Sometimes posts just write itself based on news releases so it’s not a concerted decision to do two back-to-back Kim Soo Hyun posts. Kim Soo Hyun recently added Samsonite Red luggage and bags to his list of endorsements, taking over for Song Joong Ki who is currently out of commission and serving in the army. Choosing Kim Soo Hyun to take over for Song Joong Ki doesn’t surprise me in the least, but my eyes did widen to see who he’s paired up with. Samsonite brought over Hong Kong actress and model Angelababy (née Yang Ying) who I believe is making her Korean CF debut though Kim Soo Hyun is not the first K-actor she’s worked with. Last year she romanced Kim Bum in the blockbuster period mystery wuxia flick Young Detective Dee: Rise of the Sea Dragon. For some reason Angelababy looks particularly good when working with both her K-actor partners in Kim Bum and now Kim Soo Hyun and I find this series of Samsonite Red ads visually arresting and cheeky. Kim Soo Hyun’s agency KeyEast Entertainment made news today when it revealed that it now owned the rights to adapt the Joseon vampire manhwa Vampire Yangban into a K-drama.

The agency intends to cast Kim Soo Hyun as the male lead playing a Joseon-era vampire though it’s not confirmed since Kim Soo Hyun may be interested in taking a drama break after doing the strenuous You From Another Star. In terms of the male actors managed by KeyEast, if Kim Soo Hyun passes that would leave only Kim Hyung Joon (who is himself doing a strenuous drama right now in Age of Feeling) and Joo Ji Hoon who are the right age for this role. Vampire Yangban is about a Joseon-era genteel lady whose family is wiped out after being falsely accused of treason. She survives and then cross-dresses as a boy and sells used books to scrape by. One day she meets a handsome mysterious yangban (scholar) who turns out to be a vampire. He’s one of the good vampires but there are also bad vampires around who he ends up battling to protect her. I’m totally getting a Joseon Twilight/The Vampire Diaries thingamajiggy going on here, leaving me both fascinated and cringing at the same time. I honestly don’t know what to think about either the idea of a Joseon vampire romance drama or Kim Soo Hyun playing yet another cold handsome powerful otherworldy being. Oh wells, what will be will be and he’s either going to do it or pass. Until then, check out the pretty and stylish Samsonite Red ad campaign with him and Angelababy. Continue reading →