Lee Byung-hun Leads New Martial Arts Film Nambeol
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- Lee Byung-hun has been cast in the lead role of the martial arts film “Nambeol,” set in early Joseon and directed by veteran DP Lee Mo-gae in his feature debut.
- Lee Mo-gae brings a long‑standing genre résumé to his directorial debut, having served as DP on titles such as “A Tale of Two Sisters” (2003) and “Exhuma” (2024).
- Nambeol follows a fictional unit of nine soldiers sent to Tsushima Island to rescue Korean prisoners held by Japanese pirates, a premise rooted in early Joseon‑era pirate incursions.
- Lee Byung-hun will portray Im Eok, the taciturn commander of the rescue unit.
- Hive Media Corp. will produce the film, marking Lee Byung‑hun’s third collaboration with the studio after “Inside Men” (2015) and “The Man Standing Next” (2020), with shooting slated to begin in the latter half of the year.
Why it matters: Hive Media Corp. secures a marquee star and a veteran DP for its first martial‑arts epic, giving the studio a high‑profile project that could broaden its box‑office appeal and cement Lee Byung‑hun’s ongoing partnership, while reviving interest in period martial‑arts narratives.
