After his breakout role in “Ireland” (2004), Hyun Bin went on to star in major hits such as writer Kim Eun-sook’s “Secret Garden” (2010) and writer Park Ji-eun’s “Crash Landing on You” (2019).
Among his impressive filmography, “My Lovely Sam Soon” (2005) stands out as a defining work in his career. The drama, which reached an incredible 50% viewership rating during its run, solidified Hyun Bin’s status as a top actor.
Even 20 years later, “My Lovely Sam Soon” continues to be revisited by fans. As part of the “New Classic” project by OTT platform Wavve, the series was reimagined into an 8-episode, 4K director’s cut, which was released in September.
However, the re-release sparked a reevaluation of Hyun Jin-heon, the male lead and one of Hyun Bin’s most iconic roles, resulting in significant edits to his character.
Director Kim Yoon-cheol, during a press conference for the 2024 version of “My Lovely Sam Soon”, acknowledged viewers’ reactions. Director Kim said, “When viewed through the lens of today’s 20s and 30s, we questioned whether Hyun Jin-heon could still resonate. Back then, the archetype of a ‘prince on a white horse’ or a ‘bad boy’ was more accepted, but now, even I find Hyun Jin-heon’s behavior problematic.“
Director Kim explained that the character’s attitudes and dialogue often clashed with modern sensibilities. Director Kim added “We edited these aspects as much as possible without disrupting the story”, emphasizing the importance of sensitivity in portraying characters for contemporary viewers.
This shift in perspective even led to playful comments from co-stars Kim Sun-ah (Kim Sam-soon) and Jung Ryeo-won (Yoo Hee-jin). Kim Sun-ah said, “Would 2024’s Kim Sam-soon still choose Hyun Jin-heon? Love is always complicated, but I think he’d be a bother because I feel he’d act the same way now.” Jung Ryeo-won added humorously, “If it were today, Yoo Hee-jin would probably send Hyun Jin-heon back to Sam-soon safely, without much conflict.”
With the “beat-up car theory” about Hyun Jin-heon spreading, Hyun Bin stepped in to put the matter to rest. In a recent interview with Star News, Hyun Bin was asked about the theory and jokingly responded “I was wrong“, eliciting laughter.
He further clarified, “I only followed the script faithfully. Even at the time, I knew Hyun Jin-heon was portrayed as a ‘bad boy’. The difference lies in how that was perceived back then compared to now.”
Reflecting on his career, Hyun Bin humbly shared, “Having multiple hit projects is something I’m incredibly grateful for. I was fortunate to work with amazing writers, directors and actors. I don’t take that luck for granted.”
Meanwhile, Hyun Bin’s latest film “Harbin” (directed by Woo Min-ho) is set to premiere on December 24.
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