This is not the Kim Yun-seok we knew. From charismatic characters like ‘Hero Yi Sun-sin’, ‘Tazza Agui’, to the terrifying ‘murderer’ with a cold gaze, Kim Yun-seok, who showed a new face for each character, is ruined to the point of making you wonder “Is this okay?”.

In the movie ‘Big Family’, which opens on December 11, he plays the role of a father that we can commonly see around us. He has a warm and friendly appearance, but on the other hand, he is a character who stubbornly pursues ‘money’, ‘family’.

The movie, which is advertised as a family comedy, depicts the story that unfolds when a father cannot pass down the dumpling restaurant that has been passed down for generations because of his son who becomes a monk, and his grandchildren come to visit one day.

Kim Yun-seok plays Ham Moo-ok, who defected from North Korea and has run a dumpling restaurant, ‘Pyeongmanok’, in the middle of a high-rise building in Jongno-gu, Seoul for 30 years. Director Yang Woo-seok, who created ‘The Attorney’ and ‘Steel Rain’, was the first to cast Kim Yun-seok for this role, saying “He was perfect for Kim Yun-seok”.
Kim Yun-seok has changed both his appearance and his acting in this film to the point where it can be said to be the most drastic transformation since his debut. He even dyed his curly hair red “to look a little younger”. In a recently released highlight video, he even used the expression “disaster”.

His challenge is not limited to his appearance. Having mostly played solemn and charismatic characters, this is his first time performing a comedic role.

In the movie that was revealed at a press conference at Lotte Cinema in Lotte Tower, Jamsil, Seoul on the 21st, he bickers with Lee Seung-gi, who plays the son, and transforms into a ‘grandchild fool’ with the grandchildren who he would never want to hurt even if he were the pokemon of his eyes. He also shows a fresh romance with Kim Sung-ryung, who plays the role of Mrs. Bang, the real power behind the dumpling restaurant, just like anyone in their 20s.

On this day, Kim Yoon-seok said, “I am a person with many shortcomings, and this is also a part of me”, and “I hope to project the shortcomings, incompetence, and weaknesses through the character of Ham Moo-ok”.”



He continued, “This is the third time I have met Kim Sung-ryung, and she is someone who disarms others, is considerate, and creates a comfortable atmosphere”, and “We even filmed the kissing scene really comfortably. I told him to close my eyes and do whatever he wanted, and he said okay and made it easy.”

Kim Yun-seok’s “Sonmat” also draws attention. In order to realistically portray a character who became successful by selling only dumplings, he actually learned how to make dumplings from a dumpling craftsman with 38 years of experience and quickly makes them.


Reporter Lee Jeong-yeon annjoy@donga.com