Namgoong Min tackles villain role for SBS’s Remember
by javabeans
When I first saw that Namgoong Min has been added to SBS’s upcoming thriller drama Remember, my first thought was, “Is he going to be a villain?” And then, upon seeing that he was, “Well of course, he has to be the villain!”
It isn’t that Namgoong Min is known for doing lots of villain roles—he’s played more regular guys than evil ones (My Secret Hotel, Unemployed Romance, I Need Romance 3). But his villainous turn in Girl Who Sees Smells was something of a breakthrough, prompting people to call it his “rediscovery” role. He was fine as the nice guy (or even the not-particularly-nice but mostly decent guy)—just not nearly as memorable as when he got to lace that kindly facade with an undercurrent of murderous rage.
In Remember, Namgoong Min will play a third-generation chaebol who’s an imperious degenerate; he enjoys all sorts of vices and has an anger management problem—once his temper is riled, he can’t control himself. The drama follows Yoo Seung-ho (I Miss You) as a lawyer who initially suffers from an overly detailed memory and then starts losing his memories, who works to clear his father’s name of a crime he didn’t commit. The description doesn’t tell us exactly where Namgoong Min figures into the central conflict but we’re told he will drive our hero into extreme danger as an “absolute evil.”
He said, “I’m playing another villain, but I decided to take the role because playing a villain with a different feel than my previous drama felt like a new challenge. Even to me, he seems like a truly bad guy, but I hope that viewers will see it as acting and not hate me too much.”
I’m excited to see him being evil again, because I enjoyed his take on the villain in Girl Who Sees Smells—it was a multifaceted performance that had him going from one extreme (sweet, genteel) to the other (seething and psychotic) without feeling simplistic or overdone. In fact, although that drama may have narratively shot itself in the foot by revealing the villain rather early on instead of keeping us guessing, I don’t hold it against the show because it gave Namgoong Min a chance to show a broader range in his performance.
Remember also stars Park Min-young (Healer) as the hero’s childhood friend who becomes his ally, and Park Sung-woong (Hidden Identity) as another lawyer who gets entangled in the main conspiracy case. It will be SBS’s next Wednesday-Thursday drama following Village: Secret of Achiara and premieres on December 9.
Via Osen
RELATED POSTS
- Park Min-young joins Yoo Seung-ho in SBS’s Remember
- Park Sung-woong joins Yoo Seung-ho in SBS’s legal thriller Remember
- SBS’s Remember courts Yoo Seung-ho to headline
- Legal thriller Remember up to follow Village on SBS
- News bites: July 12, 2015
- Girl Who Sees Smells: Episode 1
- My Secret Hotel: Episode 1
- Namgoong Min cast as lead in new JTBC weekend drama
- I Need Romance 3: Episode 1
- Unemployed Romance: Episode 1
Tags: Dark Hole, Namgoong Min, Remember—Son's War, Yoo Seung-ho
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1 blep
October 26, 2015 at 3:14 AM
this drama is keep better and better with the casting news I'm sure he will be the scene stealer just like Girl Who Sees Smells, he just outshone everyone else.
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ZENITH
October 26, 2015 at 6:14 AM
I don't want to be rude but some actors are meant to be on evil side and NGM definitely belong to that list. So the BAR CODE Serial killer becomes chaebol evil man with anger management hmmmm Remember became more juicy...count me in even more i guess...
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2 annflln
October 26, 2015 at 3:28 AM
yays!! I love NGM especially when he's bad...and bit murderous...
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3 yo_gabby_gabby
October 26, 2015 at 3:39 AM
casting ON POINT
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4 jwspazz
October 26, 2015 at 3:41 AM
ehhh. everyone is Park Yoochun's co-stars from his previous drama right ?? Park Minyoung, Yoo Seungho and Namgoong Min. plus hot ahjussi Park Sungwoong, I love all the casts already. <3 <3
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Chiisan
October 26, 2015 at 9:03 AM
Small world!
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5 poliwag
October 26, 2015 at 3:54 AM
I knew of the casting of Namgoong Min already, but didn't know he was going to have another turn as a villain. I gladly welcome washboard abs oppa back to dramaland, and this cast is shaping up to be way too amazing. \o/
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6 redfox
October 26, 2015 at 4:05 AM
I am still waiting for the ultimate villains holiday special, where different villanous masterminds from different dramas gather in, say, a typical abandoned warehouse. Namgoong Min and Shin Sung Rok could both play a double role where, like in theater, you go out one door and walk back in the other as a different character. In poor disguise. They could discuss the hardships of being a villain, disposing of bodies and dealing with annoying witnesses and cops, etc. then decide to try a different lifestyle, and gather in the warehouse again after their attempts and report their success or non-success. Like, They tried to work as a waiter, but... every job they try, they "accidentally" murder someone. So they pat each other on the back, and say, better luck next time, old chap! (or I´ll kill you...)
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poliwag
October 26, 2015 at 4:07 AM
MY BAE AND WASHBOARD ABS OPPA?
WHY WOULD YOU TORMENT ME WITH THIS THOUGHT, NOW I NEED TO SEE THIS SHOW HAPPEN
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PinkSushi
October 26, 2015 at 4:51 AM
HAHAHAHAHA. This i would totally watch!
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plumwine
October 26, 2015 at 5:37 AM
I really, really like this idea! I can picture it in my head. I would add a once every 3 month show so that current drama villains could come by and ask for advice and/or older villains share their experiences.
Also, what about a horrendous mother in law special too?
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poliwag
October 26, 2015 at 5:45 AM
Sungrokie and Namgoong Min as talkshow hosts of this villain recurring special, sitting around in large cushy chairs and dissing people for not being evil enough. Mmmmm~
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redfox
October 26, 2015 at 5:56 AM
yeah, yeah, and 5 years later, the damn mother in law is still alive and the villain has a depression cause she seems to be immortal.
we actually have a movie that has a line "How many times do I have to whack off the same guy?"
and then the villains make a mistake...or luring the mother in law into the warehouse. she´s all: what. IS. This.???? and you have ZERO kimchi in your refri.... no, where is your refirgerator? so they try to drop stuff on her head but she always narrowly escapes and the villains are like NOOOOOO! this cant be! and she wont leave. she SITS. In their chair. NOOOO!
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redfox
October 26, 2015 at 5:57 AM
and then they die of her kimchi and come back as vampires.
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poliwag
October 26, 2015 at 6:00 AM
And even then, the mother-in-law still won't die. The villains are at a loss- so they have no choice but to employ...the good guys. *cringe*
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rinoak
October 26, 2015 at 7:16 AM
Oh my God, all of this is soooo funny! I wish shows could do this, because I would so watch.
But on a slightly different note, NGM shouldn't worry about people hating him for this role because I'm pretty sure most people just love seeing him and a lot of us think he does better in villainous roles anyway.
redfox
October 26, 2015 at 7:35 AM
blowing up the chair and finding her still sitting in it reading the newspaper would be ice cream on the cake
bbstl
October 26, 2015 at 8:34 AM
much LOL! This is brilliant.
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Mathou
October 27, 2015 at 10:57 PM
Gosh, that's brilliant !!! I'm in, when does it start? x)
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7 evelynray
October 26, 2015 at 4:07 AM
Whoops, the casts are amazing and so looking forward to it! it better be good as well!
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8 sunshinesky
October 26, 2015 at 4:10 AM
i really look forward to all of his projects ^.^
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9 frabbycrabsis
October 26, 2015 at 4:12 AM
Ooooh... well, I did love his performance in The Girl Who Can See Smells. This should be interesting, although I'm a little sad that I won't see any more tragic-villain roles from Yoo Seung-ho, at least for the time being.
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10 lea
October 26, 2015 at 4:13 AM
I think Christmas came early hahahaha!
I love the lineups!!!
GIMME!!!
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11 Gladys
October 26, 2015 at 4:14 AM
He's soooo much better as a villain.
Sbs dropped Moon chae won but they're doing to their best to be forgiven....and it's kind of working.
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12 pastmidnite ?
October 26, 2015 at 4:37 AM
My favorite evil chef! :-D
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Rigby
October 26, 2015 at 9:31 PM
@pastmidnite
cant wait for this already...NGM addition is more than a treat..its a party, loving all the casts...pali pali Dec 9!!!
and me too, my favorite evil chef!
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13 graey
October 26, 2015 at 5:05 AM
Solid cast. The bit about 'absolute evil' irks me. Sigh. This is why I like Man vs Himself conflicts more lol. I hope they make a great villain.
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14 ryanlee
October 26, 2015 at 6:07 AM
I love the new, NGM is amazing, he is really a great actor.
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15 Alessar
October 26, 2015 at 6:47 AM
This will be interesting. Most of Namgoong Min's roles are reserved and icy; very stoic. But I think that was typecasting since the chef, though a psycho, got really mad, though it was tempered (control freak losing control and freaking out). If this character is a "degenerate" maybe he'll be in like full on haughty-smarmy mode full time and really showing a range of emotions. I want to see this guy in full-on predatory mode like, "these are my abs, I'm hot and I know it" smarmy.
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16 goodytwoshoes
October 26, 2015 at 6:53 AM
As if been a villian isn't enough, now he has anger management issues?????? Oh Lawd, I can't even count the ways I love this already.
Can we have a drama with all drama Villians present? All they have to do is just sit and be evil. Namgoong Min, Shin Sung Rok, Lee soo hyuk, Park hae jin and just maybe as a cameo, Klaus (the Originals, Vampire Diaries) makes an appearance.
*goes to dream about this*
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redfox
October 26, 2015 at 7:42 AM
I said the same thing in post no. 6! shared dream
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17 Loopback
October 26, 2015 at 8:04 AM
Guys, Guys, Guys! We are forgot to add the 'truck of doom' that makes an appearance in every makjang. That truck is a villian on its own. We can have a whole 12 episodes on the truck knocking people down because........truck of doom.
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Alessar
October 26, 2015 at 9:26 AM
Can the crazy nurse from Yong Pal (who was killed by it) appear as a ghost driving it?
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18 kanz
October 26, 2015 at 8:11 AM
My most favorite character of him is still Maroo Oppa (CYHMH).
but of course I love to see him as a villain. Actors should not worry to take villain roles, many villains are memorable and more interesting than main characters.
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mjfan
October 26, 2015 at 3:06 PM
yup , totally loved him as Maroo in can you hear my heart ,
he was amaaaaaaaaaaaazing
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19 Me
October 26, 2015 at 9:10 AM
I felt his villainous vibe even before he took a villain role, dunno why, his stare and smile always gives off a feeling of having some hideous plan. But I love him nonetheless, a lot.
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skelly
October 26, 2015 at 9:49 AM
Yeah, and really, wasn't he the villain in My Secret Hotel, as well? After all, wasn't he somehow responsible for a few of those dead bodies, or am I just thinking he Should have been...?
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kalel
October 27, 2015 at 8:14 AM
Ηis films and older TV shows were closer to "I was a decent guy but after I embraced my dark side I can't go back" kind of character, which was far more interesting and gave him the opportunity to display the wide range of his talent. These recent and ultra-devilish roles are way too typecasting but I guess he decided to play along K-ent since the "bad guy" part can be from "not offensive"to "brilliant" depending on the writer (plus the storyline) and he has probably given up on the idea of being the actual leading man in any drama - at least, not on the mainstream channels.
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20 Boomboompow
October 26, 2015 at 10:09 AM
@redfox
You are forgetting Park Bo Gum in this villain mix. Oh I will pay for that show!
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redfox
October 26, 2015 at 10:28 AM
I thought of him, but I figured Min and NAMGOONG Min could get mixed up. Actors, Characters, what is the what?
I think he could be the cynical driver who waits for the villains at the back alley and when they dont arrive he realizes they messed up and he has to redo everything by himself again. but then the victim starts hitting on him, and well, he is scared of attachment and abandonment so he just leaves, but makes sure the victim is humiliated enough never to hit on an innocent, err, guilty, flower boy killer.
wow, that was long and complicated
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poliwag
October 26, 2015 at 7:14 PM
To be fair, Namgoong Min and Sungrokie probably sends him as the runner. Let Bogumie be the distraction before they swoop in for the kills.
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21 SuziQ
October 26, 2015 at 10:53 AM
He is a very good actor, especially in the Girl who Sees Smell. Did a wonderful job...
He's good, but when he's BAD, he's even BETTER!
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22 Loopback
October 26, 2015 at 10:59 AM
@Alessar, totally! She has to be behind the wheels. Then she knocks Namgoong Min down and has to be carried to Hanshin Hospital 12th floor......*shivers*. We all know he's never coming out alive.
Then the cops from Hyde Jekyll and Me get to investigate the case *facepalm*
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Alessar
October 27, 2015 at 7:36 AM
Sung Joon's character from J, H & M will be assigned as his rehabilitation psychologist!
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23 Thaipeppa
October 26, 2015 at 1:07 PM
*please let him be shirtless, please let him be shirtless*?
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Alessar
October 27, 2015 at 7:37 AM
You should follow his instagram. Recently it's been a lot of face shots, but sometimes he drops gym selfies. Not only does have have the goods in front he also has the goods in back. @_@;
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kalel
October 27, 2015 at 11:05 PM
HAHAHA!!! Thanks for the picture, sista! Now, I have to try hard to stop thinking that...thought! ;-)
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24 endzki
October 26, 2015 at 1:08 PM
I've stalking NGM since GWSS. I checked his instagram a lot and been hoping for him to appear in another drama.
lo and behold..dreams do come true.
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25 Ek Ladhki Thi is Kim Eun-sooks no 1 fan
October 26, 2015 at 3:06 PM
I would watch a drama with all the villains together, and while we're at it, I think there should be one with all the scheming second lead females.
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26 An
October 26, 2015 at 3:06 PM
One more reason to check this out.. Honestly, I think he's pretty good at playing ambiguous roles too (like in Can you hear my heart?).
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27 Tempi
October 26, 2015 at 4:02 PM
This article actually made me wonder.
So I remember plenty of male villains I liked.. No scratch that.. I loved! Layered villains with so much angst that I couldn't help but fall into their characters. NGM for example, and Kim Moon Shik in healer, and YJW in Arang and the magistrate.
But there are so few female villains that are this memorable. They tend to be written as super 1D characters, no? There's only one name that pops into my head immediately when I think of lady villains I loved... And that is Gu Jun Pyo's mum in BOF and maybe Yu Ra in YFAN (but a li'll though)
Is it just me or is that the way things are?
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Alessar
October 27, 2015 at 7:41 AM
I think a lot of female villains go more for the crazy angle. For instance, the mom in Bachelor's Vegetable Shop. CRAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYY ZY.
I can give you exactly ONE example of a female villain who plotted and schemed for specific reasons and that was in Level 7 Civil Servant: Claudia Kim's character was a rogue spy with an agenda of her own. She was great.
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28 Tempi
October 26, 2015 at 4:12 PM
This article made me wonder.
So I remember plenty of male villains I liked.. No scratch that.. I loved! Layered villains with so much angst that I couldn’t help but fall into their characters. NGM for example, and Kim Moon Shik in healer, Min in Hello Monster, SSR in Liar Game, KWY character in Hello Monster and to certain extent YJW in Arang and the magistrate.
But there are so few female villains that are this memorable. They tend to be written as super 1D characters, no? Very very narrow character arcs. There’s only one name that pops into my head immediately when I think of lady villains I loved… And that is Gu Jun Pyo’s mum in BOF (Maybe its just her acting..she's awesome) and maybe Yu Ra in YFAN (she also played that role in Mask.. I liked her in that also)
Or maybe it is because there aren't any female super villains like NGM's character in GWSS..
Is it just me or is that the way things are?
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redfox
October 26, 2015 at 11:31 PM
the chaebol mommy in Pinocchio. and Ueno Rie in Gaksital. Though she was not exactly a villain in my eyes, but a victim of circumstances. and loyal.
and you already mentioned Arang and the magistrate but forgot the demon mom?
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29 Seyi Akinyode
October 26, 2015 at 9:24 PM
Daebak!!
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30 korfan
October 27, 2015 at 5:58 AM
This is fantastic. ..... Looking forward to watching Namgoong Min in this drama!
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31 TrinPie
October 27, 2015 at 8:25 AM
He did an excellent job in GWSS. But I don't see how the show shot itself in the foot by revealing he was the villain so early. As soon as she met him for the first time and he was getting interviewed about his whereabouts in regards to his murdered girlfriend, I knew it was him as it was pretty obvious.
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