuSommelier

February 1, 2017 at 9:11 PM

9 for me is like Lena Dunham in "Girls." ahee

Required fields are marked *

10 nyemba

February 1, 2017 at 8:47 PM

what was that movie with im shi wan? the attorney, is that the same plot

Required fields are marked *

dopefish

February 1, 2017 at 9:51 PM

Yes. The movie with Im Shi-wan and Song Kang-ho is "The Attorney."

It is not the same plot as "The Attorney" was loosely based on the life of former South Korean president, Roh Moo-hyun when he was a human rights attorney. The case it was based on was the "Burim Case," in which he was the defense attorney for in 1981.

However, the protest at the end of the "The Attorney" was about Park Jong-chul and the June Democratic Uprising, which is the main subject of this film.

Required fields are marked *

11 ѕαѕнα נσя∂єη ♡

February 1, 2017 at 9:03 PM

Chungmuro really needs some new faces... it's a bit tiring to see all these people in movies every year. At least let your characters wear off a bit.. its a bit much tbh

It must be super hard for rookies to get any substantial roles in dramas and films in korea... how do they find new talent?

If you want to draw in big crowds at least cast one famous person and for the other roles give the rookies a chance and when they get famous at least scriptwriters will have more people to pick from for projects

kang dong won is bae but he needs to chill

Required fields are marked *

redfox

February 2, 2017 at 1:13 AM

depends though, with as little of korean movies as we get in these corners (only once a year during the festival) I am far from tired of seeing them. I haven´t even seen Kang Dong Won in a movie yet. The Tunnel was the first I saw of Ha Jung Woo and I was very much in awe how he still managed to be so FUNNY and entertaining in such a big bind.

Required fields are marked *

Sohyang

February 2, 2017 at 6:06 AM

they do cast too, and new rookies always be produced. just like park sodam, kim go eun, ko ah sung, and kim tae ri I guess.
I know that I dont know much but I'm still like the 'old faces' because they are just good.
the new faces always can be found in every drama.

Required fields are marked *

Kiara

February 2, 2017 at 9:09 AM

There are indie movies / short movies where most of the new talents are being discovered.

Required fields are marked *

12 afii

February 1, 2017 at 9:06 PM

Their movies are getting boring honestly. Both from theme and the actors that perform. Similiar face almost everywhere. I think that most of the movie rely on the actors alone than the story itself. Sorry but i think most of their blockbuster such the veteran, nameless gangster, and the age of shadows has meh story but great performance. And why they like to put overdramatic scene near the ending of almost every movie -at least the one that i watch- like train to busan, the front line, and age of shadows. Well, I think beside fresh faces, Chungmuro need more scriptwriters or at least the one that come with fresh idea.

Required fields are marked *

SojuSommelier

February 1, 2017 at 9:15 PM

This reminds me of the 2008 crisis in Chungmoro. Very few movies were produced because there were not a lot of producers who were willing to risk. I think there was also problem with government support then. Cha Tae Hyun's December '08 movie "Speedy Scandal was a low-budgeted film, but it was a sleeper hit (8million audience), and sort of became a "wake up " call that low-budgeted movies can still turn to blockbuster hits. But, that's like one in a hundred chances.

Required fields are marked *

dopefish

February 1, 2017 at 10:18 PM

I believe that the 2008 Chungmuro crisis were film producers' reactions to the Korean screen quotas getting reduced from 146 days to 73 days in 2007 due to trade agreements between South Korea and the US. Thus, producers weren't confident to produce anything that could be risky. That's probably why we're getting films that is a bit repetitive in themes and content nowadays. That's also probably why the CJ group was able to pretty much form a monopoly in the Korean film market.

Required fields are marked *

SojuSommelier

February 1, 2017 at 9:24 PM

Also, I think it's also important to consider the monopoly of CJ GROUP in modern cinema--from film production, distribution, music, malls, CGV, etc. Of course, they'll distribute more theaters to CJ E&M-produced movies that is disadvantageous to smaller production companies.

Required fields are marked *

mjusikurd

February 2, 2017 at 3:03 AM

IMO Kdramas are the ones which are tiring love triangles everywhere,and if you like an actor you wont get tired of him ,i would seriously watch Hwang Jung Min and Kang Dong Won in 100 movies per yea without getting tired of them.

Required fields are marked *

Sohyang

February 2, 2017 at 6:12 AM

totally completely absolutely agree with ya

Required fields are marked *

knewbie

February 3, 2017 at 8:35 AM

I think blockbusters tend to be pretty "meh" everywhere, not just in Korea. At least they had films like The Wailing and The Handmaiden among their box-office hits of 2016 -- unusual stuff by any standard. As for Korean cinema in general: IMO they are currently producing a far wider range of films than the afore-mentioned blockbusters; or, say, what is mentioned on this site. I, for one, can't wait to see Lee Kyoung-mi's The Truth Beneath, Yoon Ga-eun's The World of Us and Lee Soo-youn's Bluebeard, as well as some of the films reviewed here: http://koreanfilm.org/biff2016.html.

Required fields are marked *

knewbie

February 3, 2017 at 8:40 AM

Oh, and Shin Su-won's Glass Garden, starring Moon Geun-young

Required fields are marked *

13 dudun

February 1, 2017 at 9:37 PM

Dear K-drama's God, please make Kang Dong Woon-sshi lead a role in a drama!!!!!!!
International K-drama's Fans need to know that there is someone as handsome as him beside Gong Yoo, Lee Dong Wook and Song Joongki :)

Required fields are marked *

⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐

February 2, 2017 at 4:21 AM

He did say he wants to do drama, but maybe not so much offers like chungmuro. TVN or OCN, time to grab him!

And I want to see Kim Tae Ri in small screen too. If Park So Dam, and Kim Go Eun made it, she should too. Of course in good project.

Required fields are marked *