Actor Moon Sang Min proved a wide acting spectrum that encompasses romance, comedy and seriousness, solidifying his position as the "surefire rom-com leading man."
In episodes 3 and 4 of the KBS2 weekend miniseries To My Beloved Thief (writer Lee Seon, director Ham Young-gul, produced by Studio Dragon), which aired on the 10th and 11th, Moon Sang Min as Dowoldaegun Lee Yeol captivated viewers by perfectly portraying the character's diverse facets, from a pure love for the woman he fell for at first sight to the human "insignificant charm (美)" he showed after a breakup, and a cold warning directed at his rival in love.
Moon Sang Min's delicate eye acting was a primary factor in increasing immersion in the drama. When looking at Hong Eun-jo (played by Nam Ji-hyun), he adopted a "beekeeper" look that seemed dripping with sweetness, and with gentle gestures such as tying his own garment string on Eun-jo's injured hand, he raised the romantic tension. Especially after realizing his feelings, he delivered blunt yet tender lines like "I'm doing this to return just one of your heart's feelings" and "Just one word is enough. That one word of yours that says it's okay," rendering them plainly yet affectingly and aiming straight at women's hearts.
Above all, Moon Sang Min's characteristically playful detailed comic acting stood out. After being rejected by Eun-jo, the crestfallen Lee Yeol drew a dot on his face and boasted, "I am the nation's daegun. If someone tries to take me, won't they fail?" before promptly collapsing into an awkward state, which provoked laughter. In this way, Moon Sang Min lovingly depicted the boyish charm and humanity hidden beneath the seemingly perfect daegun, breathing life into the character.
Moon Sang Min also excellently handled Lee Yeol's dual nature, showing a cool, collected side in confrontational situations while becoming an utterly innocent boy in front of love. In scenes where he engaged in a war of nerves with Im Jae-i (Hong Min-gi) over Eun-jo or had a private exchange with his older brother Lee Gyu (Ha Seok-jin), he created taut tension with cold stares and a resolute demeanor, while for Eun-jo he showed boundless thoughtful consideration, placing lotus leaves on straw sandals so they wouldn't get soaked in the rain, manipulating viewers' hearts with meticulous care.
In this way, Moon Sang Min is leading the popularity of To My Beloved Thief by proving a broad acting spectrum that embraces romance, comedy and seriousness. Following a subtle love triangle and the new development of a soul switch at the end of episode 4, audiences are even more eager to see Moon Sang Min's future performances, which are flawless from visuals to acting ability.
Meanwhile, the KBS2 weekend miniseries To My Beloved Thief, featuring Moon Sang Min, airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:20 p.m.
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