Park Ji-hoon and Kim Hye-yoon lead 'Girigiro'... Fresh blood for screens and OTT [★FOCUS]

*This content was translated by AI.

From actor Park Ji-hoon to Kim Hye-yoon, young actors with fresh faces and solid acting skills are leading a generational shift, moving beyond casting centered on star actors.

It began with Park Ji-hoon in "The King Who Lives with Me" (director Jang Hang-jun), which surpassed 16 million viewers. Park played the role of the deposed King Danjong, Lee Hong-wi, in "The King Who Lives with Me," a film about a village head who chose exile and the story of a young deposed king, sparking what is known as the "Danjong syndrome."

The synergy between Yoo Hae-jin, a reliable screen actor, and the fresh Park Ji-hoon was enough to revitalize the sluggish theater market. Park demonstrated remarkable screen presence from his first appearance, convincing audiences and proving his range as an actor, raising expectations for his future performances.

Following this, Park showcased a successful acting transformation in the tvN drama "The Legend of the Cook," making the deposed King Danjong, Lee Hong-wi, from "The King Who Lives with Me" completely unrecognizable. Thus, Park appears to be continuing his well-deserved rise to stardom.

After "The King Who Lives with Me," "The Wailing" shook up the theater market. "The Wailing" surpassed 3.23 million viewers (as of the 29th), setting a record as the highest-grossing horror film of all time.

At the center was actor Kim Hye-yoon. She returned to the screen after four years as PD Su-in, who travels to "The Wailing" to re-shoot a road-view photo capturing a mysterious figure. She delicately expressed emotions through her eyes and expressions alone, guiding audiences into the horror of "The Wailing."

In "The Wailing," not only Kim Hye-yoon but also Lee Jong-won and Jang Da-a delivered their parts effectively, proving that casting centered on young actors can be a strength rather than a weakness in box office success.

On OTT, "Girigiro" demonstrated the power of "fresh blood." The Netflix original series "Girigiro" led the story by featuring potential young actors such as Jeon So-young, Kang Mi-na, Baek Seon-ho, Hyun Woo-seok, and Lee Hyo-je, positioning itself in the "YA (Young Adult) horror" genre.

Director Park Yoon-seo of "Girigiro" chose new faces over familiar ones from the casting stage. This was a decision to minimize audience preconceptions and increase immersion in the work, and the choice proved successful.

Ranked first among Netflix's global top 10 non-English shows, "Girigiro" has attracted worldwide attention. The future moves of the young actors who established their presence through this work are also drawing interest.

Thus, the era has come when the power of characters and works is more important than the names of actors. While the enduring presence of star actors remains valid, recent box office hits have shown the possibility that new faces can fully take center stage. The generational shift spanning screens and OTT has already begun.

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*This content was translated by AI.