The popular K-drama "Pinocchio" helped establish Lee Jong Suk as an actor, but he was not the first choice for this role.

In late 2014 and early 2015, "Pinocchio", a Korean drama starring Lee Jong Suk and Park Shin Hye, was all the rage. After the success of "Doctor Stranger" and "School 2013", Lee Jong Suk was on the rise prior to the premiere of "Pinocchio", which elevated him to A-list status.

In the series, Lee Jong Suk portrays Choi Dal Po, a genius with exceptional memorization and analysis abilities who pretends to be stupid at school.

It turns out that Lee Jong suk was not the first choice for the role of Dal Po, despite his exceptional visuals and chemistry with co-star Park Shin Hye. Kim Woo Bin, who had previously worked with Park Shin Hye in "The Heirs," was reportedly the first choice for the role.

It was anticipated that their pairing would be explosive. Kim Woo Bin was filming the Chinese film "We Are Young" and the action/thriller film "The Con Artists" at the time, so he had to decline the role due to his busy schedule.

Despite not appearing in "Pinocchio," Kim Woo Bin proved to be a huge fan of the show, as he is extremely close with Lee Jong Suk.

The actor revealed that he adored the plot of "Pinocchio" and was completely won over by the chemistry between the lead couple.

Despite the fact that Lee Jong Suk's performance in "Pinocchio" was flawless, some viewers still lament Kim Woo Bin's absence. Three years later, the actor was diagnosed with cancer, resulting in an extraordinarily lengthy hiatus.

From an A-list actor with a super successful track, Kim Woo Bin saw lowered popularity due to his absence.

Recent years, however, have seen the actor make a notable comeback with the omnibus series "Our Blues," and he is expected to score big with the upcoming film "Alienoids," in which he will co-star with the Baeksang Best Actress Kim Tae Ri.

Kim Woo Bin is, however, somewhat overshadowed by the presence of such notable actors as Lee Byung Hun, Cha Seung Won, Han Ji Min, Ryu Jun Yeol, etc. in both of these projects.

Hopefully, the actor will be able to come back even stronger in his later projects. 

Source[1]

Actor Jo In Sung is turning a new page in his career.

On March 3, NS ENM officially announced that Jo In Sung’s exclusive contract has ended. The agency shared, "Ahead of the contract’s expiration, we had in-depth discussions with Jo In Sung for a long time."

They added, "In the end, we mutually agreed not to renew. We sincerely thank Jo In Sung for trusting and being with us for so many years, and we will continue to support his future endeavors."

Jo In Sung also shared his heartfelt thoughts, saying, "I sincerely thank the CEO and all the staff who have been with me for a long time."

He added, "Their constant support and encouragement gave me strength, and I’m truly grateful. I will never forget their kindness over the past 13 years."

Fans are curious about what’s next for the beloved actor, who has built an impressive career in both dramas and films.

From hit series like It’s Okay, That’s Love and That Winter, the Wind Blows to blockbuster movies like Escape from Mogadishu and The King, Jo In Sung has continuously showcased his versatility.

Beyond acting, he also made a mark in variety shows with tvN’s Unexpected Business, winning hearts with his down-to-earth personality.

Most recently, he gained international fame for his powerful performance in Disney+’s Moving, where his emotional depth and action skills left a lasting impression.

Currently, Jo In Sung has completed filming director Na Hong Jin’s Hope and is in the middle of shooting director Ryoo Seung Wan’s film Humint.

With his next steps still unknown, fans are eagerly waiting to see where his journey will take him!

Source: [1]