The Special Bond Between “One Dollar Lawyer” Leads Namkoong Min And Kim Ji Eun
Audiences were touched by the revelation of Actor Namkoong Min‘s special relationship with One Dollar Lawyer co-star Kim Ji Eun.
With the immense success of SBS‘s K-Drama One Dollar Lawyer, understandably, fans were curious to learn more about the actors. Fans, however, were shocked to learn that Namkoong Min may have saved Kim Ji Eun’s career.
Kim Ji Eun is arguably one of Korea’s fastest-rising stars. The actress, who is known for her uncanny resemblance to ITZY‘s Ryujin, debuted in 2016 and got her first break in 2021 when she played the role of main character Yoo Yeji in The Veil, which also starred Namkoong Min.
She spoke about the hardships she endured when she wasn’t well-known in a previous appearance on a variety show.
When I wasn’t well-known, I sold jewelry at a mall and worked at a cafe, convenience store, beer hall, and clothing store. Even now, although luckily I have secured my next role, I am living at a friend’s house.
— Kim Ji Eun
According to an online post that went viral, when Kim Ji Eun auditioned for The Veil, she had planned on giving up on her dreams and moving back to her hometown if she didn’t get it. After Kim Ji Eun got the role in The Veil, the drama’s director told her that Namkoong Min had made a strong case for her. The two had previously acted in Dr. Prisoner, where Kim Ji Eun held a minor role.
Kim Ji Eun is said to have later asked Namkoong Min why he put in a good word to her, to which the actor replied.
He said ‘seeing how you’re so passionate but couldn’t catch a break reminded me of myself.’
— Kim Ji Eun
Audiences may not know that Namkoong Min made his debut in 2003 but didn’t get his big break until KBS‘s Good Manager in 2017. Ever since then, the actor has achieved a slew of hit dramas such as Dr. Prisoner, Distorted, Stove League, Awaken, and The Veil, and in the process, become one of Korea’s most bankable actors.
Netizens reacted to the special bond between the actors, with many praising Namkoong Min.
- “She’s pretty.”
- “They’re the hottest actors at the moment.”
- “No wonder she keeps acting with him.”
- “Nam Goong Min is very loyal. That’s very cool.”
- “In the beginning, when I saw Nam Goong Min appear in smaller roles, I didn’t think he would become this popular. It’s amazing. Ever since The Manager, all of his dramas were hits. He has a good eye when it comes to projects, but it is also his acting. I can only imagine how much he had to work to achieve all of his success. It seems all of a sudden Nam Goong Min has become one of the actors you can trust.”
Namkoong Min and Kim Ji Eun were leads in SBS’s drama One Dollar Lawyer. The drama about a lawyer who charges a one-dollar fee to clients has quickly become the nation’s most-watched primetime drama. The drama’s ratings rose from 8% on its first episode all the way up to 15% on the final episode. This was the third time Namkoong Min and Kim Ji Eun acted together in the same K-Drama.
Haven’t started watching the drama? Check out its teaser trailer in the link below!
