'Munmu' director Kim Young-jo mentioned Lee Hyun-wook's good looks.
On the 18th, at The Saint in Sindorim-dong, Guro-gu, Seoul, a production briefing was held for KBS2's new epic drama 'Munmu (文武)' (written by Kim Li-heon and Hong Jin-yi, directed by Kim Young-jo and Goh Seong-jun, produced by KeyEast Monster Union).
'Munmu' tells the story of how the small country Silla, after surpassing the great powers Goguryeo and Baekje and even Tang China, ultimately united the Three Hans into one great unification. Following 'Taejong Yi Bang-won' and 'Goryeo-Khitan Wars', it is an epic drama meeting viewers again, and director Kim Young-jo, who directed 'The Woman of 9.9 Billion' as well as 'Hwarang', 'Jang Yeong-sil', and 'Jingbirok', together with writer Kim Li-heon, who won the KBS screenplay contest in the mini-series category in 2021, join forces to present a drama that is expected to depict the desperate and solitary epic of leaders who risked everything for the single victory in the Three Kingdoms period.
'Munmu' becomes KBS's 35th epic historical drama, following productions starting with 'Daemyeong' broadcast in 1981, and including 'Pungun', 'Gaeguk', 'Doknimun', 'Saebyeok', 'Nodaji', 'Ewha', 'land', 'History flows', 'The day of dawn', 'Wangdo', 'The wind flower does not wither', 'Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms', 'Myeondong', 'Kim Gu', 'Brilliant Dawn', 'Tears of the Dragon', 'The King and the Queen', 'Taejo Wang Geon', 'The Empire's Morning', 'Age of Warriors', 'Immortal Yi Sun-sin', 'Dae Joyeong', 'Great King Sejong', 'Queen Seondeok', 'Geunchogo', 'Gwanggaeto the Great', 'The King's Dream', 'Jeong Do-jeon', 'Jingbirok', 'Jang Yeong-sil', and 'Goryeo-Khitan Wars'. In particular, 'Munmu' is notable as the first epic historical drama to be presented after the integrated collection of license fees.
Director Kim Young-jo explained the planning intent, saying, "'Munmu' features four countries, and based on what my high school teacher told me, Silla, after unifying, didn't fully take Goguryeo's land and seemed like the villain. So when I was the CP I opposed this work. But there was momentum to try it, and writer Kim Li-heon said 'Silla's unification was due to a coincidental event, and a chain reaction sparked by Yeon Gaesomun's firework led to unexpected events.' If you include Japan, five countries fought for survival, which made me feel the importance of leaders. I thought it was a work that touches reality and asks what kind of leader is needed to survive. Many heroes appear, and I felt we could vividly convey how they thought and lived in that era," and added, "Figures represented by Kim Chun-chu, Kim Yu-shin, and Kim Beop-min demonstrate remarkable leadership, and I was moved by the strategy of King Munmu Kim Beop-min. I became enamored with Kim Beop-min's charm and felt it was our duty to let people know that Korea also had an excellent king who achieved tremendous feats, so I chose 'Munmu'."
In particular, director Kim Young-jo joked, "Lee Hyun-wook, who plays Kim Beop-min, is exceptionally handsome. Epic dramas can be very masculine and may seem rough, but with Lee Hyun-wook appearing, he might win the love of female viewers. It could make the typically stiff epic drama more appealing to female viewers."
Meanwhile, KBS2's new epic drama 'Munmu (文武)' is scheduled to air in 2026.
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