Edited by Hong Hyun Jung
Translated by Kim Hoyeun
There is an actor who gave an unexpected laugh in the recently released movie Okay! Madam. It’s Kim Nam Gil, who took on the role of a man who is petrified due to his fear of heights. He added to the fun of Okay! Madam by giving a big laugh till the very end. As such, there are times we are surprised by the unexpected cameo appearances of star actors. This article will cover some of these examples.
* This article contains minor spoilers
Miss Granny (2003) – Kim Soo Hyun
In 2013, Miss Granny captivated the audience with its unusual setting of granny returning to her prime days. At first, Shim Eun Kyung’s clever and witty performances will certainly catch your eyes, but from the latter half, the movie will draw tears with its heartwarming story. After the warm and touching ending, a surprise guest appears �” Kim Soo Hyun. Like how Oh Mal Soon returned to her prime days after taking a photo, Mr. Park also goes back to his 20s after visiting the same studio. The moment he takes off his helmet, you wouldn’t be able to take your eyes off of him.
Veteran (2015) – Ma Dong Seok
Veteran cannot be left out when talking about cameo appearances. In the scene where detective Seo Do Chul and Jo Tae Oh, a tyrannical heir, go up against each other on the streets of Myeong-dong, Ma Dong Seok suddenly appears as the owner of the store ARTBOX. The cute store combines with Ma Dong Seok’s unique cute (?) charms certainly caught the attention.
Default (2018) – Han Ji Min
Han Ji Min made a surprise appearance on Default, which depicts the 1997 financial crisis. In the second half of the movie, she played the role of a staff from the Ministry of Economy and Finance who visits Han Shi Hyun, the monetary policy manager, to ask for help, showing her determination to stop the second IMF.
The Age of Shadows (2016) – Lee Byung Hun
Lee Byung Hun, who already worked with director Kim Ji Woon in A Bittersweet Life and I Saw the Devil, showed short but heavy charisma in the movie The Age of Shadows. He appeared as Jeong Chae San, a fictional character based on Kim Won Bong, an independence activist who led the Korean nationalist underground organization known as the Korean Heroic Corps.
Assassination (2015) – Jo Seung Woo
Unlike Lee Byung Hun’s appearance as a character modeled after Kim Won Bong, Jo Seung Woo made his cameo appearance as real Kim Won Bong, the leader of the Korean Heroic Corps in Assassination. It is said that he made his surprise appearance for his relationship with director Chou Dong Hoon, who he worked with in the movie Tazza: The High Rollers.
Miss & Mrs. Cops (2018) – Ha Jung Woo
In Miss & Mrs. Cops, there is an actor who surprised the viewers in an unexpected place. It’s Ha Jung Woo. In the play, he appeared as the owner of the motel, where Jo Ji Hye visits, and perfectly took on a role who only cares about the game and ignores her, giving a big laugh.
Be With You (2018) – Gong Hyo Jin, Park Seo Joon
In the movie Be With You, the remake of the Japanese movie of the same name, two star actors made surprise appearances. Gong Hyo Jin appeared as Jung Woo Jin’s blind date per her close friendship with Son Ye Jin and gave a big laugh with her “straightforward” comments, while Park Seo Joon showed up as an all-grown-up son at the end of the movie, drawing attention.
Long Live the King (2018) – Ma Dong Seok, Yoon Kye Sang
Long Live the King featured the cameo appearances of two unexpected actors. Ma Dong Seok and Yoon Kye Sang, who starred in director Kang Yoon Sung’s previous film The Outlaws, each took on the role of a gangster and a police. Though the film itself didn’t receive great reviews, the two actors’ cameo appearances were certainly welcomed.
Parasite (2019) – Park Seo Joon
If Kim Gi Woo’s friend Min Hyuk hadn’t introduced him to a high-paid tutor job, what would have happened to Gi Taek’s family and Dr. Park’s family? Unlike most cameos, who usually play the role of a “scene-stealer” in the movies, Park Seo Joon played the role who opens the doof to the play in Parasite. In fact, Park Seo Joon and Choi Woo Shik are well-known for their close friendship. After Park Seo Joon’s appearance, Choi Woo Shik made his cameo appearance in the movie The Divine Fury, in which Park Seo Joon played the lead role.
