A new New Recruit is coming to turn the mythological unit upside down.
Genie TV's original drama 'New Recruit' (directed by Min Jin-gi and Jo Je-wook, written by Yoon Ki-young and Kang Go-eun, based on the original work by Jang Pijju, planned by KT Studio Genie, produced by A2Z Entertainment and Story Island) has unveiled the new faces that have joined the mythological unit.
Starting from the mega-hit animation of the same name, 'New Recruit' is a hyper-realistic comedy depicting the story that unfolds as a 'military spoon' New Recruit enlists in a place where all kinds of characters, from good to bad to weird, gather. With the third story returning amid high expectations, 'New Recruit' Season 3 features the unpredictable transfers of two new recruits and the return of the greatest villain, creating high stakes for the mythological unit. The rising difficulty of military life for Park Min-seok (played by Kim Min-ho), who is about to be promoted to Corporal, is expected to evoke laughter and pleasant resonance.
The returning New Recruit stars Kim Min-ho, Nam Tae-woo, Lee Sang-jin, Jo Jin-se, Lee Chung-gu, Kim Hyun-kyu, Lee Jeong-hyun, Jeon Seung-hoon, and Lee Soo-ji, who are anticipated to hard carry the show again with their evolved military life cheat codes as much as their increased experience (vibe from the military). The inclusion of the 'new faces' Kim Dong-jun, Oh Dae-hwan, and Kim Yo-han, who will share the tumultuous time with Private Park Min-seok, has also garnered attention.
The photos released that day capture the stark contrast in the enlistment ceremonies of the two new recruits, sparking curiosity. It’s interesting to see Park Min-seok and veteran Choi Il-gu (played by Nam Tae-woo), along with Kim Sang-hoon (played by Lee Chung-gu) and Cha Byeong-ho (played by Kang Hyo-seung), momentarily forget the dignity of their seniority as they stare wide-eyed at the new recruit in front of them. Even the official poker face of the mythological unit, Lim Da-hye (played by Jeon Seung-hoon), draws attention as she blushes and draws a shy heart. At the center of their gaze is the global star Jeon Se-gye (played by Kim Dong-jun), who enlisted with the 'national spoon.' With stunning visuals and a sharp salute, Jeon Se-gye embodies the essence of being a 'prepared New Recruit,' earning the admiration of everyone.
On the other hand, the enlistment ceremony of another new recruit, Moon Bitnari (played by Kim Yo-han), is a complete contrast. Moon Bitnari, with a rather naive look, glasses, and chubby cheeks, presents a figure that seems disciplined yet gives off a hint of being 'maladaptive.' The scene welcoming Moon Bitnari in the barracks is quite exciting. Park Min-seok, showcasing a 'Corporal-like' aura next to Choi Il-gu and Kim Sang-hoon, appears to hide behind the new recruit, Moon Bitnari, to avoid Choi Il-gu, who rushes at him in anger a moment later, continuing to depict the dynamic days of the mythological unit and stirring curiosity.
Following the much-loved seasons 1 and 2, Park Min-seok returns and said, "This season has truly brilliant and wonderful actors joining. I'm so happy to work with them and we filmed with exciting hearts. Everyone became friends in no time and we were able to comfortably converse and act together," raising expectations for the new faces' performance.
Kim Dong-jun, who plays the 'national spoon' new recruit Jeon Se-gye, who threatens the position of 'military spoon' Park Min-seok, remarked, "I was really surprised when I first received the offer to join. Since it’s such a beloved piece, I felt a lot of pressure, but I’m so excited to be a part of the New Recruit. I wondered what kind of person Jeon Se-gye, the new recruit appearing in Season 3, would be, as the drama description says all sorts of characters are gathered together in it." He further added, "Jeon Se-gye is an irreplaceable character with a charm that makes it hard to dislike him, being an Ex-celebrity." Additionally, having graduated as an army training instructor, Kim Dong-jun shared, "I wanted to capture myself exactly as I was during my enlistment as a Private. Some of the episodes even reflect the stories I experienced during my actual military service," sharing intriguing anecdotes.
As he joins anew, much attention is being paid to how well he works with the existing cast. In this regard, Kim Dong-jun noted, "Filming was so enjoyable. Since the episodes contain stories that all military veterans can relate to, we often encountered extremely revealing scenes, which might have allowed us to bond faster. Please don’t imagine 'Descendants of the Sun' when I say revealing scenes," adding a touch of humor. He particularly praised his fellow cast member Kim Yo-han, saying, "Throughout the filming, the energy Moon Bitnari brought and the chemistry with Jeon Se-gye was great. I cautiously predict that once the show ends, everyone will remember Kim Yo-han as 'Moon Bitnari.'"
Meanwhile, Kim Yo-han, who plays the new recruit Moon Bitnari with an aura reminiscent of Park Min-seok's past, shared, "Since 'New Recruit' is a drama that progresses seasonally, I worried whether I would manage to do well. But as I worked with a truly excellent director, who guided us well, and the warm cohesion of the 'New Recruit' cast embraced me, I feel that I was able to join so easily," expressing his overwhelming feelings.
He described his character Moon Bitnari as "someone who is regarded as an exemplary student from a science high school and Seoul National University in society. However, in the military, despite trying hard, things don’t go as planned, and he experiences difficulties being scolded by his seniors. Meanwhile, he grows receiving care and warm love from his squad members" and added, "He is a character whose charm lies in his red-rimmed glasses. I believe he will leave a strong impression that won't be forgotten at first glance." Regarding the chemistry among the actors, he noted, "It was very good. The seniors, who have been working together for four years, naturally took good care of me, and I think we created good harmony. Especially, I developed an indescribable bond with actor Kim Dong-jun, allowing us to really gel like actual peers."
Director Min Jin-ki also expressed his trust in the new faces Kim Dong-jun and Kim Yo-han. He stated, "I believed a new impetus was necessary, so I established the character 'Jeon Se-gye' toward the end of Season 2. After watching Kim Dong-jun's previous work, I was certain he was the right fit for this role. Being an idol, I thought he would fit the character perfectly." He also remarked about Kim Yo-han, "I felt he was irreplaceable for the role of Moon Bitnari, so he was the first actor I contacted and met with while preparing the project. Kim Yo-han also is a fan of the 'New Recruit' series, so he decided to participate immediately without even reading the script," showing great trust.
Meanwhile, Genie TV's original drama 'New Recruit' will be first unveiled on April 7 (Monday) at 10 p.m. on channel ENA, and will be exclusively available for free VOD on KT Genie TV right after the main broadcast every Monday and Tuesday at 10 p.m. It will also be available on the OTT platform Tving.
[Photo] KT Studio Genie
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