This is a review article based on materials provided by the broadcaster
Radio Star delivered laughs and empathy alongside Kang Ha-neul, Kim Young-kwang, Kang Young-seok and Kang Ji-young, the four "box office lupins" who cross between the screen and the living-room theater, recording a peak rating of 4.9%. It also ranked first in household ratings for the same time slot.
Radio Star, which aired on the 15th (planned by Kang Young-seon / directed by Hwang Yoon-sang and Byun Da-hee), was organized as a "box office lupin" special featuring Kang Ha-neul, Kim Young-kwang, Kang Young-seok and Kang Ji-young.
According to Nielsen Korea on the 16th, that broadcast recorded a 4.0% household rating, ranking first in the Wednesday same time slot. The "best minute" was 4.9%, taken by a scene in which Kim Young-kwang, known as the "rom-com master," talked about the height difference—at 190cm—that creates excitement with his co-star actress.
Kang Ha-neul, making his fourth appearance on Radio Star, took control of the atmosphere from his entrance with a polite greeting and bright smile. Kim Gu-ra joked, "He seems like a well-mannered sixth cousin visiting for the holiday," and Kang Ha-neul laughed, saying, "It feels like meeting my cousins after a long time."
He revealed the "isolation incident" in which he was left alone on set while filming Netflix's "Squid Game 3," provoking laughter. "I dozed off under the bed for a moment, the lights went off and everyone went out for lunch. When I opened my eyes it was pitch dark and I thought I had lost my sight," he recalled, causing uproarious laughter. He also revealed behind-the-scenes about a stunt double who was a 'air-play master.' "For the air-play scene, 'Master of Living' was my double," he said, adding, "Master of Living's skill even surprised senior actor Lee Byung-hun."
His unpretentious daily life, enough to be called "Haneul84," was also revealed. He said, "I wear clothes even if the laundry isn't completely dry. They dry as I walk," and "I don't have a dining table at home, and I walk without an umbrella even when it rains." Close friend Kang Young-seok added, "Even if a padding jacket rips, he tapes it up and wears it," exposing more laughs.
Also popular was the "teacher-student chemistry" of exchanging Japanese messages with Kang Ji-young. "When Ji-young sends a sentence in Japanese, I correct it," he said, and Kang Ji-young revealed, "Replies come late," after which it was disclosed that Kang Ha-neul is now studying Japanese alone, causing laughter. A connection that began with Kang Ha-neul's fandom developed into a relationship of actor and teacher, creating a warm feeling, and a late twist turned the studio into a sea of laughter.
The anecdote of the "good deed vending machine" who sent director Jang Hang-jun six coffee trucks was also reexamined. "These days, whenever the director's call comes I think it's a request for a coffee truck and pull out my card first," he said, adding that he naturally became a promotional ambassador for the Jecheon International Film Festival in the same way, drawing laughs.
He also revealed a "filial deed" story about his father. When Kim Gu-ra asked, "I heard your father quit his kalguksu restaurant because Haneul did well," Kang Ha-neul smiled and said, "That's not the reason. He stopped briefly to relocate the shop, and after resting he liked it so much he said he couldn't run it anymore." Kim Gu-ra chimed in, "He's resting because he has financial leeway," making the scene erupt in laughter.
Kim Young-kwang was singled out as an "extremely introverted actor" while showing both variety skills and humanity. When the MCs asked, "Isn't it the top three introverts along with Um Tae-goo and Shim Eun-kyung?" he replied, "Not that much," but Kim Gu-ra countered, "Um Tae-goo does variety shows too," provoking laughter.
Currently filming the drama "Walking On Thin Ice" with Lee Young-ae, he said, "The senior talks more than I expected and shares homemade food," adding, "She always treats me with a smile, so it's comfortable," conveying a warm anecdote.
About Cha Eun-woo, who co-starred with him in the film "First Ride," he said, "His presence alone is energizing," adding, "We filmed together before Cha Eun-woo's military enlistment, and just seeing him on set boosts your spirits." He also said during his past appearance on "Law of the Jungle," "I liked that they didn't make me talk much," revealing the honest mind of an introverted actor and eliciting laughter.
Colleague Kang Ha-neul's revelation continued. When he mentioned Kim Young-kwang's surprising aegyo by saying, "At the first meeting he was quiet but at some point he went 'Haneulaang~'," Kim Young-kwang explained, "I was being friendly," causing uproarious laughter.
Kang Young-seok raised the mood with the tension befitting an "energy lupin" on set, and delivered warm laughs with genuine close-friend chemistry with Kang Ha-neul, boasting 15 years of friendship.
He recalled the "glass accident" that happened while filming "Newtopia" with BLACKPINK's Jisoo. "It was a scene of being chased by zombies, and while trying to protect Jisoo the door slammed hard and the glass broke. Fortunately no one was hurt," he said. He added with a laugh, "I caused two accidents that day," provoking laughter.
When Kim Gu-ra asked, "You seem very interested in side benefits— is that true?" he revealed, "I joked asking Jisoo to post a photo on her SNS." Kang Young-seok wittily replied, "Although Haneul hyung sends director Jang Hang-jun's coffee truck, Jisoo gets hers from Dior." He also shared a humanizing anecdote: "Jisoo received a hand cream sponsored by Dior, but you had to be on the list to receive it. She tried to get two to give to her mother and sister but got caught."
Close friend Kang Ha-neul's good deed story couldn't be left out. "Because I used an old charger phone, he gifted me a new phone. For no reason!" he said, adding, "If he had given it two months later it would have been the newest model," provoking laughter. Kang Ha-neul added, "I gave it because he deserved it," adding warmth.
Kang Ji-young, returning to Radio Star after 12 years, frankly explained the past "tears of aegyo request" video. She said, "I was 19 then, unfamiliar and nervous so I cried," and Kim Gu-ra responded, "The atmosphere back then wasn't that bad," drawing laughs. Kang Ji-young added with a laugh, "After that incident I studied aegyo."
She also shared behind-the-scenes of KARA's 15th anniversary reunion. "Even though we were under different agencies, we agreed, 'let's get together again among ourselves.' When I first spoke with Heo Young-ji, I used honorifics," she said, and stressed, "We take pride in being the only group to have reached No. 1 in the 2000s, 2010s and 2020s."
She recalled the 12 years she worked as an actress in Japan. "I often played characters like monsters or assassins. The toughest was a 100kg character," she said, adding, "I sat in makeup for three hours in midsummer and really lost weight from sweating," she confessed.
Performing a medley of KARA's hit songs and evoking memories, she smiled saying, "I'm already 32." Kang Ji-young's talk, sincerely conveying the acting skills she built in Japan and her new start in Korea, made listeners feel "time spent growing from an idol into an actor."
[Photo] OSEN DB, MBC
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