When Kim Myung Min filmed "King of Dramas," the shooting schedule was so intense that he lost 10 pounds. But for his next drama, "Labor Summons," he could be asked to gain almost 25 pounds. That weight gain might be called baby weight because the character he is considering playing is a pregnant man.

That's right, a pregnant man, but the hardworking actor is obviously up to a challenge and can live up to the most exacting drama filming requirements. When he was working on "King of Dramas," the schedule only permitted him three hours of sleep a night and working such long hours inevitably resulted in weight loss.

"It was not intentional," said Kim. "It just happened."

It was not the first time that playing a drama role resulted in weight loss for Kim. In 2001, he lost more than 20 pounds while playing a character dying of Lou Gehrig's Disease in "My Love by My Side." That effort earned him a Best Actor Award in the Daejong Film Awards but it took a while to gain the weight back.

The exhausting 2012 "King of Dramas" was a comeback drama for Kim who had not been on television since his popular hit, "Beethoven Virus" in 2008. "King of Dramas" told the story of a drama production CEO known to produce blockbuster dramas and Hallyu stars. But in exposing the harsh realities of drama filming, the drama's exacting schedules also took their toll on Kim's health.

Playing a pregnant character will hopefully be kinder to Kim's health. Since men can't actually get pregnant, the weight he will be asked to gain for "Labor Summons" will probably just require strapping on a false baby bump.

He is a master of disguise. In his last comedy, "Detective K," he played a Joseon-era detective investigating a series of murders that lead to the uncovering of a massive conspiracy. His role in that film was well reviewed.

His decision to star in the drama "Labor Summons" has a lot to do with his admiration for the director Lee Kyu Man. Lee is known for his comedic talent although the film that the two worked together in 2007 was far from a comedy. The film, "Return," explored what happened when inadequate anesthesia results in a boy waking up during his own heart surgery. After the surgery, the trauma he experiences is blamed for his decision to murder a young girl. In that film, Kim played a doctor.

In his next film, he may wind up on the delivery table. "Labor Summons" will begin filming in July.