"Queen of Tears" officially surpasses the ratings of "Crash Landing On You"
A Stalker's Guide to Bang Sung Joon
Hello, my name is Liz and I am going to introduce you to the fine-as-hell man named Bang Sung Joon.
The first drama I watched of his was Shut Up Flower Boy Band and to be honest, I didn't pay much attention to him as I was running it. It was only until the end of the series that I said to myself, "wow Ji Hyuk was pretty good" that I started to acknowledge his acting. After SUFBB I began stalking him without really realizing it. After looking up photoshoot after photoshoot and following him on twitter (@six2k), unconsciously fanning over him over the course of a year plus, I realized I'd found myself a liferuiner.
Seeing most of the roles he's had being main ones, I'll bet he's a familiar face to most of you. If he's not, then this is the guide for you! He'd become a model at the age of 19 and 'officially' transitioned into acting with 'White Christmas' along other models turned actors. Currently, he's co-starring in the popular drama 'Gu Family Book' and has recently finished filming horror movie 'Scary Story 2'. Did I mention he's also a great singer? Despite his deep voice and 187cm height alone are fine traits to make him noticeable, this guide will hopefully show those that have yet to know him why I've become such a big fan of his. Let's start!
Also, today (July 10th KST) is this guy's birthday! Just putting that out there~
*Contains Spoilers from Shut Up Flower Boy Band*
DRAMAS
White Christmas
Choi Chi Hoon - The genius robot.
Although technically his cameo in Personal Taste was his drama debut, this role is the one that got him started in dramaland. Playing one of the 7 kids locked up in a school over Christmas break, this drama gave him a chance to shine as a main. Chi Hoon is introduced as a guy that's incredibly intelligent. His emotions are locked away by his brains. The majority of the drama, he is stoic and seemingly apathetic to the others. Not necessarily cold, he is the 'planner' of the group and is the 'calm and collected' one. Looking back, I can't see any other person playing this role. His facial expressions were well controlled and his aura was dead on to the character. Plus I think he rocked Chi Hoon's wardrobe.
Lie to Me
Hyun Sang Hee - The Lil' Bro with the 5:5 parting
I actually didn't finish this drama; I only made it halfway through before I dropped it.. but Sung Joon's performance was anything but the reason. Acting as the main male's younger brother, Sang Hee is almost the complete opposite of Chi Hoon personality-wise. Laid back and smiley almost every time he's on screen in the beginning, the only word I can use to describe it is adorable. He's like a puppy. Although the family is rich and they are heirs to the business, Sang Hee is chill and does a good job hiding his angst around others.
You can call it stupid, but the reason I didn't finish this one is to save the bright and cheery image I had canonized in my head. By reviews and comments from both MDL and outside sources, this drama could only progress so far before it tumbled downhill. With that in mind, I decided to stop when I did and keep this drama as a safe haven for smiles and rainbows.
This basically sums up Sang Hee in the first half of this drama. It's adorable seeing this towering kid unconsciously do aegyo and act like a 5 year old.
Shut Up Flower Boy Band
Kwon Ji Hyuk - AKA 'Dog Ji Hyuk' - 2nd Leader of High School Rock Band 'Eye candy'
If you know him from anywhere, it's probably here. In SUFBB Sung joon acted as a high school delinquent with big dreams to become a singer/rocker after *his friend Byunghee (Lee Min Ki) dies*. Ji Hyuk is widely known for his crazy hair and the lollipop addiction (did you know this drama increased Chupa Chups lollipop sales soon after its airing??) A rough looking boy with a caring personality underneath. Tons of bromance and some romance as well, it's an all around must-watch if you're interested in Sung Joon. I actually read in an interview that he almost didn't take this role because of the drama name 'Flower Boy Band' but I'm sure I'm not the only one that's glad he decided to join it. This seems to be his most popular role.
Gu Family Book
Gon - The Second Male Lead.
I don't watch saeguks. They're just not my thing, but Gu Family Book somehow managed to lure me in. Here, Sung Joon again landed a main role, though this time as the second male lead. Gon was a passive character unlike Ji Hyuk and Chi Hoon, but he still seemed to give off the same kind of vibes (though Gon seemed a bit more content with his life). This drama didn't go into his back story or anything particularly special about him, but he became one of the pegs in the love triangle with Suzy and Seung Gi. It's a second lead syndrome - or is it third if Waol Ryung counts? They stick by the girl's side from beginning to end and never get the girl. A generally likeable character, you can't help but feel a little bad for them. And as his first saeguk/historical drama, it went fairly smoothly. From what I've seen around, there haven't been any cases of people dropping this for his rookie-saeguk acting.
Personal Taste
Unnamed model erotically posing in front of a house.
The .8sec acting cameo/debut.
Because I know you wanted to see it.
MOVIES
Dangerously Excited
Min Ki - Another aspiring musician
Here, Sung Joon plays another aspiring musician trying to make a living, only this time it's with a band of 3 girls + one other guy. You don't get a whole lot of characterization for the kids, it's more of a movie revolving around the man, Han Dae Hee. Although he and the other band members are listed as main roles, they are not as major as Ji Hyuk and the Eye Candy guys from SUFBB. It is a realistic movie. Min Ki is just a guy playing music with his friends hoping to release a CD by the end.
It does have a few funny moments, but it is something you could find in many of his other dramas. Besides the general concept, DE is nothing like SUFBB. It's a good movie for someone that wants realism for a change.
Not Yet Available
Scary Story 2/Horror Stories 2
In his story, Sung Joon stars with Lee Soo Hyuk as two hitchhikers stranded on a cliff with only one thing to eat. So basically it will be a struggle for survival. Not a fan of horror but looking forward to this one to see how his character will be different that the above.
Pluto
Other Projects
Can We Get Married (drama) - Haven't watched yet ):
Wetlands Ecology Report (movie) - Couldn't find.
Can We Get Married (drama) - Haven't watched yet ):
Wetlands Ecology Report (movie) - Couldn't find.
Other Info
Before acting, Sung Joon was a model. If you do a simple google search, you can see his photoshoots!
There's too many for me to pick and choose to post here.
He can also sing and play guitar (that wasn't acting in SUFBB). He sang an OST for Dangerously Excited and the three from SUFBB 'Wake Up' , 'Today' and 'Jaywalking'.
Jaywalking
Today
Wake Up
Personality wise, from his twitter and such, he seems like a good guy. I mean
^Someone asked him about getting a modeling contract/agency
No serious scandals, I can't see a reason not to like him. Because he came from the modeling business, most of his fans (if not all) are pretty chill when it comes to scandals and such that usually get blown up for idols and big shot celebs. Yes, he does get photographed on red carpets with other actors and such but he seems to have distanced himself from the wrath of reporters. He dated Esom (also from White Christmas) and took cozy selcas with Suzy and still, no one really cared. Besides the amount of recognition he gets from twitter, he's a pretty ordinary guy with a little greater than average life. Hopefully he continues getting lead roles so we can see more sides of him and his growth as an actor. So far he's doing great.
If there is an actor or an actress that is worthy of a Stalker's Guide in your opinion, and you have watched enough dramas of his/hers to prove it, please contact Elisabetta about it.
