Why Wonstein Was Cast for Looking Like Kim Dae-myung

Singer-rapper Wonstein is known for his distinctive vocal tone and genre-blending music, but his latest project has nothing to do with the recording studio. The musician is making his acting debut in Time at the Cinema, an anthology film celebrating 25 years of Seoul's beloved CineCube theater — and the story of how he landed the role is as unexpected as the casting itself.

The Fan Blog That Changed Everything

Director Lee Jong-pil was searching for an actor to play the younger version of a character portrayed by Kim Dae-myung, the Hospital Playlist star. The challenge was finding someone who could believably pass as a younger version of the veteran actor. The answer came from an unlikely source: a fan blog post comparing the two's appearances.

"The director found a blog where a fan had posted about how much I look like Kim Dae-myung," Wonstein revealed at the film's press conference on March 3 at CineCube Gwanghwamun. "He reached out based on that, and that's how I got the offer. Acting was completely new to me, but I had so much fun with it."

An Anthology of Cinema Love

Time at the Cinema is a unique project consisting of three short films by directors Lee Jong-pil, Yoon Ga-eun, and Jang Geon-jae. Each segment explores the artistic and social significance of movie theaters as communal spaces. Wonstein appears in Lee Jong-pil's segment titled "Chimpanzee," playing the young version of a character named Godo.

The film boasts an impressive ensemble cast that includes Kim Dae-myung, Lee Su-kyung, Hong Sa-bin, Go Ah-sung, Jang Hye-jin, and Kim Yeon-gyo. The project was conceived to honor CineCube's quarter-century legacy as one of Seoul's most cherished independent cinema venues.

From Microphone to Camera

For Wonstein, the transition from music to acting proved to be a rewarding challenge. "It's a completely different kind of expression," he said. "With music, I have full control over the emotion in my voice. With acting, you have to trust your body, your face, everything. But that's what made it exciting."

Kim Dae-myung, who worked alongside Wonstein on set, reportedly embraced the resemblance with humor and helped guide the first-time actor through his scenes. The chemistry between the two — one a seasoned screen presence, the other a newcomer from the music world — has been highlighted as one of the film's most charming elements.

Time at the Cinema is set to offer audiences a heartfelt tribute to the magic of moviegoing, with Wonstein's unexpected casting adding an extra layer of surprise to an already distinctive project.