Fans will soon see Song Joong-ki back on the small screen in the new Netflix K-movie My Name is Loh Kiwan. Compared to the actor’s usual K-drama roles of a cute guy who makes viewers fall in love, this time, he will get everyone’s sympathy as a North Korean defector who will try his luck to get refugee status in Belgium. To tell more about the film, Joong-ki and his on-screen partner Choi Seung-eun reveal its story in a new video
Netflix has released a clip of Joong-ki and Seung-eun as they talk about their upcoming film, My Name is Loh Kiwan. It starts with Song Hye-kyo’s former husband introducing himself and his role as Loh Kiwan, whose last hope is to escape to Belgium. Seung-eun then presents her character as Marie, a woman who has lost her faith in life after experiencing an incident from her childhood.
“My Name is Loh Kiwan tells a heartfelt story about Kiwan and Marie’s encounter and how they grow to care for each other,” Joong-ki added.
At a press conference in Mapo, District, Western Seoul, on Tuesday, February 27, the Space Sweepers star revealed (via Korea JoongAng Daily) that he got emotional thinking of what Kiwan must have felt being alone in a foreign place with a language he couldn’t even speak and continuously trying to survive. He even wrote the word “guilt” on his script during the production to help him portray his character’s emotions.
“I think Loh Kiwan was healed after he got rid of his guilt,” he continued. “In the end, it was people. The connections you make with the people in your life [is what heals you]. That's my takeaway from the film.”
Alternatively, the film’s director, Kim Hee-jin, who’s also behind A Brand New Journey, MJ, and Neighbors, described Kiwan as a courageous man who could make “something bloom even in the muddiest waters.” She also praised Joong-ki for showing different sides of him in the movie, from his sorrowful expressions to putting on the coldest persona. In addition, Seung-eun said that this movie proves love of any kind encourages people to live after Marie once again finds her will for life following meeting Kiwan.
Who are the cast of My Name is Loh Kiwan?
Joong-ki leads My Name is Loh Kiwan with Sung-eun. For other cast members, you can check the list below:
Song Joong-ki as Loh Ki-wan
Choi Sung-eun as Marie
Jo Han-chul as Yoon-sung
Kim Sung-ryong as Ok-hee
Lee Sang-hee as Sun-joo
Seo Hyun-woo as Eun-cheol
What is My Name is Loh Kiwan about?
Based on the novel I Met Loh Kiwan by Cho Hae-jin, My Name is Loh Kiwan follows the story of a North Korean defector who wants to fulfill his dying mother’s wish for him to find a place where he can own his name and live in his own terms. He then travels to Belgium to seek refugee status. However, with no means to live, no house to live in, and a long wait to get the government’s approval, his hardships begin until he meets Marie, a former national athlete who’s fighting her own demons.
You can read the synopsis below:
Loh Ki-Wan is a North Korean defector. He has arrived in the unfamiliar country of Belgium from North Korea because of his mother, Ok-Hee. He wants to settle down in the country, but his only hope for him to stay is to receive refugee status from the Belgian government. He fights to get that. Loh Ki-Wan then meets Mari. She used to be a Korean, but she has now received Belgian citizenship. In her past, she was a shooter. Unlike Loh Ki-Wan, who came to Belgium to live a new life, Mari doesn't have a reason to live. They have an unpleasant first meeting but fall in love with each other.
What are the release date and times of My Name is Loh Kiwan?
My Name is Loh Kiwan is scheduled for release Friday, March 1, on Netflix at 12 AM PT/ 3 AM ET. For other release times based on your region, you can check the list below:
12:00 AM Pacific Time
3:00 AM Eastern Time
3:00 AM (Toronto), 12:00 AM (Vancouver) Canadian Time
4:00 AM Brasilia Time
8:00 AM Greenwich Mean Time
9:00 AM Central European Time
10:00 AM Eastern European Time
3:00 PM (Perth), 5:00 PM (Sydney) Australian Time
7:00 PM Coordinated Universal Time
2:00 PM (Jakarta), 12:30 PM (New Delhi) Indian Time
3:00 PM Philippine Standard Time
3:00 PM Hong Kong Time
3:00 PM Singapore Standard Time
4:00 PM Japan Standard Time
9:00 AM Central Africa Time
With a legion of fans, many are now waiting to see Joon-ki’s return on Netflix after the success of Space Sweepers in 2021. Add to that Seung-eun’s appearance and a timely story that many can relate to; this new movie may again be a big hit.
