Actor Na In Woo, known for his charming visuals, is making headlines not just for his upcoming drama Motel California but also for being exempted from military service due to a unique classification process.

Na In Woo is set to star in MBC’s new Friday-Saturday drama Motel California, which premieres on the 10th. The story revolves around a young woman who grew up in a rural motel and reconnects with her first love after 12 years. This “first love remodeling romance” promises plenty of twists and is based on the popular novel Home, Bitter Home by Shim Yoon Seo.

Na In Woo will play Cheon Yeon Soo, a veterinarian whose life takes an unexpected turn when he reunites with his first love, Ji Kang Hee. In the newly released character poster, Na In Woo exudes warmth and innocence, standing alone on a snowy rooftop while gazing into the distance. The line, "You were my first. That’s why I’ll wait for you," perfectly captures his character’s steadfast and pure-hearted nature.

Lee Se Young stars alongside him as Ji Kang Hee, an interior designer with a tough past due to her mixed-race background and a challenging upbringing in a rural motel. The cast also includes Choi Min Soo as Ji Kang Hee’s free-spirited father, Kim Tae Hyung as a wealthy businessman, and Choi Hee Jin as a fellow veterinarian caught in a marriage scandal with Na In Woo’s character.

While fans eagerly anticipate the drama, many were surprised to learn about Na In Woo’s military exemption. The actor had received a Grade 4 reservist classification during his medical examination and had been waiting for enlistment as a social service worker. However, three years passed without a summons from the Military Manpower Administration (MMA), leading to his exemption.

According to the Military Service Act, those classified as Grade 4 reservists are exempt if not called within three years. Reports say more than 10,000 individuals have been exempted under this rule since 2019, with Na In Woo among them.

His agency, Hanada Company, addressed the situation, stating, "It is true that Na In Woo was exempted from military service while awaiting enlistment and assignment. This was a decision made by the Military Manpower Administration, and we have no additional comments to offer."

Fans can’t wait to see Na In Woo bring Cheon Yeon Soo to life in Motel California, while his recent military exemption continues to spark curiosity and discussion.

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Squid Game 2 is causing a huge buzz, and it’s not just because of the intense game action – it's Gong Yoo’s unforgettable role as "Ddakji Man"!

Director Hwang Dong Hyuk has shared his praise for Gong Yoo’s powerful performance, even claiming that his presence on screen is so strong that it surpasses Lee Jung Jae's in some scenes!

On January 2, Director Hwang Dong Hyuk sat down for an interview about Squid Game 2 at a café in Seoul, and he couldn't stop talking about Gong Yoo’s role.

He explained that the character of "Ddakji Man" was so well-received by fans in Season 1, despite his brief appearance, that Hwang knew they had to dive deeper into his backstory in Season 2.

“I didn’t want to explain everything in detail about who he is and why he became the way he did, but I wanted to leave some clues for the viewers", Hwang shared. He revealed that from the start of the planning for Season 2, he had one goal: to make the first episode focus on Ddakji Man.

Hwang, who had worked with Gong Yoo before on The Crucible, explained that he was beyond impressed with the actor’s return to Squid Game as Ddakji Man.

“His energy on set was just incredible. We wanted his death scene to be really cool, and Gong Yoo gave it everything. I couldn’t believe how well he brought the character to life,” Hwang said.

The director also shared that Gong Yoo told him it was his first time playing a villain. But it wasn’t just any villain – it was a mysterious one, and Gong Yoo was determined to make the role unforgettable.

Hwang was so amazed by Gong Yoo’s performance that he said there were times when the actor’s presence almost overshadowed Lee Jung Jae, who plays the lead role of Gihun.

“There were hardly any NGs (No Good takes) with Gong Yoo. He nailed it in one or two takes, delivering performances with expressions and energy I didn’t expect. It was truly a defining moment in his career,” Hwang confessed. The director added that all the staff could feel the same way – they all knew they were witnessing something special.

Since Squid Game 2 was released on December 26, 2023, it has been breaking records. The show topped the global OTT ranking site FlixPatrol in 93 countries, becoming the first Netflix original series to achieve such a feat.

With Gong Yoo’s incredible performance and the continuation of the high-stakes drama, Squid Game 2 is proving to be just as unforgettable as the first season!

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