My Name is Loh Kiwan is a new film released by Netflix Korea. The film tells the story of a North Korean defector named Loh Ki Wan (Song Joong Ki) who struggles to obtain refugee status in Belgium. In his struggle in a foreign country, Loh Ki Wan meets a Korean in Belgium, Marie (Choi Sung Eun), and they fall in love.
The acting of the two main actors effectively conveys the various emotions experienced by Loh Ki Wan and Marie. Apparently, there is an interesting story behind the casting process of Song Joong Ki and Choi Sung Eun for the film “My Name is Loh Kiwan”. Curious? Let’s explore the explanation below!
1. Song Joong Ki initially rejected the film “My Name is Loh Kiwan.”
Song Joong Ki at the press conference for the film My Name is Loh Kiwan (instagram.com/netflixkr)Director Kim Hee Jin mentioned that he only offered the role of Loh Ki Wan to Song Joong Ki. According to him, the actor possesses an ability that words cannot express, which moves the hearts of the audience. Therefore, when the film offer was rejected, the director could only wait while working on other projects.
“To be honest, I was disappointed when Song Joong Ki rejected it seven years ago. This project was put on hold for a while. On the other hand, I was also preparing other works and planning to debut as a director soon,” said the director to Sports Chosun.
He continued, “The script for ‘My Name is Loh Kiwan’ was put aside. Then Netflix mentioned they had come across the old script and wanted to revisit it. That’s how the production process resumed. If it weren’t for Song Joong Ki, this film might not have seen the light of day.”
2. A change in perspective led Song Joong Ki to finally accept the role.
Behind-the-scenes footage of Song Joong Ki in the film My Name is Loh Kiwan (instagram.com/netflixkr)Initially, Song Joong Ki rejected the role of Loh Ki Wan because he couldn’t comprehend the character’s choices in the romantic aspect. However, as time passed, the screenplay underwent slight changes, and a shift in perspective also influenced Song Joong Ki’s decision to finally accept the role.
Song Joong Ki shared, “At that time, I didn’t understand why Ki Wan fell in love with Marie despite her difficult life. Love seemed like a luxury, and I couldn’t sympathize. I also doubted if I could portray him well, despite my shortcomings. So, I regretted not taking it.”
After several years, Song Joong Ki met with Netflix representatives and revisited the discussions about “My Name is Loh Ki Wan.” He said, “Upon reviewing the script again, I came to understand Ki Wan’s feelings. Ki Wan desires to live well, and I believe that necessitates love. Although the script remained mostly unchanged, there were details that were altered. Ultimately, my perspective also shifted.”
3. The director was confident in Choi Sung Eun portraying Marie during the audition process.
Choi Sung Eun at the press conference for the film My Name is Loh Kiwan (instagram.com/netflixkr)The director was convinced that Choi Sung Eun was the most suitable actress to portray Marie after witnessing her audition. According to the director, Choi Sung Eun’s interpretation of Marie’s character closely resembled the image in his mind.
Reported by TV Reports, the director stated, “Many actresses displayed various interpretations of Marie during auditions. However, Choi Sung Eun’s portrayal of Marie is the closest to the unique essence of her character. I believe only Choi Sung Eun can capture Marie’s essence.”
4. Choi Sung Eun relied on her imagination to interpret Marie during the audition process.
footage of Choi Sung Eun and director Kim Hee Jin behind the scenes of the film My Name is Loh Kiwan (instagram.com/netflixkr)During the audition process, Choi Sung Eun mentioned that the full script was not shared, and she had limited information about Marie’s character. Thus, Choi Sung Eun relied on her imagination to present her interpretation of Marie’s character.
Choi Sung Eun shared with TV Report, “I prepared an outfit based on the image that comes to mind when I think of Marie. I attended the audition wearing a red knit shirt and loose trousers. I was thrilled to pass the audition but wondered how to portray such a complex character.”
The chemistry between Song Joong Ki and Choi Sung Eun was very strong. Despite the mixed reactions to the love story of Loh Ki Wan and Marie, the two actors succeeded in portraying the emotions of their characters convincingly. What are your thoughts?
