Recently, the first stills and details of Once We Were Us, Korea’s remake of the hit Chinese film Us and Them, were released, causing immediate buzz online. Most discussions revolve around whether the Korean cast suits the roles and how they compare to the original Chinese leads.
It has been confirmed that Koo Kyo Hwan ( D.P., Kill Boksoon) will take on the role originally played by Jing Boran, while Moon Ga Young (True Beauty, My Dearest Nemesis) will portray the character brought to life by Zhou Dongyu.
Individually, both actors boast solid careers. Moon Ga Young is often praised for her growing beauty and approachable acting style. Koo Kyo Hwan, though not conventionally handsome, is widely respected for his depth and talent as an actor.
However, together, the duo has not been well-received. Many Korean netizens believe the pairing feels “mismatched,” and criticism has been ongoing even when the casting was still just a rumor. Now that images from the set have surfaced, disappointment has only grown louder.
One major complaint: the 14-year age gap. Koo Kyo Hwan was born in 1982, while Moon Ga Young was born in 1996. Meanwhile, the original Chinese leads Jing Boran (1989) and Zhou Dongyu (1992) were close in age. Korean netizens argue that the Korean pair does not look like they belong to the same generation.
Comments on Korean social media include:
“The male lead looks like the female lead’s uncle.”
“Moon Ga Young is too young and pretty to be paired with someone who looks so much older.”
“They don’t look like they’re anywhere near the same age.”
The age gap also contributes to concerns about whether they can convincingly portray the original story’s essence two young adults who move from the countryside to the city, fall in love, and support each other through financially difficult but passion-filled youth. Netizens say Koo Kyo Hwan appears too mature and world-worn, while Moon Ga Young looks like she’s just entering adulthood.
More online reactions read:
“He looks like someone in his late 30s, she looks like she just graduated.”
“I like them as individual actors, but this project needed a pair closer in age.”
“Why cast such an unbalanced couple?”
“This casting makes me lose interest in the movie.”
The Korean remake Once We Were Us is scheduled to premiere on December 31, 2025 in South Korea. Whether audiences will warm up to the pairing once the film releases remains to be seen, but for now, the casting continues to be a hot topic of debate.
Sources: HHT
You must be logged in to post a comment.