Shocking casting buzz: Actress Han Ji-min has been offered a role in director Ahn Gil-ho's new project, drawing intense attention to her next move. If the deal closes, she could team up with her agency senior, actor Lee Byung-hun, to play a married couple for the first time.
On the 13th, BH Entertainment stated, "Han Ji-min has received an offer for Koreans (working title) and is reviewing it positively," adding, "However, she has previously scheduled commitments and will make a final decision after coordinating them."
Koreans is the next project from director Ahn Gil-ho, acclaimed for tvN's Stranger and Netflix's The Glory series. Based on FX's hit series The Americans, this large-scale project reimagines the spy thriller against the backdrop of South Korea's military dictatorship era rather than Cold War–era America.
Han Ji-min has been offered the role of the wife in the story's central spy couple. Lee Byung-hun is reportedly in the final stages of talks for the husband role. The role was previously considered by actress Jun Ji-hyun, who ultimately declined due to scheduling conflicts.
What makes this potential pairing even more buzzworthy is Han Ji-min and Lee Byung-hun's long-standing connection. The two were both attached to SBS's 2003 drama All In and tvN's 2022 series Our Blues, but they never directly acted opposite each other. In All In, Han Ji-min played the younger version of Song Hye-kyo's character, while in Our Blues they led separate storylines. If this casting comes through, it would be a symbolic full-circle moment: the actress who once played a younger counterpart now meeting Lee Byung-hun as on-screen spouses.
Production is handled by Studio AA, and discussions are reportedly underway with a global OTT platform for distribution. Given the large budget, filming is likely to begin in the first half of the year once casting is finalized.
Meanwhile, Han Ji-min will first greet viewers on February 28 with JTBC's upcoming drama The Practical Guide to Love. All eyes are on her decision as she stands at another pivotal crossroads in her career.