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| One of my favorite dramas, "Find Me in Your Memory" |
How I Discovered Him
In 2017, "Along with the Gods" starring Cha Tae Hyun, Ha Jung Woo, Ju Ji Hoon, and Kim Hyang Gi was released in cinemas. I watched it because of Ju Ji-hoon and because it was really interesting. That was when I discovered Kim Dong Wook who played the role of Soo Hong, the brother of Kim Ja Hong (Cha Tae Hyun).
Then in 2020, the series "Find Me in Your Memory" aired. I watched it because of Moon Ga Young, but it immediately became one of my favorite series. I think I have re-watched it three times already. The story is just so interesting and the chemistry between Ga Young and Dong Wook is just through the roof. From then, I promised I'd watch out for Dong Wook's future projects.
"You Are My Spring" and "The Guest"
So when "You Are My Spring" started to air, I immediately jumped into it. For me, the series has a good start. It is the same genre as "Find Me in Your Memory" with a mix of romance and mystery. Interesting. Really interesting. However, I remember not liking the ending. It's still a good series for me, especially the references to the works of Edgar Allan Poe (so you know it could get a bit dark).
When the series ended, I remember finishing Im Si Wan and Lee Dong Wook's "Strangers From Hell" and then craving for more of the same genre. That's when I finally watched "The Guest". Story-wise, it's top-tier. It's really thrilling, the kind which will keep you on the edge of your seat. However, despite the thrill and horror the series gives, Kim Dong Wook's character here was very different from his serious, cool, and charismatic characters in "Find Me in Your Memory", "You Are My Spring" and "My Perfect Stranger". He was really fun to watch.
His Choice of Works and Chemistry with Female Main Leads
I have only watched five of his series so far and I plan to watch "Special Labor Inspector Mr. Jo" and "The King of Pigs" when "Delightfully Deceitful" finishes. However, I have noticed how interesting Dong Wook's characters are in these five series. Even the stories of these series are so unique that viewers who are tired of cliches (like me) will love these. "Find Me in Your Memory" is remarkable for me because his and Moon Ga Young's characters are very much the opposite: one doesn't forget while the other has amnesia. That's the conflict every writer-lecturer is talking about!
In "Delightfully Deceitful" as well, his character is someone who greatly empathizes with other people while the main female lead is the opposite---someone who is indifferent and only thinks about herself. Talk about contrast!
I don't remember much about "You Are My Spring" except that as I mentioned, it used the works of Edgar Allan Poe as reference. He wasn't my favorite character in that series, but the fact that he accepted the role is enough proof for me of how smart he is in choosing a project with an interesting plot.
Despite these though, it is amazing how he manages to maintain chemistry with the female leads. In "My Perfect Stranger", I wasn't expecting romance from the start, but the build-up of their relationship in the series was really smooth. And the last episode when (beware: spoiler!) their future son appeared was like icing on the cake. I guess I was not the only one who was relieved it was a happy ending.
And must we forget Dong Wook's chemistry with Ga Young? Heck no! I've been talking about it since the third paragraph. They are one of my favorite drama couples. I was actually elated when they made a cameo in "Sh**ting Stars" that I shrieked watching that scene, "Yeo Ha Jin!" "Anchor-nim!".