A Stalker's Guide to Shin Ha Kyun

A Stalker's Guide to Shin Ha Kyun

Many stars shine in the expansive firmament that is Korean showbiz, some brighter than others. Regardless of where one might pin his glimmer, none of these is quite like Shin Ha Kyun. That isn't to crown him above others. There are too many excellent talents in South Korea to give any one person the distinction of "the best." But this is an actor who grazes the top, a consummate performer whose startling range and power sets him apart. His characters are rarely the same, despite a few instances of typecasting, and he chooses scripts based on their unique qualities. Give him but a few minutes of your time to wow you, and soon you might end up gladly yielding hour upon hour to his masterful skills.

That's what happened to me, anyway.

Last year, a whim led me to All About My Romance. I had long craved a more mature romantic comedy than the fare I was consuming, and only one week remained before the finale. My reasoning beyond that feels silly in retrospect. It occurred to me that perhaps the presence of an older male lead meant the series would do the trick. I couldn't know then that this “ahjusshi with a pleasant face,” as I dubbed Mr. Shin, would become one of my most beloved Korean actors.  One 16-episode marathon later,  I embarked on a devoted journey across Shin Ha Kyun’s storied filmography—one I hope will span a career that will continue for many more years to come.

So let’s get going.

Just a bit of personal information. Did I mention he has the cutest smile? Yeah?

Though it can be difficult to tell for certain with any celebrity, Shin Ha Kyun always struck me as amiable. Interviews reveal him as reserved and shy—a fact hosts often remark upon. Mr. Shin sports a sweet and modest smile, sometimes visibly blushing when praised too much or posed questions about personal matters. These qualities alone are very endearing, especially in a man of his stature. But what I find most lovable about this actor is how real he seems. When he says he doesn't feel he’s performed well or that he can improve further, one can believe that. You won’t find many actors as dedicated. Fans and co-stars alike report on his generous and patient demeanor time and again, even when the camera isn't rolling.

DRAMAS

All About My Romance [2013]

Kim Soo Hyun

Ah, the drama that started it all. Here, Mr. Shin flexes his astounding comedic muscles and is given room to compel in the capacity of romantic lead. After becoming a serious fan, I’ve come to realize both are things he rarely gets to do, despite his expansive film career. This fact alone makes All About My Romance twice as special. The character, sassy Kim Soo Young, is an ex-judge turned unhappy politician. I remember describing him as “zany, but lovably romantic,” in a now-ancient review of the series. That still feels true to me even now.

Do you know how sometimes you can pinpoint the exact moment you fell for an actor? That moment with Mr. Shin is still fresh in my mind. Sure, I giggled whenever he smiled. I'll also never forget when he nearly drops Lee Min Jung during that infamous piggyback scene or those special countdowns shared between their characters.  But the first spark came almost instantly, within the first minutes of All About My Romance. We open with Soo Young agonizing hilariously over a gaff at a debate, and afterwards witness the "catastrophe" play out in real time."Watching Mr. Shin crescendo from cold calm to dignified rage onward to "Ah! I messed up!" without missing a beat...simply wonderful.

Brain [2011] 

Lee Kang Hoon

Of the selective dramas Shin Ha Kyun has starred in, Brain must be his best known. This series caused a sensation which saw viewership ratings start low and steadily increase (the highest between 18-20%). Fans were captivated by Mr. Shin’s powerful performance as the indomitable, callous Dr. Lee Kang Hoon—a character whose hidden vulnerabilities humanized, but never fully altered his domineering personality. The resulting frenzy was dubbed a “fever.” K-Netizens swooned over the massive variety of emotions our talented subject could affect.

Brain is my favorite of Mr. Shin’s dramas,  as it contains a rich character study perhaps only this talented actor could manage. When award season came about, he won Grand Prize at the 2011 KBS Drama Awards for acting though the series hadn't completed. According to one interview, Mr. Shin hadn't planned on attending the ceremonies, but was encouraged to by the director at the very last minute. 

Harvest Villa [2010]

Bok Kyu

Harvest Villa is a strange drama, to say the least. An early product of tvN, it presents all the unique quirks that network has become known for. Mr. Shin plays Bok Kyu, an innocent and awkward stuntman whose life is about to change because of an inheritance he knows nothing about.  Of course, since this is tvN, it isn't an inheritance story so much as a treasure hunt + murder mystery tragicomedy—I told you it was strange.  As always, Mr. Shin brings his A-game to this unusual project—I found this character sympathetic and cute, though the drama itself wasn't my favorite.

Mr. Baek [2014]

Choi Go Bong / Choi Shin Hyung

This one just started so it’s difficult to formulate any concrete opinions about it. The initial episodes were a riot though, and you can tell Mr. Shin is having a ball playing the part. That's usually a great sign, since if the actor has fun, so often does the viewer. From initial interviews concerning the drama, apparently it took him several hours to get in and out of the old age make-up. Ratings for the first episodes were the highest in ages for its time slot, so let's hope for good results in the future, too.

MOVIES

(Please note that only iconic films are included; there are many others, almost all available subbed, so please explore the filmography here at MDL for more. There are just too many to include here.)

Running Man [2013]

Cha Jong Woo

Running Man might best be described as a series of long chase sequences intertwined with a touching father-son story. An atypical action film to say the least, but this trickles down even to the type of character played by Mr. Shin—Cha Jong Woo is a former conman: immature, crude, and a jerk to boot. That said, this character works well for the plot and experiences growth as he runs for his life across Seoul. Ever dedicated, Mr. Shin worked through rib fractures to finish this film. He spent long hours filming and performing his own stunts, which resulted in the physical stress contributing to his injuries. What an incredible actor, ne?

In an interview from KBS, he's quite a good sport about the fracture.

The Front Line [2011]

Kang Eun Pyo

If memory serves, The Front Line was my first cinematic rendezvous with Shin Ha Kyun. It seems odd now to have jumped straight from romantic comedy to war allegory, but that also speaks to the variety Mr. Shin enjoys in his career. This film operates beautifully as an anti-war piece, but also moonlights as a bittersweet character study of two friends changed by battle—portrayed by Mr. Shin and another excellent actor, Go Soo. Our talented subject plays Kang Eun Pyo, whose spirit has not yet been broken by bellicose atrocities. While he may not be as compelling as Go Soo’s dark Soo Hyuk, it’s the chemistry between these two talents which makes the movie.

Café Noir [2010] 

Young Soo

Café Noir might be the second most unusual film in this guide, but definitely the longest—it runs over three hours! However, for those adventurous or curious to further explore Korean film, every moment is worth spending. It’s a vibrant story of heartbreak told in two parts, one in black and white, the other in color; but understand that it is an art film to its core and requires a bit of patience and analyzing. Mr. Shin plays a lonely teacher whose consecutive rejections send him in an exquisite journey across Seoul. I would argue the filmmaking is more important than any of the individual actors; though this is a part I can say wouldn’t be the same without our talented subject.

Welcome to Dongmakgol [2005]

Lieutenant Pyo Hyun Chul

My absolute favorite Shin Ha Kyun movie.

A while back I wrote a review for Welcome to Dongmakgol, calling it a “gentle rejection” of most of those things that typify modern war films. In fact, it’s closer to a Studio Ghibli animation than Saving Private Ryan or even The Front Line above. There is a sense of fancy and magic which pervades the whole atmosphere of this piece. Heck, they even employed Joe Hisashi to compose the soundtrack. Though an ensemble piece, Mr. Shin plays one of the more prominent characters—a South Korean lieutenant agonizing over something in the past. His character initially seems little more than a physical manifestation for one of the film’s many themes but develops beautifully by the finale.

My Brother [2004]

Sung Hyun

The second of two films Mr. Shin worked on with Won Bin, this instance also marks the second time My Brother has appeared in an MDL Stalker’s Guide.  It’s a slow piece about two brothers locked in sibling rivalry; they never seem to understand each other, though family might be all either has. Shin plays the older brother Sung Hyun, a sweet young man born with a harelip. Though Won Bin’s character views him with jealousy, Sung Hyun has a much harder time than he knows. This film rewards patience with an interesting take on siblings—and of course, dynamic performances from both Shin Ha Kyun  and Won Bin. What more could one ask of a cast?

Besides being cute as pie.

Save The Green Planet! [2003]

Lee Byung Gu

Save The Green Planet! is far and away the most unusual film Shin Ha Kyun has ever taken part in (and that includes Café Noir above). His character, Byung Gu lives convinced that an extraterrestrial invasion will commence soon—unless he can capture the alien prince first! We begin the film just as he and his girlfriend, decked out in homemade anti-extraterrestrial gear, capture the prince—or is he just the president and CEO of a certain chemical company? The genres encompassed by Save The Green Planet! include everything from science fiction and horror to comedy, slice-of-life, and romance. Everything boils down to a criminally insane mixture that somehow works. As one might expect, Mr. Shin’s character requires a similar range—which he delivers without a misstep.

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance [2002]

Ryu

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance can easily be considered the most iconic work in Mr. Shin’s filmography. Not only is it the first installment in Park Chan Wook’s internationally acclaimed Vengeance trilogy, but just look at that shock of green hair! Memorable indeed. This character, Ryu, constitutes one of the more complicated characters played by our talented subject—one important thing we notice right away is that he cannot hear, and thus has difficulty speaking. You can often tell an actor’s mettle by the way they express themselves without speech. Here, Mr. Shin excels. It’s an emotional role played with a lot of pathos, which is perfect for the theme of this film.

Please be forewarned that while this movie apparently isn’t quite as violent as Old Boy, it has its moments. Interestingly, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance also includes the first sex scene ever to include Korean sign language.

Guns and Talks [2001]

Jung Woo

After his meteoric rise to fame following Joint Security Area, Shin Ha Kyun joined an all-star cast for this odd-duck action film: Guns and Talks. We follow a group of assassins—and friends—who kill only by contract and employ methods requested by their clientele. When a young girl approaches them for a job, their worlds are turned upside-down…. Mr. Shin plays Jung Woo, the mouthiest and most uncontrollable of the four. He’s the type that’ll start ranting, or jump out of a car, and run down the street road to complain to another driver. Each of the main characters is given his own arc to complete. In my opinion, the most interesting belongs to Jung Woo, as it’s something of a comedic love affair.

Joint Security Area [2000]

Jung Woo Jin

An excellent piece in its own right, Joint Security is the film that launched Mr. Shin to stardom. His role as the young North Korean soldier Jung Woo Jin might not be as prominent as those played by Lee Byung Hun or Song Kang Ho, but it’s certainly a memorable one. South Koreans came away adoring the young actor whose charming performance sets him apart in a film already remarkable.

As listed above, there are so many other excellent films to discover from this talented actor. If you gave me all the time in the world and all the space, I would go on for ages. But since time is limited, let's part here. Did any of Mr. Shin's titles interest you? New fans and old alike, I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

You can't resist this cute face.

If there is an actor or an actress that is worthy of a Stalker's Guide in your opinion, and you have watched enough dramas of his/hers to prove it, please contact Elisabetta about it.