Actors Kwon Sang Woo and Moon Chae Won are set to kick off the new year with laughter through their upcoming film 'Heartman,' directed by Choi Won Seok. While rooted in comedy, the film weaves emotional depth into its storytelling, delivering both humor and heartfelt messages.
Kwon Sang Woo further elevates his signature comedic style in this project. Having already enjoyed box office success with 'The Accidental Detective' and 'Hitman: Agent Jun' film series, together drawing a combined audience of 10.71 million, the actor once again commits fully to comedy, even shedding concern for his appearance to deliver laughs. This time, however, he goes further, portraying not only humor but also the paternal affection of a single father and the sincerity of love toward one woman. Scenes depicting his character’s solitary inner conflict leave a strong impression.
Moon Chae Won shared her satisfaction with the collaboration, saying, “Working with Kwon Sang Woo was incredibly rewarding. I enjoyed the shoot, and I’m very happy with how the film turned out.”
The press screening and media conference for Heartman were held on January 8 at Lotte Cinema World Tower, attended by Kwon Sang Woo, Moon Chae Won, Park Ji Hwan, Pyo Ji Hoon, and director Choi Won Seok.
'Heartman' follows Seung Min (played by Kwon Sang Woo), who struggles to hold on to his first love, Bo Na (played by Moon Chae Won), after reuniting with her. The story unfolds as secrets emerge, leading to unexpected developments. The film is adapted from the 2015 movie No Kids, reworked to better reflect Korean sensibilities. Director Choi explained, “We focused on capturing the feeling of first love and placed strong emphasis on the music.”
This marks Choi’s third collaboration with Kwon Sang Woo, following the Hitman series. The director highlighted the differences, noting, “With 'Hitman,' we carefully calculated comedy beats in every scene. Heartman leans more heavily on drama.” He added that the film avoids exaggerated humor, instead letting emotions and narrative flow naturally.
The story stands out for its rhythm-driven narrative, born from situations and characters rather than over-the-top setups. Kwon Sang Woo’s trademark laid-back charm and Moon Chae Won’s lively presence resonate strongly with audiences. Park Ji Hwan described the film as one about excitement, saying, “There’s excitement in long relationships, in old friendships, and in dreams that have matured over time.”
Kwon Sang Woo plays Seung Min, a former vocalist of the rock band “Ambulance.” Once burning with musical ambition, Seung Min now runs a musical instrument shop, living an ordinary life. As the character is portrayed as a musician, the film features powerful stage performances. Kwon recalled, “I’m not a great singer, but not terrible either. I put in a lot of effort for the singing scenes.”
One of his most memorable moments was an early scene depicting Seung Min as a college student performing on stage. “It felt unfamiliar since I’m not a singer, but I enjoyed filming it,” he said with a laugh, adding, “Even though I didn’t really look like a college student, I wore a wig and gave it my all.”
He reflected warmly on the production, saying, “Every day on set, I didn’t feel like I was going to work. I kept thinking about how to make filming more fun. Heartman is a film that left me with very happy memories.” He also praised his chemistry with child actor Kim Seo Heon, who plays his daughter, noting, “I like kids to begin with, and she acted naturally for her age, which made things very comfortable.”
Moon Chae Won transforms into Bo Na, Seung Min’s first love. After reuniting with him, she delicately portrays the subtle emotional shifts of the character, with the film closely following her internal journey. Her radiant “first love” visuals drew praise, with Kwon Sang Woo calling it the most beautiful role in her filmography, while Pyo Ji Hoon gave a thumbs-up to her entrance scene.
Moon shared, “I think I’ve always wanted to play a first-love character. I was happy to finally take on that role, and I was also satisfied after watching the film.” To bring out the character’s traits, she made personal efforts, explaining, “I’m usually calm, but for this role, I tried to think more positively, spend time with fun friends, and stay active.”
She spoke fondly of her co-star, adding, “Kwon Sang Woo was the first celebrity I ever liked when I was young. Working with him was very meaningful. I’m introverted, so I didn’t show it much on set, but it truly gave me strength.” She also praised his leadership, saying his upbeat and decisive presence helped guide the production smoothly.
Director Choi emphasized Kwon Sang Woo’s role as a key strength of the film, noting, “This is already our third project together. Our chemistry keeps getting better. We understand each other almost instantly now.” Park Ji Hwan echoed this sentiment, saying, “Kwon Sang Woo has a pure, youthful spirit inside. We clicked in everything and filmed as if we were joyfully playing together.”
Kwon Sang Woo also expressed his determination, recalling how he once knelt during stage greetings for Hitman to appeal to audiences. “If the film does well, I can do it ten more times,” he said. He added thoughtfully, “The theater industry is struggling these days, so I’m deeply grateful to audiences who come and pay to watch. When the film is released, I want to sincerely express my gratitude. It’s something I think about even more than filming.”
Moon Chae Won commented on the industry as well, saying, “A wide variety of films need to be made for theaters, actors, and industry workers to thrive together. I hope our film carries its own meaningful message for viewers.”
Director Choi concluded confidently, “We worked very hard with the actors on this film. Although the release was delayed, I’m confident in it.” Kwon Sang Woo closed by saying, “I hope audiences leave with good laughter and positive energy.”
'Heartman' is set to hit theaters on January 14.
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