Latest news with #AKillerParadox
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Son Suk Ku announces extended break after back-to-back hits: "Time to refocus"
Son Suk Ku , one of South Korea's most critically acclaimed and versatile actors, has announced that he will be taking an extended break from acting. Known for his compelling performances in dramas like 'Matrimonial Chaos', 'Designated Survivor: 60 Days', 'D.P.', 'My Liberation Notes', and 'A Killer Paradox', as well as films like 'Nothing Serious' and 'The Roundup', the actor says it's time to hit pause and recharge. Slowing Down After a Non-Stop Streak In a recent interview with Sports Seoul, Son Suk Ku revealed his decision to step back after wrapping up his current projects. With major roles in the upcoming 2025 dramas ' Heaven Is More Beautiful ' and ' The Ninth Puzzle ', 'Son' has become one of the most talked-about and hardworking actors in recent years. "I'm still working right now, but once I finish what I've already committed to, I plan to take quite a long break," he shared. "In the past, I was focused on appearing in as many works as possible. I've learned a lot through that experience, but now I feel it's time to focus on more meaningful expressions." He added, 'Producing a large number of works takes a tremendous amount of time and energy. I think it's the right moment to explore different ways of performing and bring about change.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Eat 1 Teaspoon Every Night, See What Happens A Week Later [Video] getfittoday Undo About The Ninth Puzzle In his upcoming drama The Ninth Puzzle, Son Suk Ku plays detective Kim Han Saem—an introspective, calculating character quite different from his previous role as the intense Jang Nam Gam in A Killer Paradox. While both roles belong to the detective genre, Son pointed out their distinct nature. He explained that the key wasn't in creating differences but in discovering them. He described his character Han Saem as someone who exists somewhere between reality and fantasy, and said he worked hard to strike the right balance without leaning too far in either direction. Reflecting on his deep commitment to the role, he shared that people often asked what he was working on, and he would simply reply, 'Just this.' He emphasized that the drama was a tightly constructed mystery, and he didn't want to stand out in a distracting way. He added that director Yoon Jong Bin had a clear vision and extensive experience, so all he had to do was place his trust in him and stay focused. Choosing Ensemble Over Stardom Despite his popularity, Son Suk Ku says he never aspired to be the quintessential 'one-top' male lead. 'In the early 2000s, it was common to see male-centered projects. I was never cast as the number one lead in that sense,' he explained. 'The Comments Army was probably the closest to that, but even then, I was drawn to it because of the ensemble—Kim Sung Cheol, Hong Kyung, Kim Dong Hwi. I believe that synergy comes from working together.' Admiration for Kim Hye Ja Speaking about Heaven Is More Beautiful, Son expressed deep admiration for his co-star, legendary actress Kim Hye Ja. 'I try to visit her whenever I start a new project,' he said. 'Her sincerity in acting inspires me. She's someone whose life and acting are seamlessly intertwined.' Writing and Reflecting As he looks ahead to his break, Son Suk Ku is also working on a screenplay. Reflecting on the support from his audience, he said, 'Whether people liked my projects or not, if they watched, they're my number one fans.' He concluded, 'I do have dreams and plans during this break—mainly to take on new challenges I haven't explored before.'
Time of India
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Heavenly Ever After' actor Son Suk Ku to go on extended break; to finish current projects – says 'it's time to focus on more meaningful expressions'
Actor Son Suk Ku , who has recently gone viral for his back-to-back hit TV shows ' Heavenly Ever After ' and ' Nine Puzzles ', has now announced that he will be going on a break. The actor shared that after finishing up his current projects, he plans to take a well-deserved and extended break from his career. 'Heavenly Ever After' actor to take a break from career In a recent update, actor Son Suk Ku shared that he is planning to take an extended break for the time being. In a statement from Sports Seoul, the actor revealed that he wishes to take a long break after finalising his current commitments. "I'm still working right now, but once I finish what I've already committed to, I plan to take quite a long break. In the past, I was focused on appearing in as many works as possible. I've learnt a lot through that experience, but now I feel it's time to focus on more meaningful expressions,' the actor shared in a statement. The actor has managed to become one of the most prolific actors in the Korean entertainment industry , but shares that 'producing a large number of works takes a tremendous amount of time and energy.' He then continued by pointing out that 'it is the right time for change.' He stated that 'I think it's the right moment to explore different ways of performing and bring about change.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Son Suk Ku , while talking about taking a break and working on new things, also mentioned that throughout his acting gigs, he has also been working on writing a screenplay. He stated that 'Whether people liked my projects or not, if they watched, they're my number one fans. I do have dreams and plans during this break—mainly to take on new challenges I haven't explored before.' Talks about his latest role as Han Saem The actor also briefly mentioned his latest role in 'Nine Puzzles' as Han Saem . He stated that 'the key isn't creating differences but discovering them. Han Saem exists somewhere between reality and fantasy. I worked hard to strike the right balance without going too far in either direction.' The actor directly talked about how similar and different his two detective roles in 'Nine Puzzles' and 'A Killer Paradox' were. He also mentioned how when he started working on 'Nine Puzzles', he managed to reject every other offer that came his way. The actor detailed how he wanted to focus and put his everything into this project to make it a success. 'People kept asking what I was doing, and I'd always answer, 'Just this.' It's a tightly constructed mystery, so I didn't want to stand out in a distracting way. The director Yoon Jong Bin has a clear vision and extensive experience, so all I had to do was trust him and focus,' he shared in the report.
Korea Herald
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Son Suk-ku reflects on his winning streak
TV, streaming clout discusses his latest project 'Nine Puzzles,' his sharpening acumen Son Suk-ku's hit series streak is showing no signs of stopping. His latest project, "Nine Puzzles," debuted on Disney+ on May 21 and quickly soared to become the second most-watched Korean title on the platform during its premiere week, trailing only behind Disney+ Korea's record-breaking series "Moving." Meanwhile, JTBC's fantasy human drama "Heavenly Ever After," which premiered on April 19, has emerged as one of the most buzzworthy dramas of the first half of 2025. This is thanks in part to its unexpected yet touching romantic storyline between Son and 83-year-old veteran actress Kim Hye-ja. Reflecting on his career, which includes back-to-back hits from "A Killer Paradox,' (2024) 'D.P. 2,' (2023) 'Big Bet' (2022) and 'My Liberation Notes,' (2022), and his criteria for choosing projects, Son said during a press roundtable in Seoul on Thursday that he thought his instincts were sharpening with experience. 'My standard when selecting projects is that it has to be fun,' he said. 'That word might sound light, but I think creating something genuinely fun is one of the hardest things to do. But I feel like I'm slowly developing an eye for spotting that kind of thing.' He added, 'If I can summarize the premise of a script in a sentence or two to a friend or family member, like, 'Hey, this story is about this' — then I see that as a sign it has a strong foundation. But if it's hard to do that, then I see it (as having a lower chance of success)." "Nine Puzzles" stars Kim Da-mi as Yi-na, a woman haunted by the unsolved murder of her uncle, for which she was the sole witness and a prime suspect. A decade later, Detective Han-saem (Son) remains convinced of her guilt. The case takes a turn when Yi-na receives a mysterious puzzle piece, echoing one discovered at the original crime scene. The series fuses heightened, stylized visuals with a noir-inflected mystery narrative, embracing a cartoon-like aesthetic that pulls viewers into an otherworldly world. According to Son, the creative team and the cast intentionally crafted that unique atmosphere throughout the production. 'The visual aspects — especially the costumes — were largely influenced by the established world that the director had already created. We followed the mise-en-scene that was carefully crafted to fit that world,' said Son. 'If we had placed this story in a purely realistic tone, I don't think it would have had the same charm, and it might have felt less convincing,' he added. He continued, 'The design choices stemmed from the metaphor of puzzles. Since the crimes unfold through puzzle pieces, the production, from costumes to set design, was built to reflect that imagery.' As for the show's ambiguous final moment, which teases the appearance of another puzzle, Son said he did not see it as an ending meant to open up another season. 'There were no discussions about a second season,' he said. 'I didn't view the ending as a lead-in, but more as a symbol of continuity — life goes on in that world, and new crimes emerge. That puzzle could be interpreted as a copycat case, but for me, it simply represented another incident.' On the possibility of returning for season 2, Son was measured: 'I think the chances are very slim. Not just due to scheduling conflicts, but because of various other circumstances. I don't think it's likely.'
Pink Villa
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
23rd Director's Cut Awards full winners list: Lee Do Hyun wins big for Exhuma, A Killer Paradox takes top drama honor
The 23rd Director's Cut Awards ceremony took place on May 20 at 7 PM KST (3:30 PM IST) and the winners list was shared online by the DGK (Directors Guild of Korea) on May 21. The DKG members (Korean directors) are the ones who select the winners through a majority vote system. During the event, the association honoured best films, series, actors and rising stars with prestigious accolades. Among them, a notable mention was Exhuma, who swept multiple titles. Exhuma bagged four awards from among 13 categories, becoming the most-awarded one among movies and series at the 2025 award show. The occult film was bestowed with titles of Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress (won by Kim Go Eun) and Best New Actor (won by Lee Do Hyun). Exhuma achieved an impressive feat by winning in most of its nominated categories, except for two. Lee Byung Hun and Lee Hee Joon clinched best actor titled in film and drama categories for The Match and A Killer Paradox respectively. A Killer Paradox received two more awards– Kim Yo Han for Best New Actor and Lee Chang Hee for Best Director. It was the second-most awarded, following Exhuma. Check out who all won in the rest of the categories below. 23rd Director's Cut Awards full list of winners:
Korea Herald
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Disney+'s 'Nine Puzzles' is full of plot twists, stylistic flairs
The mystery series marks yet another detective role for Son Suk-ku Disney+ is set to roll out its latest Korean original, "Nine Puzzles," a stylized mystery thriller that follows a tenacious detective and a profiler shrouded in suspicion. Due to significant spoiler concerns, Disney+ and the creative team are keeping story details under tight wraps. What has been disclosed so far centers on Yi-na (Kim Da-mi), a profiler who finds herself under suspicion by detective Han-saem (Son Suk-ku) in connection with a decade-old unsolved case. The series marks yet another detective role for Son, following his turns in Disney+'s "Casino" and Netflix's "A Killer Paradox." Speaking at a press conference held Wednesday in Seoul's Jongno-gu, the actor described Han-saem as 'a very tenacious detective,' adding, 'He believes this is the one case he couldn't solve, and he's been obsessively chasing it for ten years.' Son emphasized a grounded approach to the role, steering away from attempts to differentiate this portrayal from previous detective characters. 'If you try too hard to make it different from your previous work, you can end up making a wrong move, so I just approached it in a way that suited the situation. Before being a professional, I'm a person first, so I approach each project that way,' he said. Han-saem also sports a distinctive aesthetic, most notably his frequent use of beanies, coats and visible tattoos. Son acknowledged the unconventional wardrobe choice, noting, 'I wear beanies often in real life, but it's an unusual accessory for a detective. The director even double-checked if it would violate dress code regulations. It's a unique choice that actually helped my performance, so I kept wearing it throughout.' Behind the camera is director Yoon Jong-bin, best known for films such as "Beastie Boys," "Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time" and "Kundo: Age of the Rampant." With "Nine Puzzles," Yoon ventures into serialized streaming content with a project that blends mystery with stylistic flair. ''Nine Puzzle' is fundamentally a mystery drama. It is a story about two uniquely distinctive characters uncovering the truth behind a serial killer and the forces lurking in the background. It's a shame I can't reveal much due to the nature of the work,' Yoon said. 'I had a strong desire to take on a new project, and since the story itself was so compelling, I had high hopes that it would be an exciting project.' Yoon also spoke about the series' heightened visual language. 'After reading the script, I wondered whether something like this could happen in real life, or whether such characters could actually exist. From a realism perspective, those doubts are valid. So I felt the tone needed to be elevated to a world that straddles the line between reality and unreality — a more cartoon-like world. It was important to convey early on through the art direction, costumes and sets that this world is somewhat removed from reality.' The 11-episode series will premiere with episodes 1 through 6 on May 21, followed by two new episodes dropping every Wednesday thereafter. Director Yoon acknowledged that the accelerated release strategy may spark speculation among viewers. 'The release format spans over three weeks, and with six episodes coming out in the first week, people will inevitably start speculating about the culprit, and that's not something the production team can control,' he said. 'Although predictions will likely continue during the three-week period, viewers should be careful not to spoil things for others.'
