To help shed his pretty boy image, Kim Hyun Joong has been showing off beefed-up abs and the scars he wears for his new drama "Inspiring Generation." In that drama he plays Shin Jung Tae a tough street fighter in 1930s Shanghai. His action role image and the image promoted for his recent single "Unbreakable" are a far cry from his flower boy image as the prettiest member of F4 in "Boys Over Flowers.
At a press conference for his new drama, Kim Hyun Joong said that his previous flower boy image really stood out.
"In this drama I really went for a more macho look. I feel like I'm learning about masculinity when I'm filming."
But he's not the only k-drama actor to set aside a flower boy image for more manly roles. Two other k-drama actors, Lee Jun Ki and Song Joong Ki, have worked to project a more masculine image.
Lee Jun Ki was very macho in the recent thriller "Two Weeks." He rode a motorcycle, battled thugs and took his fair share of punches. But he did not always play such macho characters.
He first appeared in hit film "The King and the Clown," playing Gong Gil, an effeminate clown in the Joseon dynasty. The movie became the highest grossing film of its time, selling 12.3 million tickets. While Lee Jun Ki was pleased with the film's success he did not want to be typecast.
"After my performance in 'The King and the Clown,' I found myself at the forefront of this pretty boy trend," he said.
After the film he sought more masculine roles, starring in the dramas "Time Between Dog and Wolf" and "Iljimae."
Song Joong Ki also became popular for his flower boy good looks. He played a Joseon-era flower boy in "Sungkyunkwan Scandal." But he longed for roles that would help show off his masculinity. Two years later he groveled on the floor playing a less than pretty role in the fantasy film "A Werewolf Boy." To deliver a realistic performance he watched stray dogs and horror films.
"It was a project I took on with the thought that I'm saying good-bye to the young me," said Song Joong Ki. "I'm not young anymore and it's time for me to become a man."
The film became very successful, selling more than seven million tickets, and the actor also played the antihero in the highly rated drama "Nice Guy."
The actor is currently serving his mandatory military service. Despite losing some baby fat during his tour of duty, he will still have to find roles that defy his flower boy good looks.
"Song Joong Ki's a lot more manly than most people think," said fellow actor Lee Kwang Soo.
Losing the pretty boy image has worked out for Lee Jun Ki and Song Joong Ki. How do you think it will work out for Kim Hyun Joong?
