On February 8th, Netflix unveiled character stills for “My Name is Loh Kiwan,” featuring protagonists with a complex blend of cold detachment and warm sensibility.
The drama revolves around Loh Kiwan, a North Korean defector striving to gain refugee status in Belgium, and Marie, a Belgian-Korean former shooting athlete grappling with a loss of purpose.
The released character still captures the arduous journey of Loh Kiwan (Song Joong-ki) as he arrives in Belgium, clinging to his mother’s final wish to “survive.” The desperate pursuit of refugee status becomes his last hope for a life with his own identity.
In the unfamiliar European terrain, where language is a barrier, Song Joong-ki’s portrayal of Loh Kiwan’s daily struggles resonates with viewers.
His nuanced expressions convey a resolute determination to survive, confronting overwhelming loneliness and anxiety as a foreigner. The striking visuals also spotlight Marie (Choi Sung Eun), who, despite once being a national shooting athlete in Belgium, grapples with the upheaval of her daily life after her mother’s death.
The intersection of Loh Kiwan and Marie’s lives, both facing precarious moments, promises a compelling narrative as they find solace and companionship in each other.
Song Joong-ki expressed confidence in the project, stating, “I thought the story of two people at opposite ends of life meeting and comforting each other was fresh and attractive.” Choi Sung-eun emphasized the film’s warm perspective, stating, “From fundamental rights to the love for humanity, there are many layers in the film.”
Director Kim Hee-jin shared the motivation behind the drama, saying, “Most of life is filled with pain, but through ‘My Name is Loh Kiwan,’ I wanted to show and talk about the fact that there are still corners worth living for.
I hope that by naturally following Loh Kirwan’s struggles to survive and the process of meeting Marie and undergoing changes, viewers can understand and support them.”
“My Name is Loh Kiwan” is set to release globally in 190 countries on Netflix on March 1st. The anticipation is high for this unique story of survival, resilience, and the transformative power of human connection.