bws has lean muscular build and he has better screen presence than njh.
I agree with you when it comes to NJH, but I honestly don’t understand what makes you think BWS is any different. By now, it’s pretty clear that in Lovely Runner, all the heavy lifting was done by his female co-star, he mostly served as eye candy for the female audience, which is what truly boosted his popularity. (Kindly don’t defend him on this by saying no one can become famous solely based on face value—because they absolutely can. Korea is full of such cases, and he’s one of them, including NJH.)
And if you’re going to credit NJH’s agency for securing him impressive roles, then BWS’s management deserves the same recognition. Just look at his filmography—there hasn’t been a single project where he wasn’t part of the main cast. Despite his poor acting skills (prior to LR, at present I would put him in "mediocre at best" category), he’s consistently been placed among the leads, while others with similar or even better talent often struggle to get noticed. His agency has clearly done a solid job of positioning him well. And post-Lovely Runner, the kind of PR campaign they’ve executed for him has been genuinely commendable—strategic, well-timed and effective.
So while I agree that NJH is just an okay actor, but calling him out while giving BWS a free pass seems a bit hypocritical, because, in reality, they’re really not that different.
the story is just like pokemon where mc gets slowly powered up so i think instead of riding on the popularity…
I agree with your perspective overall, though I must respectfully differ on the assessment of Byeon Woo Seok as an experienced actor.
I don’t believe Byeon Woo Seok can yet be considered an experienced or credible actor. After reviewing his filmography, nothing stands out as evidence of a strong foundation or notable range. His sudden rise in popularity, largely driven by a single character in one breakout show, has brought him significant attention and a growing fanbase, but he still has a long way to go before he can be regarded as a truly versatile and credible performer. *(Popularity is loud but fleeting. Credibility is quiet but enduring.)*
And I don't think his two upcoming projects, one with IU and *Solo Leveling* will do much to change that. The first feels nearly identical to his character in *Lovely Runner*, while *Solo Leveling*’s Sung Jin-Woo is a role that mostly involves looking cool and fighting, hardly a stretch for BWS. While these roles may help sustain his popularity, they offer little room for artistic growth or any meaningful display of range.
That said, I too would have preferred a fresh face in the lead—someone new and undiscovered who could have brought a sense of originality to this live adaptation (the one no one really asked for).
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And if you’re going to credit NJH’s agency for securing him impressive roles, then BWS’s management deserves the same recognition. Just look at his filmography—there hasn’t been a single project where he wasn’t part of the main cast. Despite his poor acting skills (prior to LR, at present I would put him in "mediocre at best" category), he’s consistently been placed among the leads, while others with similar or even better talent often struggle to get noticed. His agency has clearly done a solid job of positioning him well. And post-Lovely Runner, the kind of PR campaign they’ve executed for him has been genuinely commendable—strategic, well-timed and effective.
So while I agree that NJH is just an okay actor, but calling him out while giving BWS a free pass seems a bit hypocritical, because, in reality, they’re really not that different.
I don’t believe Byeon Woo Seok can yet be considered an experienced or credible actor. After reviewing his filmography, nothing stands out as evidence of a strong foundation or notable range. His sudden rise in popularity, largely driven by a single character in one breakout show, has brought him significant attention and a growing fanbase, but he still has a long way to go before he can be regarded as a truly versatile and credible performer. *(Popularity is loud but fleeting. Credibility is quiet but enduring.)*
And I don't think his two upcoming projects, one with IU and *Solo Leveling* will do much to change that. The first feels nearly identical to his character in *Lovely Runner*, while *Solo Leveling*’s Sung Jin-Woo is a role that mostly involves looking cool and fighting, hardly a stretch for BWS. While these roles may help sustain his popularity, they offer little room for artistic growth or any meaningful display of range.
That said, I too would have preferred a fresh face in the lead—someone new and undiscovered who could have brought a sense of originality to this live adaptation (the one no one really asked for).