A look at Iris's supporting cast » Dramabeans Korean drama recaps

44 September 22, 2009September 22, 2009

A look at Iris’s supporting cast

by javabeans

Looks like each of the characters in the main cast of spy drama Iris [아이리스] is getting his/her moment in the spotlight. With a name like Lee Byung-heon in the cast, it’s no surprise he gets most of the attention, as does his CF queen leading lady Kim Tae-hee, but this is one solid supporting cast.

First up: Kim So-yeon (Gourmet). Kim cut off her long hair to play Kim Sun-hwa, a North Korean spy who shows off lots of fierce action skills.

Sun-hwa is “like a shadow” to her superior officer, North Korea’s top spy, played by Kim Seung-woo. An intense person who believes that failure is always soon followed by death, Sun-hwa becomes conflicted when she becomes indebted to the enemy: In the process of pursuing top South Korean spy Kim Hyun-joon (Lee Byung-heon), she finds her loyalty swayed to him after Hyun-joon saves her life.

Through the course of filming the numerous action scenes, Kim So-yeon has already incurred several injuries including tearing a ligament in her leg and needing 12 stitches for a slash to her leg.

Next, Kim Seung-woo (How to Meet a Perfect Neighbor, Woman on the Beach). As Park Chul-young, North Korea’s top spy, Kim showcases a different side to his character from the softer, gentler image he’s shown in previous works. Fiercely dedicated to his work, he is capable of dying for his beliefs, and once he fixes on a target, he never gives up.

On the other side, we have Jung Jun-ho (Last Scandal of My Life), who plays Jin Sang-woo. Like most of the cast, Jung also takes on a departure from his previous softer image as he takes on the role of an elite spy as part of South Korea’s NSS (its security agency).

Sang-woo falls for Seung-hee (Kim Tae-hee‘s profiler character) at first sight. However, because of his deep friendship with his agent colleague Hyun-joon (Lee Byung-heon), who also has a romantic development with her, Sang-woo keeps his feelings for Seung-hee hidden.

Even as the role of Sang-woo involves car chases, explosions, foot chases, and many other action sequences, Jung Jun-ho is said to be the witty and humorous mood-maker on set, who keeps his co-stars and the staff laughing behind the scenes.

Last but not least, we have Big Bang idol star TOP (aka Choi Seung-hyun) making his return to television after his role in the 2007 drama I Am Sam.

TOP plays a cold-blooded killer with a 100% kill rate who has been ordered to kill Lee Byung-heon. As a lesser character, TOP has fewer scenes to shoot, but is said to come onto the filming set on days he doesn’t film to keep monitoring the acting of his sunbaes. (Probably a smart move for a fledgling actor making the leap from idol singer status.)

Iris is scheduled to premiere on KBS on October 14.

Via BNT News, DongA, Hankyung, MJK News

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1 lovenyc52

September 22, 2009 at 3:47 PM

looks so good!! can't wait :)

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2 Snowanh

September 22, 2009 at 4:01 PM

I am so looking forward IRIS...only for LBH...the cast look awesome....

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3 Miss Charming Cynic

September 22, 2009 at 4:01 PM

Wow, this is a pretty solid cast. I briefly heard that TOP would be in this drama and that was it. But a quick outline of the characters has caught my attention again. Maybe I'll check this out. A lot of my favorite actors are in this~

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4 MEIKO**** ^-^

September 22, 2009 at 4:05 PM

ooohhhhh....... looks like a great cast.... and interesting plot...

and TOP(..100% KILL rate huh... ^-^ hehe) and Jung Jun Ho too!!

Kim So Yeon's hair looks good on her...

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maro

March 1, 2011 at 5:16 AM

yea kim so yeon's hairstyle luks gorgeous!!

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5 nileey

September 22, 2009 at 4:09 PM

can't wait for it!

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6 Hmm

September 22, 2009 at 4:12 PM

Lee Byung Hyun is known for being capable of carrying a drama on his capable shoulders :) This is a really solid cast.....Can't wait but I'm kind of wondering if Kim Tae Hee wil be able to act well with LBH.....I really never could see her skill....sometimes she overacts but maybe she improved:)

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7 rika

September 22, 2009 at 4:19 PM

I hope this series turns out to be a good one... I hope the hype doesn't fail it...

TOP looks so kool... the pic with the white gun has stunned me... im sold.. shame he doesnt have a bigger role...

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8 ockoala

September 22, 2009 at 4:27 PM

Lee Byun-heon-sshi - I am all caught up on most of the masterpieces of your movie/drama oeuvre, so I am ready to experience you in real time, baby.

Cannot wait for the kick-ass spy/power/betrayal/bromance that is IRIS!

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9 sue

September 22, 2009 at 4:34 PM

OMG why does TOP look so hot!

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10 ar

September 22, 2009 at 4:35 PM

looks great!!

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11

September 22, 2009 at 4:52 PM

im so excited for IRIS ..!
especially for Lee byung hun & TOP !!
kyaaaa !!

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12 ripgal

September 22, 2009 at 5:21 PM

All of them look mighty FIERCE!

Esp TOP, there's just something about his eyes and the way he glares and stares...

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13 LadyIgraine

September 22, 2009 at 5:26 PM

It looks HOT! I can't wait for it to air...I'm sure the ratings for the 1st episode will be strong.

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14 kristi

September 22, 2009 at 5:46 PM

Jung Jun-Ho's character's name is actually Jin SA-Woo 진사우.

All three vets (LBH, JJH, KSW) have been credited for defusing the tensions on set (from the loaded action scenes etc.) with their humor & spirit. I've seen big projects where too many leads result in egos clashing, but that doesn't seem to be the case of IRIS at all. Not that I would have expected otherwise, all three enjoy reputations of being professionals.

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15 mishane

September 22, 2009 at 5:50 PM

OMG SO EXCITED.

I can already tell that I'm going to love Kim So-yeon .

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16 more

September 22, 2009 at 5:50 PM

Just from the pics alone Kim Tae Hee acting looks one dimensional. Sorry to say this but Kim no longer a rookie so hopefully she improved. Since her last work in a drama was 2004 and her pics alone look stiff.

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17 Bellamafia

September 22, 2009 at 6:29 PM

I wanna watch this because of Jung Jun Ho.. Gooosshh.. he's soo hot!!

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18 bluebunny

September 22, 2009 at 6:55 PM

I'm a lil exicited for this just because of Jung Jun-Ho...he's hot for his age! I think everyone else can act but I'm wondering how Kim Tae-Hee will do because whenever I see her name I always think of her cute image and those cutesy CF's she "always" does. How old is she now? She's pretty but I'm not a fan of her acting. And as for TOP I haven't seen him act but I'm a Big Bang fan so I'll keeping my fingers crossed.

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19 nycgrl

September 22, 2009 at 6:59 PM

Kim So Yeon was the best thing about All About Eve--seriously.

The cast is really stunning. Looks exciting though have never been a fan of Kim Tae Hee's. I wish Kim So Yeon is the lead.

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20 Nea

September 22, 2009 at 9:34 PM

I am too excited! IRIS!

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21 belleza

September 22, 2009 at 9:53 PM

This cast has so much WIN that if a shadow puppet had to sub in for Lee Byung Hun at some point, this show would still be WIN. Thankfully, shadow puppets are not part of union, so we'll never test that theory, but in any case, this cast is Teh Awesome.

I imagine the first couple will be Hyun-joon and Sun-hwa, and then it'll transition to Hyun-joon and Seung-hee. I can see Sun-hwa dying earlier in the show. The chemistry between LBH and So-Yeon would be fire.

"All three vets (LBH, JJH, KSW) have been credited for defusing the tensions on set (from the loaded action scenes etc.) "

Both JJH and KSW are consummate good guys on the set. They're all movie stars, let alone leading men. This kind of cast would be considered pretty loaded even for movie. For a drama, almost unheard of.

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22 all4movies

September 22, 2009 at 10:24 PM

This looks to be a stellar cast.

Definitely on my radar as I love spy shows.

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23 tonia

September 22, 2009 at 11:15 PM

Never was really interested even if it was LBH but from this cast profile I am becoming intrigued and I might look into this new series since there doesn't seem to be anything good out there right now. Definitely curious about the female North Korean spy. She seems fierce. I am feeling that KTH might just be the weak link in this series. Hope she proves me wrong and shows an improved acting ability.

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24 Kobe

September 23, 2009 at 12:41 AM

Taking bets now on Episode 1 viewership ratings for IRIS[1]. Winner will receive a life-size poster of TOP, signed by himself[2].

[1] Ratings prediction must be accurate to the 1st decimal place.
[2] Poster will be signed by belleza in the event TOP cannot sign himself.

My prediction: 18.9% Episode 1 and will hit the 40s by Ep15.

Good Luck!

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25 MEIKO**** ^-^

September 23, 2009 at 12:57 AM

@kobe

lol!!! sure for the fun...

TOP a cold-blooded killer with a 100% kill rate.... yumyum!!! ^-^

I say, 17.0% ep 1....

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26 kaynn

September 23, 2009 at 1:18 AM

TOP reminds me of the guy who played Chuck Bass... xD They look so alike! Especially in the third last pic.

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27 Bao Bei

September 23, 2009 at 5:09 AM

Wow, Kim So Yoen's haircut really looks cool....suit her face...

looking forward for this...espc.. LBH....

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28 nycgrl

September 23, 2009 at 7:16 AM

My prediction is ep1 is 19.5%.

If I win, I don't want a poster of TOP. I just want everyone's adoration.

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29 SchoolGrl

September 23, 2009 at 7:33 AM

Wow! Kim so Yeon looks so awsome as the spy. I hope the drama is good.

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30 yvhsien

September 23, 2009 at 8:53 AM

Definitely looking forward to Iris. The cast alone is going to make this worth watching. I am still a little skeptical about KTH and wish KSY was the leading lady. I think it would have made for a better storyline in the end. KSY's dedication (with all those injuries) shows she is giving 100% or more into portraying her character.

For the fun of it, I'll say 1st episode 22.3%.

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31 christine

September 23, 2009 at 9:47 AM

looking forward to this.. it has a nice plot... i'm kinda not impressed with KTH's acting skill though the girl can kick some butt...

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32 celestialorigin

September 23, 2009 at 10:45 AM

Ahhh! it sounds so promising! I'm putting all the starting dates of next season K- dramas on my I-phone so that I wont' forget!

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33 more

September 23, 2009 at 2:25 PM

@yvhsien KSY’ as the lead instead of KTH interesting

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34 meenuby

September 23, 2009 at 3:43 PM

Sounds promising so far...but I want Kim So-Yeon to have a romantic development with LBH! She looks amazing here.

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35 meenuby

September 23, 2009 at 3:45 PM

Had to post again coz it didn't look like my first one went through:

Sounds promising so far...but I want Kim So-Yeon to have a romantic development with LBH! She looks amazing here.

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36 Shay

September 23, 2009 at 4:33 PM

I love how people are already predicting the ratings of the pilot episode.
Now, folks. Let's just admiringly stare at the beautiful cast for now, shall we?

I pray it doesn't become like another East of Eden -- all-star cast, a deteoriorated storyline.

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37 more

September 23, 2009 at 5:09 PM

@Shay - LOL That exactly why im not a fan of an ALL STAR CAST. East Of Eden ruined it for me please please let IRIS be worth it.

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38 belleza

September 23, 2009 at 11:15 PM

Whenever I do ratings predictions for KBS2 shows, I imagine how this show will do on MBC and then dock it down about 25%. On MBC, this show (due to the crazy hype train) should debut around 20 (a la The Legend) Unfortunately, due to the show being on KBS, the show will probably debut around 16.8. In terms of the show's potential, it should peak in the low 30s.

Who wants to see the trailer again? I know I do . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFWKm6axvq0&fmt=18