"My Name is Loh KiWan" director Kim Hee Jin dishes on the reason why she wanted Song Joong Ki to play the titular role.

In addition, the top star also talked about embracing challenges in the new movie, including "delving into the North Korean dialect."

Ahead of the premiere of the upcoming movie, the director, along with lead stars Song Joong Ki and Choi Sung Eun, greeted the media for the "My Name is Loh KiWan" press conference.

Before the public gets to see Song Joong Ki's movie exclusively on Netflix, the director dishes on what it's like to film the action thriller film.

At the press briefing, director Kim Hee Jin teased the public by saying that "My Name is Loh KiWan" is a "gift for Song Joong Ki" fans.

As mentioned by the filmmaker, the South Korean A-lister showcased a "new face" that longtime fans have never seen on Song Joong Ki.

In a report, director Kim Hee Jin, who is also the screenwriter of the novel-based film, revealed that she only had Song Joong Ki in mind when she wrote the script.

After pitching the story to A-listers, the director says she "was overwhelmed with emotion" when the top star agreed to play the lead star.

Moreover, she believes that Song Joong Ki can perfectly portray Loh Ki Wan, whom she described as a "hard-working person and someone who blooms in the mud."

Song Joong Ki Reveals Challenges of Playing North Korean Defector

Viewers get to see Song Joong Ki play various characters, from the chaebol grandson in "Reborn Rich" to the hot-shot soldier in "Descendants of the Sun," but the forthcoming movie is his first time to appear as a North Korean.

According to the A-lister, he has a certain connection with the movie because of its "emotional depth."

Moreover, he dishes on the focus of the story, which was about struggling to survive in a faraway land.

"It's a film about Kiwan's life journey, carrying the fragile hope of starting anew in Belgium, and his relentless struggle to survive."

Song Joon g Ki also mentioned how Choi Sung Eun's character, Marie, helped Loh Ki Wan get through life.

"Through the character of Marie, he finds healing, making this film a moving narrative of hope and resilience."

Regarding the preparation for the role, the top star said that he has "always been eager to explore" and that learning the dialect was "not only a fresh experience" but one that he is "profoundly satisfied with."

'My Name is Loh KiWan' Release Date

With Netflix unveiling the list of K-dramas and movies airing in 2024, Song Joong Ki's movie is among the highly anticipated ones.

The streaming giant officially announced the "My Name is Loh KiWan" release date, which is set for March 1.

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Written by Geca Wills