Lee Byung-hun x Go Youn-jung, Heading to Tsushima…Casting for Wuxia Action Epic “Nambal”; Imogae’s Directorial Debut, “The Magician of Light”

“A New Era of Joseon Wuxia,” a bloody struggle of nine swordsmen heading for Tsushima

Lee Byung-hun, a pillar of Chungmuro, and Go Youn-jung, who has solidified herself as an overwhelming top star, meet in the Joseon-era wuxia action epic “Nambal.” On the 8th, the production company Hive Media Corp officially confirmed the two actors’ joining, previewing a new action-syndrome in the Korean film industry.

Set in the early Joseon period, “Nambal” depicts the brutal yet fierce journey of nine warriors—each with a different social rank and their own mastery of martial arts—who set out for Japanese Tsushima to rescue the people kidnapped by Japanese pirates.

Lee Byung-hun has landed the role of the leader of the warriors at the heart of the story, “Im Eok.” Portrayed as a character with animal instincts honed through countless battles, a cool and calculated judgment, and an unwavering belief with no room for compromise, Lee Byung-hun’s trademark, heavy charisma is expected to take over the screen.

Go Youn-jung takes on the role of the tough female warrior “Ae-ryeong,” who loses her family in the pirates’ brutal assaults and willingly throws herself into a hellish battlefield to find and rescue her loved one who has been taken to Tsushima. She aims to fully reinvent herself as an action queen, shedding her existing refined image.

Imogae director’s declaration of intent for “The Magician of Light,” with a crew start in the second half

Above all, the reason this project is drawing extraordinary attention both inside and outside the film industry is the presence of director Imogae. Having woven spectacular visuals in major box-office hits such as “Spring in Seoul,” “Exhuma,” and “The Hunt,” this will be his first directorial debut. Observers are watching what kind of synergy he will deliver as his perspective, honed to the peak as a cinematographer, expands into directing.

At present, “Nambal” has finished detailed setups for key casting and pre-production and will begin full-scale filming in the second half of this year. Public attention is focused on the unrestrained moves of these creators, whose efforts signal the birth of a well-made wuxia action film.