• [PHOTOS] Wi Ha Joon From "Squid Game" Teams Up With Men’s Health In His Latest Pictorial

    Wi Ha Joon's pictorial was released.

    Wi Ha Joon, the main actor in the Netflix original drama 'Squid Game', which is causing a massive box office hit, recently the cover of the October issue of Men's Health Korea.

    Captivating women's hearts with his handsome looks and low-pitched voice, he is famous for his extraordinary passion for sports. In an interview following the photo shoot, Wi Ha Joon said, "I have been doing weight training steadily since the military. I usually go to the gym 5 days a week to exercise, and these days, I mainly do home workouts at home because of COVID-19.” He also recommended three exercise methods he enjoys for the readers of Men's Health Korea.

    Regarding the appearance of 'Squid Game', which is not only in the United States but also in the top 3 in most countries where Netflix is ​​serviced, and is causing a box office sensation, Wi Ha-joon said, "When I first saw the script, I was immersed enough to read it right away. I thought it was a drama with content that was not easy to watch before, and the character Hwang Jun-ho was strong, so I decided to appear.” He continued, "It wasn't an easy project, but director Hwang Dong-hyuk, senior Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, and Heo Seong-tae took good guidance, so we finished filming smoothly and easily."

    In particular, when asked how his acting and breathing with actor Lee Jung-jae was, he said, “I was personally very sorry that I did not meet in many scenes."

    Wi Ha Joon played Hwang Jun-ho, a detective in the homicide world in 'Squid Game'. In search of his missing brother, he joins the squid game group and discovers the secrets hidden within the group. As an actor with a broad spectrum of acting that goes back and forth from the nation's younger men to serial killers, martial arts players, and criminals, he added tension to the play with an in-depth interpretation of Hwang Jun-ho.

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  • Is Jisoo’s Acting the Main Problem in "Newtopia"? - Here's Why Fans Are Worried About the New Zombie Series

    The new OTT series Newtopia has faced mixed reactions, with BLACKPINK’s Jisoo's acting and a slow storyline making viewers question if the show can survive.

    Released on the 7th, Newtopia on Coupang Play promised to offer something fresh in the K-zombie genre. The drama follows an unlikely couple, Lee Jae-yoon (played by Park Jung Min), a late-blooming soldier, and his girlfriend Kang Young-joo (Jisoo), as they fight to survive in a zombie-infested Seoul.

    The mix of zombies and romantic comedy sounded like an interesting twist, but the show hasn’t exactly hit the mark.

    Jisoo’s second lead role after Snowdrop in 2021 was highly anticipated. But many fans and critics have been concerned about her acting, especially after she received some backlash for her unclear pronunciation and awkward expressions in her previous project.

    Director Yoon Sung-hyun, aware of the concerns, said at the press preview, “Since Jisoo hadn’t acted for a long time after her last project, I was also initially worried, thinking, ‘Will she be okay?’ But Jisoo dedicated herself, doing script readings four days a week. She worked hard, and as a result, I had no doubts or difficulties. By episode 8, you'll feel that only Jisoo could have portrayed Young-joo. She did an amazing job.”

    Despite his words of praise, Jisoo’s performance still left fans worried. While she showed some improvement, her portrayal of Young-joo seemed inconsistent, lacking the calmness expected from the character. However, her "girl crush" image, with her background as a "campus goddess," did add some intrigue to her role.

    The main issue, however, wasn’t just Jisoo's acting. Newtopia also struggled with its pacing. While other recent hits like Trauma Center or Trigger grab attention right from the start, Newtopia spent too much time in the first episode on Jae-yoon’s military life and Young-joo’s personal struggles, making it feel like a waste of time. The show failed to showcase the humor and zombie elements it promised, leaving many viewers unimpressed.

    On top of that, some characters came off as annoying, like Jae-yoon’s colleague, Line Ho (Im Seong Jae), and the "unlikable" senior character Seojin-wook (played by Kang Young Seok). Even Park Jung-min didn’t do much to help the show move along, making the 57-minute episode feel even longer.

    Thankfully, the show picked up pace in episode 2, finally diving into the zombie chaos. But will that be enough to save Newtopia? With the first episode still fresh in fans’ minds, the jury’s still out on whether this K-zombie drama can find its footing and deliver the thrills viewers are hoping for.

    The remaining six episodes of Newtopia will air every Friday at 8 PM, with one episode released per week. Stay tuned to see if the series can bounce back!

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