He officially made his return!

Actor Choi Tae Joon will make a special appearance in "Twenty Five Twenty One".

tvN's Saturday and Sunday drama "Twenty Five Twenty One" is a drama depicting the wandering and growth of young people who have been deprived of their dreams in the 1998 era. The main characters are Na Hee Do (Kim Tae Ri) from the high school fencing club and Baek Yi Jin (Nam Joo Hyuk), a college student from a wealthy family.

In the 4th episode, Na Hee Do and Baek Yi Jin cheered for each other and became closer, making viewers excited.

Hee Do, who will participate in the national team selection, said, "Why are you cheering for me? My mom doesn't cheer for me either", she wondered. Yi Jin responded, "You make me look forward to it. That's why I keep getting greedy". I wonder what the feelings of the two will be like in the future.

On top of that, Choi Tae Joon will play the role of Jung Ho Jin of the fencing national team to add firepower. In the play, Jung Ho Jin (Choi Tae Joon) smiles at someone on the plane.

Jung Ho Jin then sat side by side with Na Hee Do and looked straight ahead, and soon look his eyes on Na Hee Do. When Na Hee Do, who felt the gaze, turned her head toward Jung Ho Jin, she quickly smiled brightly.

It raises questions about what twist point Choi Tae Joon will play. The 5th episode of "Twenty Five Twenty One" will air at 9:10 p.m. on February 26th.

Source[1]

Director Kim Hyung Joo of The Match has finally shared his thoughts on Yoo Ah In’s involvement in a drug scandal, calling it a major disappointment, especially considering the actor’s role as the lead in the film.

On March 19th, the director attended a press screening and briefing for The Match at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. Alongside Kim, actors Lee Byung Hun, Ko Chang Seok, Hyun Bong Sik, Moon Jung Hee, and Jo Woo Jin were present to discuss the film.

The Match revolves around the legendary Go player Cho Hun Hyun (played by Lee Byung Hun), who, after a loss to his disciple, decides to challenge the top players again, driven by his competitive spirit. The movie is directed by Kim Hyung Joo.

Lee Byung Hun plays the iconic Go champion Cho Hun Hyun, while Yoo Ah In portrays his disciple, Lee Chang Ho.

During the event, Kim recalled the casting process, saying, "When we were casting, Lee Byung Hun was cast first. Just having him felt like we had the world, and then, getting Yoo Ah In as a bonus made me even happier."

Although filming wrapped up in 2021, Yoo Ah In's drug scandal led to the indefinite postponement of the film’s release. Now, nearly four years later, The Match is finally set to hit theaters on March 26th.

Reflecting on Yoo Ah In's scandal, Director Kim openly shared his frustration, calling it "irresponsible and disappointing" for the actor to make such a mistake as the lead.

He added, “Before being an actor, he made a mistake as a member of society and was punished, so I don’t think there’s much more to say.” Kim smiled bitterly as he spoke.

Describing the challenges he faced due to the scandal, Kim compared the experience to being trapped in "a hellish tunnel."

He said, "There was nothing I could do inside, so it was overwhelming. But now that we have the light of release, it feels like I can breathe. I’m deeply moved."

The director also shared that because Yoo Ah In was the lead actor, the film had to be released as it was, without editing. This has led some people to feel uneasy about watching the film, given the actor’s scandal.

When asked about this, Director Kim said, "Choosing and judging is up to the audience, so I can't force anything. But I hope they watch the movie as it is. I unintentionally got hurt before the release, so I hope people watch the movie warmly, as if applying ointment to a wound."

The Match will officially be released on March 26th.

Source: [1]