Kim Jae Wook To Play Kim Hyun Joong's Best Friend And Rival

The upcoming drama "The Age of Feeling" just got more attractive. Not only does it have the very attractive idol singer and actor Kim Hyun Joong playing the male lead but the actor Kim Jae Wook was just cast as his handsome rival.

Based on the comic series "Inspiring Generation," by Bang Hak Ki, the drama's storyline will explore the love and friendship between international independence fighters in 1930s Shanghai.

Kim Hyun Joong plays Shin Jung Tae, a street fighter. He's in love with Yoon Ok Ryeon, played by Jin Se Yeon. Kim Jae Wook has been cast to play Kim Soo Ok, Yoon's first love, a smart and sensitive artistic type. To complicate things further, Kim Soo Ok and Shin Jung Tae are best friends.

The inclusion of yet another attractive male star prompted a reporter to ask Jin Se Yeon who her ideal man might be in real life.

"Both Kim Hyun Joong and Kim Jae Wook are handsome," she said diplomatically.

Kim Jae Wook was discharged from his two-year military duty in April, but it took him a few months to return to acting.

"They say it takes time for an actor to feel comfortable acting again after his release from the military," he said. "I thought I would be an exception, but it turns out that I did need time."

His first role after leaving the military was playing a ghost in the tvN drama "Who Are You?" with So E. Hyun and 2PM's Ok Taecyeon. "Age of Feeling" will be his first historical drama after "Kingdom of the Winds."

"I am nervous about playing another role in a historical drama but at the same time I am happy to be taking on this challenge," said Kim Jae Wook. "I'm doing everything I can to create a charming character for the drama, so please stay tuned."

Kim Jae Wook was previously seen in the dramas "Coffee Prince," "Bad Guy" and "Mary Stayed Out All Night." He also appeared in the film "Antique Bakery."

"Age of Feeling" had its first script reading in October, as the drama was scheduled to air in November. Delays in Chinese location site permits postponed the series to January and script readings recently resumed. Kim So Eun, Kim Hyun Joong's "Boys Over Flowers" co-star was originally supposed to play Yoon Ok Ryeon but was forced to drop out of the series due to the delays and scheduling problems.

The series will now air following "Pretty Man."