Throwback Thursday: Playboys
Eric Mun, CEO of Shinhwa Company and E&J Entertainment, rapper, actor, and yumbot extraordinaire has recently confirmed his drama comeback with Discovery of Romance, reuniting him with Jung Yu Mi. Eric will play the CEO of an interior design firm by the name of Kang Tae Ha. Not since his portrayal of Jung Min in Phoenix/Bulsae which first gained him recognition and credibility as an actor and not just as an idol, has his character not contained Kang in the name (The ill-fated Wolf not included). Here is a ranking of those characters named Kang……
I promise there are no spoilers!
5. Choi Kang ~ Invincible Parachute Agent
It’s the eyebrows that make Choi Kang last on the list. Thankfully by the end of the drama, they had grown out. Bad stylist choice aside, Choi Kang and his tantrums made him a lovable character. Lazy and spoiled by his mother, he managed to stumble into the job of a lifetime. It took him a while to figure things out but he ultimately found his way and worked to everyone that he could become a real agent despite his background. A true comedy, Eric’s acting kept me laughing through the finale and I looked forward to the NG’s at the end of each episode. I own a copy of this series and often pop in an episode or two when I need a laugh, or the electricity’s out (summer storm boredom).
4. Kang Woo ~ Myung Wol the Spy
Physically, Eric had never looked prettier as Kang Woo. Was it the “rockstar/spy” persona or the tinted hair? Or was it that he had just completed his mandatory service and I missed his pretty face? I admit that I’ve only seen up to episode four so I’m not a great judge of Kang Woo the character, but from those episodes and the clips I’ve seen, Eric did his best to save the sinking ship that was Myung Wol the Spy. Eric had also joined twitter during the filming of this drama and created a second account as Kang Woo. Shinhwa Changjo worldwide died when Eric and Kang Woo had an argument with each other, and although he rarely replied as Eric, I along with others will cherish the replies as Kang Woo, often insisting he was not Eric and that Eric could not compare to Kangwoo’s status.
(Correction: I previously incorrectly stated that the Topstar_KW twitter account was also created by Eric. In reality the account was created by a fan but nonetheless entertaining and even made news.)
3. Kang Ho ~ Super Rookie
Criticize me if you want, but SR isn’t one of my favorite dramas. I skipped a few episodes towards the end. I won’t give my reasons as they aren’t important, and people love to argue me into a corner about it, but I can say that Eric gave his all to Kang Ho and was rightfully awarded for it. Fluffy haired and with a cuddlier physique, Kang Ho was a similar role to Choi Kang for which Eric was perfect for. Kang Ho is proof that Eric is never afraid to kill his image for a good role, evident in the scene where he tried out the makeup he was supposed to be advertising.
2. Choi Kang Chil Woo ~ Strongest Chil Woo
Ah Zorric…..Who dared you to wear the wig?! Everyone loves a superhero and Chil Woo was just that, a lazy, lovable oaf (pattern here?!) by day, and a sexy assassin who protects his people at night. Awkward around the lady he loves but strong and confident under the mask. Some didn’t like this drama but it’s one that I could watch over and over and still enjoy it. The different stories added to each episode kept things interesting and for once, Eric’s supporting cast was just as good as he was.
1. Kang Tae Joo ~ Que Sera Sera
Tae Joo was a character most women would find difficult to like, but I could see behind the cocky attitude someone seriously damaged who needed mending, and Eun Soo was just the person to do it. He was sexy and he knew it, but she broke down that façade and at first, he didn’t know how to handle being so exposed. Eric impressed me with this role. If one didn’t believe in his acting before, this role definitely proved that he could compete with the actors’ elite. I can usually separate the character from the person but when Tae Joo was bad, I was angry at Eric too. I can’t wait to see these two again in August. I’m curious to see if they have the same chemistry with a comedy completely opposite of Que Sera Sera’s melodrama.
One thing these characters have in common besides the name is the mandatory shirtlessness that Shinhwa Changjo have secretly snuck into each of his contracts.
Kang Tae Ha..... 어디야?!
