Ong Seongwu's gentle smile turns icy in Spellbound's villain twist
Ong Seongwu returns to serious drama after three years, playing Kang Min-hwan, his first villain role, in tvN's Spellbound.
A Return to Serious Drama and First Transformation into a Villain
Actor Ong Seongwu has returned to the serious drama stage after three years, unveiling a new side of himself as he takes on his first-ever villainous role. In the tvN drama 'Spellbound' aired on the 19th, Ong Seongwu heightened the tension of the series by playing Kang Min-hwan, a long-time friend of Cheon Yeo-ri (Park Eun-bin) and the CEO of CL Raymond Hotel.
This comeback marks his return to serious drama approximately three years after the 2023 JTBC series 'Strong Girl Nam-soon.' Following his discharge from military service in October 2024, Ong Seongwu has steadily built his filmography through a special appearance in the Netflix series 'Boyfriend on Demand' and the one-act drama 'Love: Track - First Love is Wired Earphones.' With this latest work, he continues his momentum in serious dramatic acting.
A Chilling Side Hidden Behind Kindness: The Two Faces of Kang Min-hwan
In the drama, Kang Min-hwan is a character who shows affection toward Cheon Yeo-ri, proposing a business venture to her as a kind friend. Even when Yeo-ri rejects the proposal, he shows no sign of disappointment, maintaining a gentle smile, and he makes no effort to hide his fondness for her, such as promising a reward to Ma Gang-uk (Yang Se-jong) for helping her during an accident.
However, Kang Min-hwan's warmth is only valid when directed toward Cheon Yeo-ri. When Yeo-ri and Ma Gang-uk end up sharing a room due to a hotel room assignment issue, his attitude shifts 180 degrees. Despite apologies from the staff in charge, he coldly notifies them to resign, and he maintains an indifferent attitude toward Ma Gang-uk's requests, revealing a cold side that stands in stark contrast to his previous demeanor.
The Multi-dimensional Character Portrayed by Ong Seongwu
From his first appearance, Ong Seongwu condensed the character's dual nature. By oscillating between a soft attitude toward his friend and cynical glances toward others, he constructed the multi-dimensional personality of Kang Min-hwan.
Meanwhile, the tvN drama 'Spellbound' depicts an occult romance between a chaebol heiress who sees ghosts and a passionate prosecutor who is most afraid of ghosts. Produced by director Lee Min-soo and written by Choi Jung-mi, the series airs every Saturday and Sunday at 9:10 PM.
