Im Shi-wan heads back to work following discharge from army

13 March 27, 2019March 27, 2019

Im Shi-wan heads back to work following discharge from army

by stroopwafel

Im Shi-wan (The King Loves) is officially out of the army and back in the civilian world as of today (March 27). He seems to be adjusting to civilian life very quickly as he’s already made his own Instagram.

Im Shi-wan’s jumping headfirst into work as he has already confirmed his comeback project will be the OCN psychological thriller, Hell Is Other People. He will be playing the protagonist, a small-town guy who relocates to Seoul to find work. He moves into a gositel but finds his fellow occupants unsettling.

The drama follows Trap as the second installation in OCN’s new “Dramatic Cinema” project so we can expect a shorter than usual episode count. Hell Is Other People is being adapted from a webtoon that was a big hit in Korea. The webtoon was known for its skillful (and scary) telling of the conflicts that can arise between people.

Lee Jung-eun (The Light in Your Eyes) is being courted to join Im Shi-wan and the role she’s considering is that of the gositel’s resident caretaker and owner.

Rookie PD Lee Chang-hee is attached to direct, and there is no writer attached as yet. The drama is scheduled to air in the later half of this year on OCN.

Via Osen (1), Osen (2), iMBC, My Daily

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1 PakalanaPikake

March 27, 2019 at 10:07 PM

Thanks for this terrific news, @stroopwafel! It feels as if THE KING LOVES wasn't all that long ago. Manseh, Im Shi-wan, and welcome back to Kdramaland! ;-)

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Linda Palapala

March 28, 2019 at 9:21 AM

I was shocked he's already out of the military. It seems like yesterday we watched King in Love and then saw the KIL cast visit him. How time flies, kind of like Light In Your Eyes: yesterday I was 25, today I'm 70?

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wapz

March 28, 2019 at 9:49 AM

I think for all those stars who immediately went after filming a drama it seems like they it didnt take them long in military. Also provided his costars had no other shows after that drama too.
K-netz were comparing Kim Soo Hyun's military duty to that of LSG, it seemed like both were gone forever. But I suppose that is because they didn't have a drama for long before going to military so the massess didn't see them.

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2 Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)

March 27, 2019 at 10:14 PM

No writer yet? Even if it's an adaptation you'd think they might have a script or something so actors know what they're signing up for (?)

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3 panshel

March 27, 2019 at 10:21 PM

Im Siwan, congratulations!! I want to know who's going to be cast as Wang Nun in Hell Is Other People.

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4 Kairoskat 💐

March 28, 2019 at 2:40 AM

Welcome back Im Siwan. I haven't watch any of his projects but I keep hearing praises for him. All the best to him!!

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PakalanaPikake

March 28, 2019 at 7:58 AM

MISAENG. What a performance. But if contemporary workplace life is too depressing, he did a good job in Goryeo as the crown prince in THE KING LOVES. ;-)

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Pilgrim

March 28, 2019 at 7:41 PM

Yes to Misaeng - his defining work. Jang GeuRae is forever imprinted in my mind. I loved that drama and all the characters.

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irmar

March 29, 2019 at 8:40 AM

Misaeng was super depressing for the first couple of episodes, then he went from little success to little success and it was exhilarating.
On the other hand The King Loves was REALLY depressing and becoming more so as it went along. Stupid writers trolling the viewers by not giving any clues and then that ending...

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PakalanaPikake

March 29, 2019 at 1:43 PM

@irmar,

I agree that THE KING IN LOVE could have chopped off a bunch of episodes of frustrating, ham-fisted "romantic" trolling. Eun San (Yoona) mopping the floor with the incognito Seja was great fun. The ensuing camaraderie between the three friends was warm and fuzzy -- until the inevitable political machinations kicked in.

Im Shi-wan looked terrific in his Goryeo threads. And it was great to see Hong Jong-hyun minus his MOON LOVERS Guyliner Of Evil (and accessories coordinated with Queen Mom YooShouldn'tHaveHadKids!). I was glad he got to play a good guy this time around. Wang Won's towering guards, who silently popped up like meerkats whenever he needed them, cracked me up.

I thoroughly enjoyed the running snarkfest between Wang Won's King Dad (Jung Bo-suk) and Princess Wonsung Mom (Jang Young-nam). It was my first time seeing her. Their incessant skirmishes looked like something out of Mad Magazine's "Spy vs. Spy."

Wang Won ended up having a good character arc despite the doofy, contrived romantic BS. The story was really about love, loyalty, selflessness, and service. Eventually the young King was able to follow Wang Rin's example. That boded well for his becoming a worthy king.

Aesthetically, THE KING IN LOVE was a treat for the eyes. The cinematography was gorgeous, and made excellent use of the spring flowers in outdoor locations. The costuming and sets were sumptuous. Nice music, too.

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5 Kafiyah Bello

March 28, 2019 at 8:33 AM

How exciting!!!!

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6 larelle79

March 28, 2019 at 10:53 AM

He looks...the same.

I mean, how is that possible. After 2 years, we mortals do have changes, why not him.

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7 lovepark

March 28, 2019 at 12:28 PM

Hope they find a good writer because the source material was excellent, and I can see this becoming a potentially great drama. Im Shi-wan wouldn't have been my first choice for the lead, but I can see it and think he could a wonderful job (as long as he finds his stride after being away for a while). As for Lee Jung-eun, spot-on. Now I just want either Jo Hee-bong or Jung Suk-yong to be cast as "Kiwi."